PechaKucha returns for its first in-person event in two years. Photo: Jessica Giesey, used with permission.
PechaKucha San Antonio – the global arts and culture series that hosts speakers who share their passions in a unique format – is excited to announce its first in-person event after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. The outdoor event is scheduled for Thursday, March 3, 2022, for the first time at the Betty Kelso Center lawn at the San Antonio Botanical Garden (555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, TX 78209). The night begins with a welcome reception at 6:30p.m., followed by presentations starting at 7:30p.m. (PechaKucha San Antonio, 2022)
Vol. 40 will feature a talented group of locals. The seven presenters include:
Maeve Bassett, Applied Ethnobotanist
Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter
Heyd Fontenot, Artist (*mature content)
Mara Nathan, Rabbi
Erika Prosper, First Lady of San Antonio
Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, Poet Laureate
Tyler Ybarra, Coffee Pioneer
Emcee for the evening will be local musician and PechaKucha SA former presenter Alyson Alonzo. The welcome reception will feature music by DJ Anita Boogie and complimentary bites curated by local chefs and restaurants including Naco 210 Mexican Eatery & Patio, Bandit BBQ, Bakery Lorraine and Jardin. The event will also feature a cash bar. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. Advance tickets are available HERE.
PechaKucha San Antonio would not be possible without the support of annual sponsors, including:
Pronounced “PEH-chuh KOO-chuh,” PechaKucha is a 20 image x 20 second arts and cultures series. We host speakers who share their passions in a unique format: Each presenter gets exactly 20 images, and each slide advances automatically every 20 seconds (for a total time of 6:40). San Antonio’s first quarterly PechaKucha Night was held in February 2011 and now attracts hundreds of attendees to venues throughout San Antonio. It highlights a broad range of individuals, including architects, artists, makers, academics, community leaders and more. PechaKucha (Japanese for “chit chat”) is an event format developed by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture to encourage creative professionals to share projects and ideas that they are passionate about. Since it began in 2003, PechaKucha has expanded to more than 1200 cities around the world.
The San Antonio Museum of Art is bringing visitors new exhibitions, new art installations, and a new executive director. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art
The San Antonio Museum of Artis kicking off the New Year with a new executive director, new installations and new exhibitions in 2022. Following an international search, the Museum recently named Emily Ballew Neff, PhD, as its new executive director, just in time to welcome new works and exhibitions from renowned artists, including Wendy Red Star. From February 11 through May 8, 2022, contemporary artist Wendy Red Star will evaluate identity, cultural heritage, and American history in her mid-career survey and latest exhibition, Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2022)
New Art Installations Now through June 26, 2022 visitors can explore new acquisitions from San Antonio artists in SAMA’s Contemporary gallery. SAMA acquired nine artworks by eight San Antonio-based artists, including Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Jenelle Esparza, Joe Harjo, Jon Lee, Ethel Shipton, Chris Sauter, Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga, and Liz Ward. SAMA acquired the works as part of an initiative developed to support the city’s visual artists and reflect the vibrancy of the community and its rich cultural landscape. All of the artworks, which include textiles, painting, photography, prints, and sculpture, mark first entries by the artists to SAMA’s collection.
Upcoming Exhibitions Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth: February 11, 2022 – May 8, 2022 Drawn from the collection of The Newark Museum of Art and museums across the country, Red Star’s mid-career survey will include photography, textiles, and film and sound installations, produced over a period of fifteen years. An immersive video will be screened inside a sweat lodge recreated within the gallery at the heart of the exhibition. An enrolled member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe, Red Star works across disciplines to explore the intersections of Native American ideologies and colonialist structures, both historically and in contemporary society. Drawing on pop culture, conceptual art strategies, and the Crow traditions within which she was raised, Red Star pushes photography in new directions—from self-portraiture to photo-collage and altered historical photographs—to bring to life her unique perspective on American history. The importance of family, Indigenous roots of feminism, Crow mythology, history of the Montana landscape, and the pageantry of Crow Fest are among the subjects that Red Star brings to life in this exhibition.
