Board of Directors
In the 19, almost 20 years that AusPop has evolved and grown, we have done so because of a committed and truly talented board. We are honored to work with some of Austin's most notable artists, writers, musicians and entrepreneurs; people that share our conviction that this space matters and Austin's history informs its future. With their help we continue to grow and produce events and exhibits important to every generation
Officers
Freddie Krc - President and Director of Special Programs
Freddie Steady Krc is a singer/songwriter/performer/multi-instrumentalist based in Austin, TX. This Houston-born Texas native has enjoyed decades of playing music for a living. He owns and operates the indie label SteadyBoy Records, formed in 2002. Freddie has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Eastern and Western Europe, United Kingdom and Scandinavia. He served on the board for several years, which included a term as president of the Austin Federation of Musicians Local 433. He served for five years on the board of the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy- four years as a governor and one year as vice-president. Freddie also sat for several years on the Community Council Board of KOOP Radio. Presently, he focuses his energy on his musical endeavors, SteadyBoy Records and Austin Museum of Popular Culture.
Karen Krc - Treasurer
Stay tuned for more details
Kelsey Riddle - Secretary
Directors
Scout Stormcloud
Scout has been painting and entering art shows for the last 40 years. She is member of Austin Visual Artists Association and has been in West Austin Studio Tour (WEST) for 7 years, Wild About Music store, Gallery Lombardi, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, and a couple of newspaper photos in the Austin American Statesman. Scout still paints and has a studio near Lake Travis in Volente. She has been on the Board at the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture as a Board member for 9 years, and served as the secretary for 7 years.
Nick Barbaro
When Nick Barbaro co-founded The Austin Chronicle in 1981, he was incredibly lucky to fall in with the immortal Micael Priest and the rest of the Armadillo Art Squad folks that had assembled under the Sheauxnough Studios banner; they gave the Austin Chronicle its look, and spirit. And when a small group, including Barbaro started SXSW a few years later, It was Nels Jacobson, another great music graphic artist, who gave them the iconic arrow logo still used decades later. Barbaro loves this culture, owes a lot to it, and try to honor it.
Avery Armstrong
Advisory Board
Eddie and Sandra Wilson
Stay tuned for more details!
Van Wilks
Born in Galveston, TX, Van Wilks began playing guitar at a young age as a youthful refuge while his family constantly moved around Texas. Influenced heavily by the British Invasion, Wilks began to hone in on his sound early on. He moved to Austin in the early 70s, a time when guitar was defined by volume and power. Combining previous influences and his own style, Wilks brought his guitar muscle and class to the people of Austin through his popular band, Fools. Wilks’ distinct and unique ability caught the attention of many notable industry names, including ZZ Top manager, Bill Ham. In 1979, he signed with Mercury records and released his first record, Bombay Tears, in 1980. In February 2020, Van moved from the board of directors to the museum’s advisory council.
Kerry Awn
Kerry Fitzgerald, better known as Kerry Awn, is an American cartoonist, actor, muralist, comedian, musician, iconographer and poster artist. He is best known for his comedy and the iconic 'Austintatious' mural near the University of Texas campus, a landmark he created with two other artists.Born in Houston as Kerry Fitzgerald, Awn became prominent on the Austin countercultural scene in the 1970s as a concert poster artist and as a member of the Armadillo Art Squad and the Uranium Savages. In the fall of 2019, Kerry moved from the board of directors to the museum’s Advisory Council.
Cass Hook
George Majewski
Billy Perkins
Scott Conn
Mike Tolleson
Tim Hamblin
Lisa and Rachel Wade
Al Staehely
Staff
Leea Mechling - Executive Director and Curator
Attended the University of Texas, Austin as a Studio Arts Major. Leea Mechling has been deeply immersed in art and music since the early 70’s. She has furthered her interest in the combination of music and art and its effect on communities- piqued while an employee of the Armadillo World Headquarters, the seminal rock n roll venue of Austin from 1970-1980. She has over 50 years experience working with musicians, artists, actors and writers. She’s been an avid collector of Austin music related art and ephemera since 1970.
Hannah in downtown Austin
Hannah Martin- Grad Student Intern Summer 2023
Hannah Martin is a graduate student at Texas State University studying Public History. Her main area of study is women in Texas music, with a special interest in the Austin punk scene. This summer Hannah spends her time at AusPop digitizing newspaper articles, ads and photographs pertaining to the Austin music scene in the 1970s. After she graduates in December of 2023 Hannah plans on continuing to work in archives and historical preservation.
