Open House: Thor Harris

The Visual Arts Center invites you to a lecture and workshop by Austin-based musician and craftsperson Thor Harris. Drawing on his background as a carpenter, plumber, musician, and artistic collaborator, Harris will lead guests through the ups and downs of navigating a creative life during precarious times.

Thor Harris is a staple of Austin’s creative community. When mentioned in musical contexts, Harris is most often introduced as a founding member of avant-garde music legends, Swans, followed by the phrase, “known for his work with,” after which dozens of recognizable artistic collaborations are listed. Some of these collaborations include producing music with high-minded indie favorites Shearwater and contributing to recordings by Bill Callahan, Devendra Banhart, and Shahzad Ismaily, among many, many others. Harris is equally well-known for being an open-hearted mental health advocate with a devilish sense of humor. 

Today, Harris is frontman of the experimental-rock supergroup Water Damage and for the ensemble Thor & Friends—a vehicle for experimenting with the conceptual vocabulary of American minimalism, performed by a rotating cast of Austin-based musicians. Thor & Friends have performed at Big Ears, Austin Psych Fest, Levitation Festival, SXSW, Thing In the Spring, Martha Myths, and Sled Island Fest, and have shared stages with Xiu Xiu, Wye Oak, Adam Torres, Faust, Beak>, AJJ, Norman Westberg, and Laraaji, among many others. Their fifth full-length LP, Heathen Spirituals, recorded in UT's Jessen Auditorium, was released on May 16, 2025 via Joyful Noise Recordings.

RSVP is required to attend.