Upcoming Events 24th Annual Mays Symposium: Contemporary Perspectives on Native American Art
Native American cultures have often been romanticized, appropriated, or erased from the canons of art history. This symposium seeks to provide greater context, understanding, and inclusivity through fresh insights into the personal and societal narratives that are woven into the practice of contemporary Native American artists.
Virtual Keynote with artist Wendy Red Star Friday, February 25, 2022 at 6p.m. (Virtual)
Lectures and Panel Discussion Saturday, February 26, 2022 from 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. (In-person and live-streamed)
Artist Presentations by: Joe Harjo, Artist, Chair of Photography, Southwest School of Art Ruben Olguin, Artist, Educator
Panel Discussion by: Joe Harjo Dakota Hoska, Assistant Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum Risa Puelo, Independent Curator, Writer Ruben Olguin Moderator: Dr. Annette Portillo, Professor, University of Texas, San Antonio
The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. The Museum hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.
Wendy Red Star, Indian Summer – Four Seasons, 2006 Archival pigment print on sunset fiber rag, 23 x 26 in. (58.4 x 66cm). Gift of Loren G. Lipson, M.D. Collection of The Newark Museum of Art. Photo: Wendy Red Star, used with permission.
The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) will present a mid-career survey of the work of Portland-based artist Wendy Red Star starting February 11, 2022. The exhibition Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth features forty works drawn from the collection of The Newark Museum of Art and museums across the country and includes photography, textiles, and film and sound installations, produced over a period of fifteen years. At the heart of the exhibition, an immersive video will be screened inside a sweat lodge recreated within the gallery. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)
An enrolled member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe, Red Star works across disciplines to explore the intersections of Native American ideologies and colonialist structures, both historically and in contemporary society. Drawing on pop culture, conceptual art strategies, and the Crow traditions within which she was raised, Red Star pushes photography in new directions—from self-portraiture to photo-collage and altered historical photographs—to bring to life her unique perspective on American history.
The importance of family, Indigenous roots of feminism, Crow mythology, history of the Montana landscape, and the pageantry of Crow Fest are among the subjects that Red Star brings to life in this exhibition. The artist’s exploration of ancestral Apsáalooke land culminates in the recreation of a sweat lodge. Inside, an immersive 360-degree video is projected onto the interior walls joining imagery from Crow mythology and the Montana landscape. Another large-scale wall installation maps the ancestral lands of Apsáalooke women. To reclaim the matrilineal society disrupted by the reservation system, Red Star contacted women across the country and researched their familial ties to the land. Also included is a powerful series of self-portraits, titled Apsáalooke Feminist, for which Red Star and her daughter Beatrice pose wearing traditional elk-tooth dresses, symbols of Crow womanhood.
The title A Scratch on the Earth is a translation of the Apsáalooke word Annúkaxua and refers to the period after 1880 when U.S. government policy prioritized keeping Crow people on their reservation. Red Star mines archives to investigate the boundaries of the Crow reservation and how they came to be negotiated throughout the nineteenth century. Growing from the somewhat arbitrary borders that were historically imposed on the Apsáalooke, the exhibition also explores how boundaries between cultural, racial, social, and gender categories have subsequently been reinforced, and how they blur across time and space.
The exhibition was organized by The Newark Museum of Art and curated by Nadiah Rivera Fellah, guest curator, and Tricia Laughlin Bloom, Newark’s Curator of American Art. In San Antonio, it is generously funded by The Ford Foundation, The Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation, and The Brown Foundation, Inc. It is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue published by The Newark Museum of Art. A selection of programs and a symposium featuring the artist will also be offered during the exhibition.
“Red Star’s work engages images and materials that are rich with meaning to initiate vital conversations about identity, culture, and American history. SAMA is thrilled to share this important exhibition with our community.”
