Mala Luna Festival takes place this weekend

malaluna18pic — Young Thug at last year’s Mala Luna Festival. Photo: Brandon Todd, used with permission.

Mala Luna Music Festival is a multi-day music festival held each year on Halloween weekend in San Antonio. The annual weekend event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27 at Nelson Wolff Stadium (parking lot) west of downtown. Two-day GA and various VIP ticket packages are on sale online along with single-day GA tickets, starting at only $89. Festival gates open daily at noon. Mala Luna ticket buyers looking for the ultimate festival experience should opt for one of the curated VIP ticket packages, which include Black Moon ($209), Harvest Moon ($229) and Fly Me to the Moon ($399). (Mala Luna Music Festival, 2019)

Mala Luna will be hosting an official pre-party featuring special guests on Friday, October 25 from 5p.m. to 10p.m. at Midnight Swim (2403 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212), a new music and cocktail bar on the St. Mary’s Strip. The event is free to attend before 10p.m., although those interested must RSVP.

Saturday, October 26 will feature a variety of internationally-acclaimed artists, including headliners Russ and Miguel. Additional artists rounding out the Day 1 performances include YG, Summer Walker, Jessie Reyez and Rick Ross, as well as Smino, DaniLeigh, Melii and more. The complete schedule is available online.

Diplo and Juice WRLD are both set to headline and close out the festival on Sunday, October 27, with additional sets from Playboi Carti, Trippie Redd, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Ari Lennox, Lil Keed and more all slated for Day 2.

In an effort to emphasize the local culture and the San Antonio community’s annual Diá de los Muertos celebrations, the festival has worked to elevate the onsite experience for all patrons to now include several new offerings in addition to other interactive activities:

Movie lounge featuring massive tent with HDTV projector playing popular Halloween holiday-themed films while offering shade and a comfortable place for fans to relax during the festival
Outdoor games, including giant “beer” pong, corn hole, an oversized version of Twister and more
Roaming performers dressed up in traditional Diá de Los Muertos costumes and attire
Diá de los Muertos altar in honor of Mac Miller, Nipsey Hussle, and more iconic music artists
Live art installations throughout the grounds.
Cricket Wireless’ outdoor lounge featuring misting fans and fun swag
Univision’s gaming tent

Mala Luna will offer ticket buyers a variety of food vendors hailing from San Antonio and across Texas. The 2019 food vendor lineup, featuring tasty bites from tacos and pizza to traditional fair foods and more, including Big Daddy’s, Brooks BBQ, El Guajillos and Torchy’s Tacos.

Mala Luna continues its philanthropic partnership with Miracle League of San Antonio and will donate a portion of the 2019 festival proceeds to the San Antonio-based nonprofit organization. The Miracle League of San Antonio is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that provides children with mental and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play baseball as a team member in an organized league. Its four-acre complex includes a special-surfaced baseball field as well as three acres of custom-designed synthetic turf and asphalt, which allows individuals with wheelchairs and other walking assistance devices to participate in a variety of different sports in a safe, accessible environment.

Nelson Wolff Stadium
5757 W US Highway 90
San Antonio, TX 78227
(210) 675-7275

Best Quality Daughter pop up dinner: Chinese Laundromat Dinner

brisketdumpling — Best Quality Daughter is having a pop up dinner this Saturday October 26. Photo: Best Quality Daughter, used with permission.

Best Quality Daughter, the culinary dream on its way to becoming a reality from locals Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Quealy Watson and Jennifer Ling Datchuk, is returning with a pop-up dinner on San Antonio’s East Side. Now in its third year, the ticketed eight-course dinner event will feature an array of Asian-American cuisine curated by Chefs Jennifer Dobbertin and Quealy Watson of Tenko Ramen. This pop-up dinner is a taste of what is to come at the future brick and mortar location. Tickets for the dinner are available online. (Best Quality Daughter, 2019)

Tickets for the Chinese Laundromat Dinner are $108 which grant guests access to a cocktail hour and an eight course seated dinner featuring cocktails and wine from William Chris Vineyards. Eight is a common theme in the Asian-inspired, recurring pop-up series because it is the most auspicious number in Chinese culture. The menu includes Thai Fermented Sausages, Sizzling Rice and Aromatic Chorizo Prawn Dip, Smoked Brisket Fat Sticky Rice Shumai, Salt and Pepper King Crab with Thom Kha Gravy, Twice Baked Banana, Shaved Gailan with Fermented Tofu XO Caesar, Oolong Tea Smoked Prime Rib and Asian Pear and Cheese Foam Kakigori.

