While the Austin Museum of Art - Downtown awaits its ultimate makeover by architect Richard Gluckman, last fall found the museum performing a little nip and tuck of its own, raising the bar on its exhibits, especially its photography. "Modotti and Weston: Mexicanidad" was a memorable survey of Mexico in the mid- to late Twenties. In November came "The Complete Untitled Film Stills" by Cindy Sherman, whose self-reflexive, ironic series found the photographer herself posing as weepy B-movie stars of the Fifties and Sixties. Meanwhile, AMOA's sister site Laguna Gloria offered the haunting, evocative work of Sally Mann's 25-year career, including the controversial and unforgettable series of nude photos of her three children. Will next season be even better? Just shoot.