Lana Meador, SAMA’s Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s sneak peak into what is coming up at the museum next year. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
From the best of today’s leading contemporary Western artists and the future stewards of the genre to the founding fathers of this purely American art form, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is celebrating the past, present, and future of Western art throughout 2022. A robust range of exciting exhibitions and programs is sure to make the Briscoe a frequent destination for those who love the genre as well as those who simply enjoy the rugged beauty, diverse people, and wildlife who call the West home. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)
Scholars and cultural institutions including the Briscoe identify distinct themes within Western Art including wildlife, Native American heritage, and of course, cowboys. Due to the undeniable influence of Mexican and Spanish heritage across Texas and the Southwest, the Briscoe also shares that influence on Western Art.
The Briscoe’s 2022 calendar includes:
Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Photography of the Contemporary Northern Mexican Cowboy Through January 24, 2022 Closing out its successful United States debut at the Briscoe, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo features celebrated photographer Werner Segarra inviting audiences to peer into the world of the Norteño Cowboys from Sonora, Mexico – not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. With almost 60 images spanning more than 20 years of the lives of the vaqueros, Segarra’s images highlight the expansive landscape, their daily work, and the intimacy of their homes, not merely documenting the vaquero, but celebrating his subjects and their way of life. The exhibition’s closing weekend, January 22-23, features artist talks and exhibition tours with Segarra.
2022 Night of Artists March 25-26, 2022 Opening Weekend Events, Celebration, and Live Auction March 27 – May 8, 2022 Public Exhibition and Sale One of the premier Western art events in the world, Night of Artists includes the viewing and sale of almost 300 new works of painting, sculpture, and mixed media by nearly 80 of today’s leading contemporary Western artists. The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s 2022 Night of Artists Exhibition and Art Sale returns to a two-day opening weekend that includes the Briscoe Collectors Summit, a preview dinner and live auction, an awards luncheon, the exhibition opening, and the popular “Luck of the Draw” sale. The public exhibition is a unique opportunity to see a fantastic array of the best of today’s contemporary Western art before the works join private collections, making the opening weekend and the exhibition itself something all Western art fans should see.
The Sons of Charlie Russell: Cowboy Artists of America May 27 – September 5, 2022 Showcasing the foundation, traditions, and ideals established in the great works of Frederic Remington, Edward Borein and Charles M. Russell – the forefathers of Western art – The Sons of Charlie Russell: Cowboy Artists of America illustrates the evolution of contemporary Western art in the modern era. Demonstrating how the Cowboy Artists of America provides a core set of criteria for what traditional Western art looks like, it solidifies the strength and vibrancy of the genre for present and future generations. On display May 27 – September 5, 2022, The Sons of Charlie Russell includes approximately 80 works of art encompassing paintings, sculpture, and works on paper, dating from 1890 to the present-day from 40 artists drawn from exceptional institutional and private collections – and never before seen on view together. The 17 lenders to the exhibition include institutional and private lenders from Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Georgia, as well as works drawn from the Briscoe’s permanent collection.
Thomas D. Mangelsen: A Life in the Wild September 29, 2022 – January 29, 2023 Western Art celebrates the American West, including the wild places and wildlife that grace the land. Featuring 40 of the renowned nature photographer’s most resonant photographs, Thomas D. Mangelsen – A Life in the Wild take viewers on a journey across the West and around the globe. Each image in Mangelsen’s portfolio has been taken in the wild under natural conditions, the result of him waiting for the “picture perfect moment” across decades and often in hostile conditions, allowing viewers to peer into the wild through Mangelsen’s lens. One of the most prolific nature photographers of our time, Mangelsen is an award-winning photographer whose images have been exhibited internationally and published in iconic mediums such as “National Geographic,” “Good Morning America,” and “60 Minutes.”
The Briscoe traditionally hosts free community events throughout the year, featuring complimentary museum access and activities. Community days at the Briscoe, with programming and entertainment throughout the museum campus, include:
National Day of the Cowboy July 23, 2022 One of the Briscoe’s most treasured annual events, National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of July each year. Attracting Western fans of all ages for a day filled with fun, music, and art throughout the museum’s home on the River Walk, the day is filled with boots, hats and all things cowboy, cowgirl and vaquero. The celebration typically includes western lessons like the art of the lasso, cowboy poetry, chuckwagon treats, and cowboy crooning filling the air of the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden.