Best Quality Daughter is the collaborative effort of Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Chef Quealy Watson and ceramic artist, Jennifer Ling Datchuk. With the help of architect Vicki Yuan of Lake Flato Architects and designer, Jamie Stolarski, the home, formerly an industrial steam cleaner shop, will transform into the Best Quality Daughter Chinese Laundromat. The dinner will be spearheaded by Dobbertin and Watson and the art installations and decor, which will reflect the Asian immigrant labor experience, will be presented by Datchuk and Yuan. There will also be a sound installation by Shanghai sound artist, Terence Lloren, craft cocktails by Denise Deglopper, of the newly opened Pastiche and live music from DT Buffkin.

Chinese Laundromat Dinner – Saturday, October 26 beginning at 7p.m.

- 7p.m. to 8p.m. – Cocktail hour in an intimate courtyard setting with live music and mingling
- 8p.m. to 10p.m. – Seated, eight-course dinner at a converted industrial steam cleaners

The concept was originally dreamt up by Datchuk and Dobbertin, who connected over their shared cultural identity as Asian women in Texas. The name was inspired by a scene in the mother-daughter film Joy Luck Club and created in an effort to increase the availability of Asian-American food in San Antonio. With future brick and mortar plans in the works, Chef Quealy Watson of Tenko Ramen (formerly of Hot Joy) will also step in as a partner. Watson will assist with developing the menu for the upcoming permanent location.

“We love watching our vision come to life and are always excited to provide San Antonians the opportunity to try our interpretations of authentic Asian cuisine. Best Quality Daughter is largely inspired by the shared family meals we grew up with.” – Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin

‘Art and the Animal’ exhibition at the Briscoe Western Art Museum

briscoecommunityday The Briscoe Western Art Museum invites everyone to get wild during ‘Art and the Animal,’ an exhibition featuring more than 100 paintings and sculptures reflecting the beauty of animals from around the world. The Society of Animal Artists’ 59th Annual Exhibition and Tour, ‘Art and the Animal,’ opens at the Briscoe with a weekend of special events September 19 through 22 and will be open to the public September 20, 2019 through January 5, 2020. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2019)

Opening weekend began with a Sneak Peak party on Thursday. Guests had a chance to be among the first to see this new exhibit while mingling with the artists and enjoying light bites and specialty cocktails created to celebrate ‘Art and the Animal.’ The exclusive preview reception at the Jack Guenther Pavilion also featured remarks by Wes Siegrist, artist and Executive Director of Society of Animal Artists.

The Society of Animal Artists (SAA) is devoted to promoting excellence in the artistic portrayal of the creatures sharing our planet. SAA’s membership represents a who’s who of artists from around the world and the Society’s work has been on display at more than 100 institutions across North America. ‘Art and the Animal’ is SAA’s first San Antonio exhibit. The exhibition is free with museum admission and will be on display during regular museum hours.

Other opening weekend activities include:
Wild West, Wildlife! Community Day Saturday, September 21 from 12p.m. to 4 p.m.
Walk on the wild side of the West and enjoy ‘Art and the Animal’ as it comes to life with a free community day. Meet some real wildlife with animals from San Antonio Zoo, make memorable wildlife crafts, experience hands-on demonstrations, enjoy special animal-themed story times and leave your mark on a special mural created by Wes Siegrist, Executive Director of SAA. Seigrist has created a 5’ x 10’ mural of bison in the west for visitors to help complete. The piece will then be displayed at the Briscoe during ‘Art and the Animal.’ Admission to Wild West, Wildlife! is free for the entire family and includes access to the museum.

