Whole Laguna Gloria property from above (courtesy Google)
Laguna Gloria is one of my very favorite places. It has a history that's part of Texas history. Originally a home of Clara Driscoll, it sits on twelve acres of land at the end of West 38th Street that reaches out into Lake Austin; it comprises a villa (AMOA art exhibition space and offices), an art school, and grounds.
Whole Laguna Gloria property from above (courtesy Google)
Closeup of villa, circular drive, art school, and amphitheater and lagoon (courtesy Google)
The Web photo album on this page makes its appearance thanks to Julia Hart, who remembers how long I've been visiting Laguna Gloria with my cameras. The photos below were scanned in from my black & white full frame 8 x 10 inch prints; the earliest one dates from the mid-1970s, with most from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Blessedly, the more things have changed, the more they've stayed the same, with restoration and renovation but not destruction, and with plenty of natural beauty.
The entry to the villa, back in the days when the museum gift shop shared that space
Poetesses: The Umlauf sculpture in the upper garden
Summer light and shadow on the villa porch facing the lake
Nancy Holt's Time Span artwork out on the peninsula
Time Span passion, 1983
Artwork recreation of Temple of Love being dismantled, early 1990s
Me on the clay monster path in 1990
There was nothing quite like Fiesta at Laguna Gloria. Its last year was 1998, after which it morphed into the The Austin Fine Arts Festival held downtown at Republic Square — not a bad event, but not the same at all. Part of the experience was the shuttle bus ride to get to Laguna Gloria; part was the weather (Fiesta was held in May; if it was wet they put down a carpet of hay on the lower peninsula; sometimes it was extremely steamy.)
The serious business of Fiesta was the art sale to benefit Laguna Gloria; there was entertainers to set the mood.
The Fiesta scene in 1990
A handcolored photo by Debra Dupont I bought in 1988
The art auction space in the amphitheather in 1991
Booth of Three Tacky Texans in 1991
Hat art/artist in 1995
Nancy Scott performing on lower peninsula in 1992
Fiesta brought a lot of community involvement, notably the volunteer concession stand workers.
Chalupas and beer (for adults) were Fiesta staples, and the Four Seasons statues participated
Volunteers getting into the Fiesta spirit in 1988
Volunteers drumming up business in 1991
The children had their own worlds at Fiesta.
Adolescents with cascarones near the amphitheater in mid 1970s
Adolescent girls ditto in 1991
Girls and boys together ditto in 1988
Two girls ditto in 1986
Boys ditto in 1986
Photo op 1986
Fish pond 1988
Blow up fun 1990
Dunking booth 1990 & 1991
Clown 1990
Portrait painting 1992
Kid art 1991
One for Daddy 1992
Pat Cuney organized WomanSpirit conferences in Austin in the years 1991-1995, and the EcoFeminism: Earth Magic conference was suitably held at Laguna Gloria in April of 1993.
Marsha Gomez and her Madre del Mundo statue/altar
Presenters Jade and Starhawk
Shamaan Ochaum in the Medicine Wheel out on the peninsula
Walking the Medicine Wheel
Marsha Gomez — Earth Art/Earth Magic
Tomarra Stone and Rhonda Young — Heaven on Earth
Pat Cuney and Paula Gunn Allen
Every few years, the LCRA has lowered the water level in Lake Austin in an effort to control the duckweed. This event brings a different look to the Laguna Gloria "lagoon."
The lagoon in 1988
Ditto
The lagoon in 1993
Lagoon closeup No. 1
Lagoon closeup No. 2