Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2011 > June > 28 > Entry
Mark Holzbach and Dana Friis-Hansen Farewell at the Plant at Kyle
They left a distinctive imprint on Austin business, arts and life of the mind. Mark Holzbach and Dana Friis-Hansen bid farewell to Austin and thanked their many friends on Sunday during a well-attended party at the Plant at Kyle. The pair is leaving for Grand Rapids, Mich., but they don’t intend to abandon us altogether.
Lee Thompson and Quincy Adams Erickson
Friis-Hansen, formerly of Austin Museum of Art, is taking a similar position at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Holzbach, as I understand it, is taking a leave from Zebra Imaging, the Austin company he so carefully nurtured. But these are only their most public positions in Austin. Their interests and curiosities reached to almost every corner of creative life in Austin.
Josh Allen and Jason Jokerst
And, as so many people said on Sunday, privately and publicly, it will be hard to imagine Austin without them. As evidence of their social reach, the party was packed with leading players from the areas of food, arts, business, charity, nightlife, media and education. They devoured savory treats and tried to stay hydrated in the unforgiving Texas heat.
Manuel and Laura Flores of the much appreciated Mom & Pops natural frozen pops
One interesting side note: A number of people told me that they would visit the couple in Michigan, in part because they hail from the Midwest. In fact, part of the afternoon was like a coming out of sorts for stealth Midwesterners.
We’ll miss Dana and Mark. And we hope their valiant efforts to make Austin a better place will be shouldered by others.
Correction: In an earlier version of this post, Mark Holzbach’s name was misspelled.
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