Wildlife of West Texas Film Screening Sunday, September 22 at 1p.m.
The Briscoe has partnered with Wild Texas Film Tour to share a collection of short films that showcase wildlife, adventure and conservation stories from West Texas. Featured films include Lions of West Texas, Pronghorn Revival and Return of the Desert Bighorn. The screening is included with museum admission.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is open daily and admission is free for children 12 and under, as well as active duty members of the military and up to four members of their family. Regular museum admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $5 for retired military, first responders, educators, fireman and police officers. The Briscoe Western Art Museum has extended hours and free admission every Tuesday from 4p.m. to 9p.m.

Briscoe Western Art Museum
210 W. Market Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 299-4499

Hopscotch announces San Antonio opening

matrixinstallation — Hopscotch is now accepting submissions through August 15. Photo: Hopscotch, used with permission.

Hopscotch, a new and uniquely curated immersive art experience created by Texas entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, recently announced its permanent home of San Antonio, TX at the Travis Park Plaza Building, opening late 2019. Hopscotch has just released its Request for Proposals (RFP) for artists and is now accepting submissions through August 15, 2019. (Hopscotch, 2019)

Criteria for the RFP includes preference for immersive works which utilize multimedia, visual and sound elements. Suggested approaches include, light art installations, projection mapping, experimental architecture, surreal environments and more. Themes of inclusivity, social commentary and ‘art that leaves a lasting impression on visitors beyond their Instagram feed’ are encouraged. The budget range for most accepted proposals is between $5,000 to $20,000.

All interested artists may submit a proposal to showcase their creative works to proposal@letshopscotch.com. Written proposals should be in PDF format; video and sound clips that further illustrate the concept will be accepted. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2019. Full RFP, as well as guidelines to submit, is available online.

Hopscotch will be located at Travis Park Plaza at 213 East Travis Street on the corner of Travis and Navarro Streets, near The St. Anthony Hotel. The Hopscotch gallery and event space will be over 18,000 square feet. The two-story space will be comprised of individual gallery rooms. Each artist or collective of artists, selected to create an installation, will work within their independent room. Hopscotch aims to showcase works from a number of talented local, national and international artists.

Jensen and Inman are also currently hiring for several full-time positions including a number of creative and design roles. For hiring opportunities, please email join@letshopscotch.com.

“We are excited to have a permanent home in downtown San Antonio and are grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many talented artists. Community is very important to us and we are eager to become a valued participant of this one.” Nicole Jensen, co-founder.

Co-founded in 2018 by Austin entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, Hopscotch provides distinct experiences through the curation of local-centric, immersive and experiential art. Recently, Hopscotch presented an exhibition in Austin, TX that featured 13 distinctive installations and showcased works from a variety of local Austin artists as well as a selection of national and international artists. Following the limited run exhibition, Hopscotch announced their move to a permanent gallery and event space in downtown San Antonio. This space will rotate similar interactive and immersive exhibitions beginning in late 2019/early 2020. These exhibitions will feature different Central Texas based artists as well as a selection of national and international artists.

Hopscotch: Light and Sound art exhibit launches this week

hopscotchinfinityboxes — Infinity Boxes by Matt Elson. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In art news: Hopscotch, a new, uniquely curated immersive art experience created by local entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, is debuting in Austin this week as an interactive pop-up located at 6100 Airport Blvd. From February 14 through March 31, Hopscotch: Light and Sound will feature 13 distinctive installations and showcase works from a variety of local Austin artists, as well as a selection of national and international artists. (Hopscotch, 2019)

Each room in the 10,000 square foot space contains a different exhibit with colorful design elements from LED lights to live videos and music. Hopscotch is constructed by various artists, the majority of which are Austin-based. Every art activation within the project requires participation from guests and Hopscotch: Light and Sound invites guests to explore the surreal surroundings in a playful manner.

