Barton Springs Conservancy is pleased to announce the multi-media Faces of Barton Springs installation opening on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, 2018. This interactive installation celebrates the many communities who swim at the Springs. It features a photo montage of Barton Springs swimmers from all walks of life ranging from artists and athletes to scientists and spiritual seekers.

Visitors are invited to create their own Barton Springs poems on our wall-size magnetic poetry tree, share a personal reflection or memory about Barton Springs on the community kiosk, and pose for a selfie with a life-sized vintage swimmer cut-out. The installation will also feature listening stations showcasing poetry, music, and other Springs-related lore.

Artists participating in the installation include: Randal Ford, Valerie Fowler, Nelson Guda,

Nils Juul-Hansen, Sam Hurt, creator of Eyebeam, Omid Laridjani, Anthony Maddaloni, Nancy Mims,

Will van Overbeek Alan Pogue and others.

An opening reception featuring music and artists’  introductions will be held on Sunday, April 22, from noon to 3 p.m. at 2201 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746.

About the Artists

Karen Kocher is an Austin-based media producer who works at the intersection of film and digital media. Currently, she is developing Living Springs, an interactive documentary about Austin’s famed Barton Springs. Ms. Kocher has been teaching interactive digital storytelling and digital post-production for the Department of Radio, Television and Film at  U.T. Austin since 1998.

Lauren Jaben is a collage artist, curator, picture framer and swimmer. She co-owns Austin’s premier digital art & photography printing studio, AgavePrint, located in East Austin. Lauren’s colorful & meticulously constructed collages can be seen at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin.

About the Conservancy

Barton Springs Conservancy’s mission is to honor, preserve and enhance the experience of Barton Springs through education and facility improvements. In collaboration with the City of Austin as well as community leaders and stakeholders of the Springs, Barton Springs Conservancy helps raise funds for projects that help ensure future generations of Austinites and visitors can continue to love and enjoy the “Heart and Soul” of Austin. Current projects include raising funds for the rehabilitation of the historic Barton Springs Bathhouse, restoring it to its original splendor and updating it for modern use.  Barton Springs Conservancy will contribute to the environmental, educational, recreational, historical, and cultural well-being of this beloved treasure of our community.

This project is made possible by the generosity of the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin.