Join Future Front and Black Austin Tours for a free collage workshop, led by Reiness Garcia of Ode To Our Grandmothers.
Celebrating the ancestors whose stories and memories shape our lives, this workshop is presented by Black Austin Tours for the organization’s Heritage Weekend on 12th Street.
Free and open to the public, the workshop will start promptly at 3:30 PM. Registration required as capacity is limited.
All are welcome. Scroll for details.
WHAT TO EXPECT
BEHIND THIS WORKSHOP
Discover, honor, and preserve your ancestry through the art of collage. Join us for a hands-on collage-making workshop led by Ode to Our Grandmothers and Reneiss Garcia. Centered in preservation through artful reverence, this workshop invites participants to explore family histories, memories, and matriarchal stories through an ar(t)chival lens.
Using photographs, images, words, and other materials, participants will create a personal collage that celebrates the people, stories, and traditions that have shaped their families and communities. Whether you are deeply familiar with your family history or just beginning to explore it, this workshop offers a creative space to reflect, connect, and preserve the stories that matter.
Feel free to bring your own photographs, images and materials to complement the materials provided. No previous art or collage-making experience is required.
ABOUT HERITAGE WEEKEND
Presented by Black Austin Tours, Heritage Weekend honors Black East Austin history, culture, family, art, music, and memory — centered at the historic Ideal Barbershop at 12th & Chicon. Learn more about the weekend’s entire program and schedule here.
HOW TO ATTEND
This workshop is free and open to the public, thanks to Black Austin Tours. RSVP required.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO 1900 E 12TH
Future Front’s Community Studio is located at 1900 E. 12th Street. From soil to cement, the 1940s building has a long history that precedes us (including its first owner Vera Barton and the We Rise mural).
WHERE TO PARK: 1900 E 12th has a large paid parking lot across the street and is directly accessible by bus line. There’s also free parking up and down the street and in surrounding neighborhoods. Carpool, if you can!
WHAT TO DO: 1900 E 12th is located within the historic East 12th Street District, which is home to many other creative spaces and businesses, as well as organizations like Six Square. Explore the District while you’re around.
AVAILABLE LANGUAGES — ASL interpreters can be provided upon request. Si necesita traducción al español para participar en este evento, envíenos un correo electrónico a hello@futurefronttexas.org.
OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY GUIDELINES —
All Future Front staff, volunteers and guests will be required to practice mutual respect, as well as demonstrate an alignment with Future Front’s code of conduct and values: futurefronttexas.org/values.
Capacity is limited to reduce crowding of any kind and all events will be held in primarily outdoor and open-air spaces or have access to proper ventilations and well-maintained A/C systems.
At Future Front events, all guests are expected to follow Austin-local health and safety guidelines for gatherings, as well as practice consideration with the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and any other legal, mind-altering or dangerous substances and objects. This includes:
As Future Front strives to be a good neighbor, we also discourage the use of tobacco products on the property of nearby businesses and residences, to improve air quality, throughout our events.
Tobacco use and electronic smoking device use are not permitted at any time within Future Front properties and event spaces at least 15 ft from entrances, exits, operational windows, or ventilation system intake vents.
Littering of tobacco-related products on the grounds or parking lots is also prohibited.
Concealed or open weapons and firearms (including handguns) are not allowed at any Future Front venues.
GOT QUESTIONS? Shoot us a note at hello@futurefronttexas.org. We're happy to help and will get back to you!
BEHIND THIS WORKSHOP
McLennon Pen Co. Gallery was founded by Jill McLennon in March 2023 with a commitment of showcasing the work of emerging and internationally established artists.
The gallery aims to present contemporary art that is exciting, poetic, and emblematic of the times, while also placing the work within a historical context. In June 2025, the gallery expanded from its original East Austin house gallery into a new 2,300 square foot commercial location at 1114 W 5th Street, at the gateway to Clarksville and Old West Austin. Prior to relocating to Austin, McLennon spent thirteen years working in New York City for globally renowned commercial art galleries and auction houses in placing contemporary artwork in private and public collections, curating exhibitions, and supporting some of today’s most esteemed living artists in their career development. The name of the gallery has been passed down from McLennon's grandfather who established a luxury pen shop in downtown Chicago that originally opened in 1934.
Not just a magazine shop—TOMO mags is a playground for your brain.
TOMO mags began as a passion project inside a restored school bus—traveling throughout the city, popping up at galleries, universities, and coffee shops. What started on wheels grew into experimental spaces and collaborations, and today it continues with our shop in Austin and the rebirth of the TOMO mags bus. We’re still on the move, still building spaces that invite curiosity. Find inspiration, discover new voices, and take something real in your hands to push your ideas forward or simply enjoy.
Homegrown in Austin, Future Front is an award-winning cultural space and public exhibition series—with women and LGBTQ+ creatives at the front.
As a 501c3 arts and culture nonprofit, we produce two annual community-led exhibitions, The Front Market and The Front Festival, platforming independent artists and creatives across disciplines in Texas. Beyond our flagship exhibitions, we host seasonal shows and workshops at our creative space in East Austin, welcoming 20,000+ visitors per year.
Through these programs and a diverse network of partnerships, we invite the public (including you) to dream of a future where local art and creativity thrive in Texas—where we see ourselves and our cultures reflected in our communities.
FUTURE FRONT IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Texas Commission on the Arts, The LINE Hotel Austin, Pease Park Conservancy, Preservation Austin, Movability,ART FOR ALL, Partiful, Moontower Rentals, Distribution Hall, Miscellaneous Rentals, Thirstday Tequila, the Red River Cultural District, Topo Chico, as well as Future Front’s donors and members.