Austin's dormant former newspaper hub is set to pulse with life as it morphs into a temporary sanctuary for art lovers, showcasing immersive experiences dedicated to Van Gogh and Monet. The old Austin American-Statesman building, once the daily's home, will host projections of the great masters' works starting May 31—a spectacle bound to draw the culture-hungry crowd, KXAN reported.
After sitting vacant since 2021, the space is ready for a renaissance, with "Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" and "Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience" bringing a multi-sensory plunge into masterpieces. The event promises to toss visitors into a swirling visual stream, where iconic pieces like "The Starry Night" and "Water Lilies" come to larger-than-life form. Tickets are on deck for release this Friday, with a price tag ranging between $27 and $80, according to the same KXAN article.
An earlier encounter with "Beyond Van Gogh" at the Circuit of the Americas gave Austinites a taste of such environs, and now, they're in for a double feature. The Paquin Entertainment Group, which is behind the visual escapade, plans to stir attendees with a cascade of vibrant artwork and an auditory experience marrying Van Gogh's words to music. As MySA revealed, the Monet exhibit intends to deliver over 400 of the French impressionist's works spanning his illustrious career.
While both artists have been long enshrined in the annals of art history, their lives sing a different tune of struggle and admiration. Van Gogh, whose mental travails are well-documented, remains an enigmatic figure who, after his death, endowed the art world with a legacy of over 2,100 pieces. Monet, on the other end of the spectrum, found himself a cornerstone of the impressionist movement, painting the world with a kinder brush, and vivid imagery. General public tickets will go on sale on May 3, deep into the city's artistic foray until September 14.
The future of the old building is a sketch in motion itself, following a Travis County District Judge's ruling against using tax abatements for redevelopment. With the fate of the site hanging in the air, art aficionados can at least relish the fleeting certainty of an immersive feast for the senses, to be staged against the backdrop of Austin's iconic skyline.
