Welcoming art home: Austin native donates his art to AHS
Published 10:45 am Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Austin Public Schools Board chairman Greg Larson shakes hands with artist Eric Anfinson, who donated his work “Home Town” to Austin High School. Anfinson was honored at a dedication ceremony Tuesday at AHS.
Trey Mewes/trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com
The arts are alive at Austin Public Schools.
That was the message school officials and community leaders conveyed at a dedication ceremony Tuesday for Austin native Eric Anfinson’s painting, “Home Town,” which he has donated to Austin High School.
The ceremony serves as a kickoff event to the upcoming Austin ArtWorks Festival, which Anfinson helped to create last year as he came up with the idea. The festival will take place Aug. 24 and 25, with more than 100 artists of all backgrounds to attend and share their works.
“A community that celebrates its art is a community where you want to live,” Bonnie Rietz, ArtWorks Festival co-chairwoman said.
Anfinson called the community’s focus on art “a beautiful thing” which former and current residents can be proud of.
“The work this town has done is tremendous,” he said. “It’s a reason to come back.”
Anfinson will also donate his work, “The Golden Fish,” which was last year’s Purchase Award at the ArtWorks Festival, to I.J. Holton Intermediate School. A dedication ceremony will take place on Sept. 28, the same day as I.J. Holton’s open house.