Yanaguana Indian Arts Celebration November 19, 2022 Highlighting the continued vibrancy and artistic traditions of Native American communities, Yanaguana Indian Arts Celebration offers a glimpse into traditional and contemporary Native American culture. Featuring Native American artists, musical performances and dancing, the event features storytelling, artist demonstrations of painting, printmaking, pottery, weaving and carving, as well as Native American-inspired food. Yanaguana Indian Arts Celebration also features workshops and lectures celebrating Native American culture.
The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10a.m. – 5p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active duty members of the military. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.
Texas artists and groups representing over 200 individual artists will showcase live music, large-scale art installations, film, dance, fine art, theatre, poetry, and fashion at San Antonio’s iconic nighttime celebration of the arts. Photo: Luminaria
On Saturday November 13, the opening ceremonies at 5:30p.m. will kick off the official 2021 Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, the most prominent arts festival in South Texas. The ceremony will begin with a blessing from the elders of Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, followed by remarks from Yadhira Lozano, Luminaria Executive Director, and Jesse Borrego, 2021 Honorary Curatorial Committee Chair. City of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Mayor Phil Hardberger, founder of Luminaria, will be onsite as honorary guests. (Luminaria, 2021)
The Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, a nighttime celebration of the arts, will be held from 6pm to midnight featuring more than 200 individual artists from across Texas, highlighting live music, fine arts, film, digital art, dance, theatre, fashion, poetry, and large-scale art installations.
Casa De Ojos founder and award-winning artist, Fabian Alejandro Diaz, will present a fashion show, “Metamorphosis.” Deanna Arriaga will offer “An Immersive Experience” light show. Justin Parr and Adam Smolensky will present a large, neon sculpture honoring San Antonio’s famed Rose Window. URBAN-15’s performance will feature lasers and a drumming show. Breathe Collective, a BIPOC San-Antonio-based artist collective, will offer creative experiences of reflection and healing through breathing. Austin-based dadaLab will install four lit towers to offer an immersive art, technology and science designing experience.
This festival is free and open to the public and it will be held at Hemisfair, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and the San Antonio Riverwalk with plenty of outdoor space to socially distance and enjoy the art. Full festival lineup is available online.
Hemisfair, Luminaria Main Stage 434 S Alamo St. San Antonio, TX 78205 (between Yanaguana Garden and the Mexican Cultural Institute)
Main Stage at Hemisfair 6p.m. IlaIla Minori 7p.m. Jeremy Kingg/Satara 8p.m. Heartless The Monster 9p.m. Bombasta 10p.m. Los Texmaniacs feat. Flaco Jimenez 11p.m. Pop Pistol
Film Stage at River Walk 6p.m. Film Loop 7p.m. Anna De Luna 7p.m. Film Loop 8:30p.m. URBAN-15 9p.m. Film Loop 9:30p.m. Casa De Ojos 10:30p.m. URBAN-15 11p.m. Film Loop 11:45p.m. End
Market Stage at Convention Center (Merida Plaza) 6p.m. Eddie Vega 6:45p.m. Paula Cortez 7:45p.m. DeAnna Brown 8:45p.m. Ballet Folklórico Sol de San Antonio 9:45p.m. Patricia Vonne
Smoke & Embers: The Art of Vaquero BBQ is this Thursday, October 7 at the Briscoe. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
There is no doubt that good Texas barbecue is a masterpiece to be admired, but is your barbecue museum-worthy? Join the Briscoe Western Art Museum for “Smoke & Embers: The Art of Vaquero BBQ” as acclaimed pit master, author, and chef Adrian Davila leads an in-depth, hands-on demonstration of the history and techniques behind the cuisine that once kept vaqueros and cowboys fed. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)
“Smoke & Embers: The Art of Vaquero BBQ” is this Thursday, October 7, from 6:30p.m. – 8:30p.m. Third generation pit master Davila will guide guests through perfecting Texas barbecue on the pit in the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, discussing and exploring barbecue and traditional vaquero cooking methods on the range.
