The Spicewood Arts Society began its 10th season with “An Afternoon of Jazz” with Liz Morphis on Aug. 9 at the Spicewood Vineyards Event Center. This year there will be an eclectic collection of performances, building on the highly popular series presented last year.

The first official program of the 2009-10 season will feature Matt Wilson energizing the crowd with Rock ‘n Roll on Saturday, Sept. 12. Wilson has toured in the “Piano Man,” and with the Billy Joel musical “Movin’ Out.” This performance, like the others in the season series, will start at 7 p.m. at the Spicewood Vineyards Event Center.
Less than a month later, Donna Ingham, a Spicewood resident, storyteller and author will again delight the audience with her nearly believable, hilarious collection of stories. Don Sanders will complement the oral exploits, performing cowboy songs and stories while accompanying himself with guitar, spoons and harmonica. This “Tellabration” comes out of the chute on Oct. 9. If last year’s sellout performance is any indicator, tickets will be exhausted shortly, despite more than doubling our seating capacity at the Vineyards.
The next event will be the 7th Annual Arts Round-Up on the weekend of Oct. 24-25, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This is a fine art festival featuring Hill Country Artists, many of whom are your neighbors. There will be pottery, glass art, oil, watercolor, pastel, colored pencil on wood, photography, large metal sculpture, hand made fabrics, jewelry, fine woodwork, and paper sculpture. Each afternoon will feature live musical entertainment – Floyd Domino on Saturday afternoon and Liz Morphis on Sunday afternoon. Food will be available on site. The Society is raffling three juried pieces of art this year, by Richard Hess (a raku pottery horse), Elizabeth Sullivan (watercolor painting), and Patricia Day (a hand woven Hopi Coat). As in years past, the event is held in the rustic setting of the stable area of the old Paleface Ranch Headquarters on Texas 71 West opposite Paleface Ranch Road.
After the holidays, we celebrate the New Year on Jan. 23, 2010 with the Austin Lounge Lizards. This Austin based group composes its own satirical lyrics for folk, country and bluegrass music and along the way pokes fun at everything from songs to politics, and the general condition of mankind.
On Feb. 20, SAS will host one of the winners of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Given the level of skill required to compete, much less win this award, assures us of an incredible evening of classical music.
Albert and Gage will light up the hall with their variety of folk, country, blues and bluegrass music on March 6. This popular duo is based in Austin and performs across Texas, Louisiana and more. Singly and together they have nine current CD’s. Christine Albert composes and sings a variety of music with a French flavor bestowed on her by her French maternal lineage. Chris Gage is an accomplished musician and singer, who is facile with multiple instruments. This is sure to be a favorite performance.
The Texas Gypsies close out the season on May 14 with a lively show of Swing Jazz, Western Swing and more. This group of four musicians lives up to its gypsy name by performing at multiple venues across the state. The two guitars, violin and bass promise a lively performance to send us into summer.
As stated previously, all performances, except for the Arts Round-Up Fine Art Festival, are held at the new Event Center at the Spicewood Vineyards and will begin at 7 p.m.. Further details of the performances and other Arts Society activities are available on Society’s web site, www.SpicewoodArts.org, or by calling 264-2820. Season tickets are available on the web sitie, as are tickets for individual performances. Each performance includes a “Meet the Artist” reception, during which we serve hors d’oeuvre and the wonderful wines of the Spicewood Vineyards will be available for purchase.
The Spicewood Arts Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the performing, visual and literary arts in the Spicewood community. Our generous donors and fund raising activities enable the society to provide performances at the local elementary school. The shows have become very popular with the students and allow them to experience the arts, be it pottery making, storytelling or music. In addition, for the last two years, the society has provided significant funding for the school’s annual publication of students’ creative works.