Interactive experiences range from controlling the clouds and weather via balloons to painting with light through an infrared brush by hand. Olya, presented by the only international artist, invites viewers into an immersive space of complicated multidimensional structures and light. Infinity Boxes by Matt Elson uses color, lights, and mirrors to construct beautiful boxes that draw viewers in; it’s an optical illusion project that asks visitors to take a closer look at human perception and social interaction, much like the public’s relationship to social media.

Hours of operation for Hopscotch are 4p.m. to 11p.m. on Fridays, 1p.m. to 11p.m. on Saturdays and 1p.m. to 8p.m. on Sundays. Additional hours and dates will be added. Tickets are $23 for ages 13 and up, $15 for children ages 4 to 12 and children 3 and under are free. Hopscotch is 18 and up after 7p.m. For this exhibit, Hopscotch has collaborated with local artists, collaboratives, non-profits and creative brands like Deep Eddy Vodka and neighboring Brewtorium. Hopscotch Austin will also have a bar on site and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from Deep Eddy Vodka.

Proceeds from the Light & Sound exhibit will be donated to a local art focused non-profit. Following the limited Austin pop-up series, Hopscotch will be opening in downtown San Antonio for a permanent, new exhibition in late summer 2019 and is set to feature different San Antonio-based artists. More details will be announced at a later date.

Hopscotch
1600 Airport Blvd
Austin, TX 78752

Artist Gary Sweeney launches book based on installation

sweeneyartinstallation19 — ‘Manhattan Beach Memoir: Artist Gary Sweeney Says Goodbye to His Childhood Home’ is now available everywhere. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

‘Manhattan Beach Memoir’ documents the installation at 320 35th Street in Manhattan Beach, California, made as a tribute to his family as they owned and occupied the home for over 70 years. The site-specific installation pays homage to his upbringing, family and the Manhattan Beach of the past. The photography exhibit consisted of 112 large-scale graphics of personal family photos, which were printed on MDO plywood and covered the entire outside of the artist’s childhood home. The installation was featured in national and international publications, including the Daily Mail UK, People.com, ABC News, Dwell, Architecture Lab, and more.

The project was on display to the public during the entire month of February 2015, after which the photos were removed and the home was replaced by a new development. The collection of photographs were originally taken by Mike Sweeney, Gary’s father. He took hundreds of pictures documenting family events and even built a dark room located in the upstairs of the home where he developed most of the photos. Gary selected images that tell a story of a family and a home across 70 years.

Writers of the book, Wendy Weil Atwell and Neil Fauerso, also discuss the social and economic factors that shaped Sweeny’s childhood, the astronomical increase in real estate values, the meaning of home, photography’s role in society and the Southern California art movements that inspired and influenced Sweeney’s art. ‘Manhattan Beach Memoir: Artist Gary Sweeney Says Goodbye to His Childhood Home’ is available for purchase on Amazon and on the publisher’s website, Material Media.

Gary Sweeney is an artist who works in many forms—from photography to painting to sculpting, resulting in a body of work ranging from neon signs, billboards and murals to wooden furniture, books and flower arrangements. Born into the fertile artistic climate of 1950s Southern California, Sweeney was surrounded by art and artists. He has become known for his appealingly nostalgic and humorous artwork and gained notability for his project Post-Obsessive, where he mailed more than 20,000 personalized, handwritten postcards that were altered with witty images, clippings and quotes taken from newspapers around the country. He also has permanent collections on view including America, Why I Love Her at the Denver International Airport, which is inspired by family road trips and bizarre monuments and roadside attractions, and Nostalgia, Texas at the San Antonio International Airport, where Sweeney designed neo-retro tourist posters with tongue-in-cheek slogans.

Gary Sweeney book signing at Blue Star Contemporary

mikesweeneyinstallation — San Antonio artist Gary Sweeney will be having a book signing at Blue Star Contemporary on Friday September 7. Photo: Gary Sweeney, used with permission.