The evening is a perfect side to complement the Briscoe’s fall exhibition, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. Making its United States debut at the Briscoe, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo features celebrated photographer Werner Segarra inviting audiences to peer into the world of the Norteño Cowboys from Sonora, Mexico – not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. With almost sixty images spanning more than twenty years of the lives of the vaqueros, Segarra’s images highlight the expansive landscape, their daily work, and the intimacy of their homes, not merely documenting the vaquero, but celebrating his subjects and their way of life. The exhibition opened to the public September 25, 2021 and will run through Monday January 24, 2022.
The Art of Vaquero BBQ is $55 for museum members and $65 for non-members. In addition to the barbecue presentation and hands-on pit demonstration, the evening includes a three-course tasting to enjoy with wine and beer, and Davila’s special Dry Rub to take home. Space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis and tickets must be purchased in advance.
A world-recognized barbecue pit master and author, Davila is a third-generation pit master, chef and restaurateur at his family’s acclaimed Davila’s BBQ in Seguin. Davila has been featured as a guest chef on Food Network’s “The Kitchen” and “Barbecue Beatdown,” and at restaurants La Fama Barbecue and The Ugly American, in Bogota, Colombia. His book, “Cowboy Barbecue: Fire & Smoke from the Original Texas Vaqueros,” celebrates traditions of Latin America and Texas, taking inspiration from the vaquero lifestyle and his own family history, goes beyond standard grilling and offering techniques for smoking, cooking directly on the embers, underground, on a spit, and more. The book will be available for purchase and Davila will be signing copies during the event.
Davila’s BBQ’s special dry rub is available in more than two hundred H-E-B stores across Texas after Davila was named a finalist in the grocery chain’s Quest for Texas Best competition. Invented by Davila’s grandfather, the dry rub is used on all of Davila’s BBQ’s meats, including lamb, pork, brisket, and chicken. In addition to taking home Davila’s BBQ’s rub, there will be a raffle during the event and the prizes will include a Davila’s Decadent Dinner for four at the restaurant that includes a behind-the-scenes pit tour, two bottles of Davila’s BBQ sauces and a $25 gift certificate for a return visit. The dinner is a complete meal for four hungry people, featuring a wide array of menu items and a few off-menu items for everyone to enjoy.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum: Preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is located on the San Antonio River Walk at 210 W. Market Street in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building. Named in honor of the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs, and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden.
Adrian Davila. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
San Antonio Museum of Art celebrates the fall season with in-person and virtual events. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.
In celebration of the season, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is excited to announce their lineup of fall events, including online lectures, live performances, and trick-or-treating through the galleries. Starting on Saturday, September 28 from 6p.m. – 7p.m. one of the nation’s most acclaimed photographers, LaToya Ruby, will lead an online lecture “Using Photography for Social Change,” highlighting how art is a powerful tool for social transformation. Tickets are available online and are $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Check online to learn more about SAMA’s fall events. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)
San Antonians can learn more about their city’s deep brewing history on Friday, October 8, from 6p.m. – 7p.m. during the online lecture “Brewing History is American History” with Theresa McCulla, PhD, Curator of the American Brewing History Initiative at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. This talk will explore the role of beer in histories of technological innovation, immigration, and culture in San Antonio. Tickets are on sale here for $5 for members and $10 for non-members.
On Tuesday, October 12, San Antonio-based artist Jose Villalobos will perform in SAMA’s West Courtyard from 6p.m. – 6:30p.m. as part of the 2021 Texas Biennial. Having exhibited and performed nationwide, Villalobos’ San Antonio display reconciles the identity challenges in his life. Admission to the in-person artist performance is free.
Families can also enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the museum on Sunday, October 31 from 10a.m. – 5p.m. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes as they explore the museum’s galleries. Swords, scepters, weapons, wands, and full-face masks will not be permitted.
