SXSW Goes Virtual

Traveling to Austin, Texas with thousands of other people to see your favorite bands and the latest independent films may not be possible right now, but the festival isn’t letting that stop the creative content.  Throughout June, organizers have lined up online sessions with experts in their fields.

June 2 – Rachael Ray

More time spent at-home usually means more meals made at-home.  This allows for a kitchen Renaissance for a creative few, and a meal plan of instant noodles and frozen dinners for others.  Television personality, philanthropist, and all-around media star Rachael Ray will be joined by Austin American-Statesman food writer, Addie Broyles to discuss how quarantine has effected our relationship with food and cooking. Ray has been busy making her #StayHome series, where she leads viewers in recipes from her house.

Ray’s Cooking in Quarantine and How it’s Changing Our Relationship With Groceries panel can be viewed online at 11am.

June 4 – Jerry Saltz

Art-critic-gone-author Jerry Saltz is joining the SXSW sessions to discuss his book How to Be an Artist. The book offers artist-hopefuls a guide to becoming an artist. This discussion is for those of us who have picked up painting, embroidering, arts-and-craftsing, sculpting, etc. during our time at home. The discussion will include Saltz’ tips for aspiring artists, as well as talk on how the  art world will change and evolve through these times.

On “How to Be an Artist” with Jerry Saltz will be streamed starting at 11 am.

June 9 – Matthew McConaughey and Jeff Nichols

2012 brought McConaughey and Nichols together for a dark coming-of-age-esque film, Mud.  In this film, McConaughey plays the title character, Mud, a man who lives on an abandoned island in a hideaway from the past.  2020 reunites them to have a livestream discussion and Q&A session.  McConaughey and Nichols will be answering audience questions during the stream.

This panel will begin at 11am.

Previously streamed sessions will be available on the South by Southwest Youtube page.  Sessions that are currently available include a Q&A with the creators of The Lovebirds, Maybe You Should Talk to Somebody: A Conversation with Lori Gottlieb and Julia Sweeney, and COVID Activism & “Notes from a Young Black Chef” with Kwame Onwuachi & Liz Bacelar.