Gary Sweeney, a San Antonio-established artist known for his humorous text-based work and art installations throughout the United States, debuts his new book, ‘Manhattan Beach Memoir: Artist Gary Sweeney Says Goodbye to His Childhood Home,’ based on his most popular art installation, A Manhattan Beach Memoir: 1945-2015. The actual on-site piece was in Manhattan Beach throughout February 2016. Sweeney will debut his book and host a book signing at his art showcase at Blue Star Contemporary on Friday, September 7 from 6p.m. to 9p.m. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2018)

‘Manhattan Beach Memoir’ documents the installation at 320 35th Street, made as a tribute to his family who owned and occupied it for over 70 years. The site-specific installation pays homage to his upbringing, family, and the Manhattan Beach of the past. The photography exhibit consisted of 80 large-scale graphics of personal family photos, which were printed on MDO plywood and cover the outside of the artist’s childhood home.

The first 100 copies of “Manhattan Beach Memoir: Artist Gary Sweeney Says Goodbye to His Childhood Home” will be available exclusively at the book signing for $35 plus tax. Sweeney’s memoir is also available for purchase on Amazon presale starting at $45.

Gary Sweeney is an artist who works in many forms—from photography to painting to sculpting, resulting in a body of work ranging from neon signs, billboards and murals to wooden furniture, books and flower arrangements. Born into the fertile artistic climate of 1950s Southern California, Sweeney was surrounded by art and artists. He has become known for his appealingly nostalgic and humorous artwork and gained notability for his project Post-Obsessive, where he mailed more than 20,000 personalized, handwritten postcards that were altered with witty images, clippings and quotes taken from newspapers around the country. He also has permanent collections on view including America, Why I Love Her at the Denver International Airport, which is inspired by family road trips and bizarre monuments and roadside attractions, and Nostalgia, Texas at the San Antonio International Airport, where Sweeney designed neo-retro tourist posters with tongue-in-cheek slogans.

Blue Star Contemporary
116 Blue Star
San Antonio TX 78204

Unveiling of newest art on San Antonio River this Thursday

‘CoCobijos’ will be unveiled to the public on Thursday May 17. Photo: artist rendering of “CoCobijos” used with permission.

Mel Chin is a conceptual visual artist from Houston who is motivated by political, cultural and social circumstances. He works with a variety of media to examine modern life and places art in landscapes, public spaces, galleries and museum exhibitions. “CoCobijos” is his newest art piece.

“CoCobijos,” the public art installation by internationally exhibited artist Mel Chin, will be unveiled to the public at a free event on Thursday, May 17 from 10a.m. to 12p.m. at Mission County Park. This project will bridge the gap between the historic themes of Mission San Jose and the natural world of the San Antonio River. Later in the day, from 6p.m. to 7p.m. at the Mission San Jose Visitor Center, the artist will give a free, public lecture about his development as an internationally exhibited artist and the concept behind the project’s design. (San Antonio River Foundation, 2018)

“CoCobijos,” a name invented by the artist, means “co-shelters.” Two faceted cactus-like pads arc in a supporting embrace, appearing to hold each other up. After seeing prickly pear cactus on a roof of Mission San José, the artist thought about how these plants nurture people and animals alike and their resiliency in the face of time and Texas’ climate. Echoing the geometry and beautiful lattice pattern of the internal structures from actual San Antonio nopal plant specimens, this shade structure stands in Mission County Park to give relief from the sun. In planters above, living plants create a green canopy. The abstract form of the structure is intended to visually change shape as people pass through and around it, while the shadows shift as the day progresses.

This public art installation is a San Antonio River Foundation project as part of their Art Portals located at the connection of each Mission and the San Antonio River. It is designed to entice visitors on the river to venture street-level and engage with the historic Missions.

“A tough plant like prickly pear thriving in hard, hot weather can be equated with rugged Texan individuality. The two cactus-based pads arcing over to create an unbreakable geometry speaks to the beauty and service of what coming together can do.” – Mel Chin

Mission County Park
6030 Padre Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78214
(210) 335-7275

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Category: art exhibitions