Day: February 13, 2025

Sacred Echoes: The Power of Art in ‘Vestigios de lo Sagrado’ at the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum

Vestigios de lo Sagrado: A Solo Exhibition By Mitch D’arte is currently on view at the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum.

The San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum is delighted to introduce the decade-long collection of work by McAllen-based artist Mitch D’arte in her first solo exhibition of this scale in Cameron County. Vestigios de lo Sagrado: A Solo Exhibition by Mitch D’arte is on view from now until April 17, 2025.

Vestigios de lo Sagrado features over 30 paintings and installations — created with collected, donated, and found artifacts. Each of these is a meditation on the role of religious iconography and the role of the individual in the crafting and veneration of them. Inspired by the artist’s relationship with her late mother, there are intentionally unfinished elements that bring some of the work to a halt and invite the viewer to complete the image or reflect on their own relationship to it. In doing so, D’arte is creating a space of not only retrospection but a peek into potential, personal futures. (San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, 2025)

The opening reception took place on Saturday February 8 and began with a speech from Aleida Garcia, Director of the San Benito Cultural Arts Department (CAD) where she welcomed everyone to the exhibit and expressed her thanks to everyone who worked hard to make it happen. She introduced the artist, Mitch D’Arte, and encouraged guests to ask questions and enjoy the artwork.

Guests to the event were able to enjoy classical and guitar music by Jorge Mascorro, guitar teacher at the San Benito CISD as well as light snacks while mingling with fellow art lovers from the community.

The exhibition captivates with its various religious exhibits as the artist explores the complexities of faith and ritual. It blends traditional religious imagery with contemporary artistry and each piece invites reflection on the intersection of art, spirituality, and cultural identity. D’Arte’s techniques and bold interpretations offer a fresh, profound perspective on the power of sacred visual language. It includes works in mixed media, canvas, and exquisitely delicate veil, some in various stages of completion and vivid colors that bring religious icons to life.

Religious art has captivated art lovers for centuries due to its deep emotional and spiritual resonance. Often depicting divine figures, sacred events, and religious symbolism, it serves as a bridge between the material and the divine. The intricate artistry and vivid colors invoke a sense of reverence and awe and often embodies cultural traditions, offering a window into history, beliefs, and rituals. With its ability to induce profound contemplation, it connects people to universal themes of faith, salvation, and the mysteries of existence, making it deeply compelling for art lovers. Art lovers, this is one exhibition you won’t want to miss. Stop by the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum to enjoy this exhibition by McAllen’s own Mitch D’arte.

Museum Hours:
Monday-Thursday
10a.m. – 4p.m.
Fridays
10a.m. – 1p.m.

Guided tours and in-person access are available throughout the exhibit dates, and virtual programs, such as video presentations, interviews, and virtual tours are available through the museum’s social medial platforms.

San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum
250 E. Heywood St.
San Benito, TX 78586

El Tigre: A Bold New Addition to San Antonio’s Coffee Scene

Local restaurateur Tatanka Guerrero expands Dreamers & Doers Hospitality Group
featuring first concept in San Antonio’s St. Paul Square. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – El Tigre is thrilled to open the doors of its new coffee shop and café to the general public at a brand new location within St. Paul Square, San Antonio’s historic downtown district that’s evolving into a world-class entertainment and cultural arts destination. (El Tigre, 2025)

Located at 123 Heiman Street, near the intersection of Heiman Street and Hoefgen Avenue, this new brick-and-mortar location at St. Paul Square follows in the footsteps of the beloved flagship coffee shop located in East Austin that opened in 2019. 

Business hours at El Tigre at St. Paul Square are 7a.m. to 3p.m. CT daily, where patrons can look forward to a curated menu of specialty drinks from lattes to espressos to cappuccinos to drip coffee, matchas, cold brews, teas, mushroom cacao, and more. 

For the food menu, patrons can enjoy breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, and pastries in the morning with salads, bowls, and sandwich options available for lunch. Fans should stay tuned as this new location will soon roll out an updated menu in the coming weeks.

At the new El Tigre, the team will continue to work with all-natural and organic producers from around the world who specialize in sustainable and ethical farming practices – notably from Brazil and Honduras – while planting roots in the Alamo City to continue their mission of serving Texans through high-quality coffee and warm hospitality.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

“We welcome all of San Antonio to visit El Tigre, and experience what makes our café so special. It’s not just about the quality coffee we serve, but the community we look to build – one that is inspired by creativity and unity.” –  El Tigre’s owner and Dreamers & Doers Hospitality’s founder Tatanka Guerrero

El Tigre at St. Paul Square will continue to be led by local resident and acclaimed restaurateur Tatanka Guerrero through his independently-owned Dreamers and Doers Hospitality Group, where his team will look to work with local producers to uplift the local San Antonio community while tapping international organic producers who share their same commitment to quality, community, and sustainability.

As a proud Chilean-turned-Texan, Guerrero first gained national prominence following his first restaurant Al Campo in Marfa which was preceded by other successful projects in Miami and Los Angeles. Most recently, Guerrero opened the intimate Oaxacan-and-Japanese design-inspired cocktail bar Trona in Austin’s growing Eastside neighborhood, where it quickly grew to prominence as one of the city’s most sought-after and well-designed bars.

Within Dreamers & Doers, other notable Texas concepts include the aforementioned coffee shop El Tigre; wine shop and bar Cork & Screw; tattoo shop Slowpoke Marfa; alfresco food court Camp East; and food truck court Arbor Food Park.

Originally founded in 1778, St. Paul Square is a historic multi-acre district found near downtown San Antonio, Texas, located just one hundred yards north of the Alamodome and a short walk from the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

The District’s name is derived from Old St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church constructed in the late 1800s. With a rich background rooted in San Antonio’s history, St. Paul Square is developing today into a vibrant entertainment and cultural arts district that showcases the beautiful history and diversity of the Alamo City.

It is home to a wide variety of businesses including locally-owned restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and coffee shops as well as performance venues, hotels, retail, offices, and more.