The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic former Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. The Museum hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.
La sabanía del peñasco blanco, Huásabas, 2012 Digital photograph on photographic paper. Photo: Werner Segarra, used with permission. Part of Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo, fall exhibit at the Briscoe.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum will transport everyone to the birthplace of the modern cowboy during its fall exhibition, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. Making its United States debut at the Briscoe, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo features celebrated photographer Werner Segarra inviting audiences to peer into the world of the Norteño Cowboys from Sonora, Mexico – not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. A series of opening events that includes a documentary, artist’s lecture, and tours spans September 23-26. Following a preview party on September 24, the exhibition opens to the public September 25,2021 – January 24, 2022. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)
With almost sixty images that span more than twenty years of the lives of the vaqueros, Segarra showcases the expansive landscape, their daily work, and the intimacy of their homes, not merely documenting the vaquero, but bringing forward through his images both meaning and a celebration of his subjects and their way of life. Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo takes you into the little-known culture of the cowboys of Sonora, Mexico, sharing aspects of their daily lives through the eyes and lens of Segarra. The photographs share the unique, passionate and strenuous life that these vaqueros lead. The exhibition is accompanied by Norteño music especially created by Leo Lopez. Video clips woven throughout the exhibition further illustrate the stories.
A professional photographer for more than thirty years, Segarra has participated in numerous group and individual exhibitions in various international galleries and museums. Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo showcases the lives and people Segarra has encountered by immersing himself in the Mexican cowboy world. Inspiration for Segarra’s work comes from personal experience after living in various countries around the world during his childhood and adolescence. Knowledge acquired throughout those years cultivated Segarra’s artistic sensitivity and respect for native cultures. The most significant encounter and inspiration for this exhibition was a student exchange that took him to northern Mexico. That experience captivated and motivated him to transmit his love and respect for this culture and share it with the rest of the world.
Exhibition opening events include:
“The Making Of” Vaqueros – Documentary Screening with Werner Segarra and Ellen Riojas Clark Thursday, September 23 from 6p.m to 8p.m. Instituto Cultural de Mexico.
Join the Briscoe at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico for a documentary screening and conversation with distinguished guest Ellen Riojas Clark, Ph. D., Professor Emerita in the Department of Bicultural Studies at University of Texas at San Antonio, and Werner Segarra, photographer of Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. A highly respected scholar, Dr. Clark’s received three National Endowment for the Humanities grants focused on Mexican American and Latino literature and culture research examines ethnic and cultural identity and cultural studies topics and is executive producer for the “Latino Artist Speaks: Exploring Who I Am” series. The event is free and open to the public.
Exclusive Preview Party: Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo Friday, September 24, from 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. The Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe Western Art Museum
Join photographer Werner Segarra and Briscoe CEO and President Michael Duchemin, Ph.D., for the first look at Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. The event includes complimentary valet, beer, wine, specialty cocktails, and light bites. Free for Briscoe members and $25 for future members, RSVP or purchase tickets by September 20. Tickets are also available by calling 210.299.4499.
Artist Lecture: Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo with Werner Segarra and John Philip Santos Briscoe Western Art Museum Saturday, September 25, from 1p.m. to 3p.m.
Listen in as Werner Segarra and guest moderator John Philip Santos take a closer look at how the videos and photographs of Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo were created and what inspired Segarra to pursue the subject. Following the lecture, Segarra will sign copies of his book, “Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo,” available at the Museum Store. The lecture and signing are free with museum admission.
A member of the board of directors of the Briscoe Western Art Museum, John Philip Santos serves as a University Distinguished Scholar in Mestizo Cultural Studies to the Honors College at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is the author of the acclaimed book, “Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation,” as well as “The Farthest Home Is in an Empire of Fire.” Santos has created an international forum for exploring mestizo cultural identity, or mestizaje, at UTSA and As an Emmy-nominated television producer, he has produced more than forty broadcast documentaries and news programs on cultural themes in sixteen countries for CBS and PBS.
Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo Artist Tour with Werner Segarra Briscoe Western Art Museum Sunday, September 26, from 1p.m. to 3p.m.
Join photographer Werner Segarra for a guided tour through Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo. Peer into the world of the Northern Mexican vaquero as an intimate observer and discover how Segarra was able to capture the life of the vaquero and a way of life that is on the brink of disappearing. Free with museum admission.
Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo is supported in part by the Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992, the Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation, and the Texas Commission on the Arts, with special consideration to the Wyatt Family Foundation.
Preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is located on the San Antonio River Walk at 210 W. Market Street in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building. Named in honor of the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs, and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden.
The DoSeum’s holiday exhibit is DoSeum Express: Tiny Trains and Trolleys. Photo: google
The DoSeum is proud to announce an exciting group of artists selected as part of its fifth annual Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program. For this year’s Artist-in-Residence exhibition, The DoSeum sought artists who traditionally work in miniature and who could bring an artistic touch to the holiday exhibit DoSeumExpress: Tiny Trains and Trolleys. “We are thrilled to work with these talented artists to launch a new holiday tradition for San Antonio Families” says Dan Menelly, DoSeum CEO, “The miniature worlds created by these artists for DoSeumExpress: Tiny Trains and Trolleys are imaginative, playful, and incredibly creative, we cannot wait to share them with our visitors.” (The DoSeum, 2021)
The 2021 DoSeum Artists-in-Residence are:
Daniel Rivera, who creates miniature worlds that provide the viewer with a sense of amusement and exploration while expressing complex subjects rendered in a miniature scale.
Kallie Cheves’ work involves photographic installations that hold deep roots in surrealism. Cheves also writes and illustrates children’s picture books using hand-cut paper miniature creatures. She enjoys weaving science with myth and lore to encourage social-emotional conversations between children and their caregivers.
Linda Vivenza began sharing small-scale dollhouse scenarios with running humorous and quotable narratives in 2013, primarily for the development of large-scale photos. Her life-like miniature displays capture interactions, which move people together to share common, funny moments in real life.
Randall Rudd was once an actual child himself and has fostered his interest in all things mechanical and miniature since inventing a working phonograph with Tinker Toys at age Aside from being a university professor, Rudd also delights in model railroading and creating automata (performing sculpture) for various museums.
Robert Wurzbach and Emily Kinder are a brother and sister team joining forces to create a special miniature world for The Kinder’s interest in miniatures began 10 years ago with the creation of Putz houses. She was intrigued by the concept of a tiny world of cardboard houses. From there a new creative world arose. Wurzbach’s interest in miniatures began as a child watching his mother and Grandmother make small decorations and desserts for every season. His favorite was the decorative peek-a-boo sugar Easter eggs.
This year’s artists-in-residence will apply their imagination, creativity, and out-of-the-box ideas to create distinct miniature sceneries children can view through pop-up bubbles and cameras. The exhibit is set to become a new holiday tradition for San Antonio families and will feature public workshops where AIR artists will share their art practice with children. DoSeumExpress: Tiny Trails and Trolleys opens on November 6, 2021, and on view through January 2, 2022.
“We are thrilled to work with these immensely talented artists to create a new holiday tradition for The DoSeum and San Antonio. We cannot wait to present these fantastical miniature sceneries in our gallery and offer a truly creative and unique new holiday experience.” – Meredith Doby, Vice President of Exhibits for The DoSeum
The DoSeum is much more than a children’s museum. It is a place where interactive fun and hands-on learning come together—a place where minds are always at play. The DoSeum offers exhibits, programs, camps, classes, and field trips designed for all learners, encouraging young minds to explore the joy of learning through connections to STEM, the arts, and literacy. Originally founded as San Antonio Children’s Museum, The DoSeum has grown over the past 25 years to become a premier leader in informal education, while still staying true to the mission of connecting families and transforming communities. The DoSeum is a 501 c3-non-profit organization.
Lady Arundel restoration. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.
Over the course of its 40-year history, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) has developed an expansive 30,000-object collection that represents human creation and experience from across thousands of years and from cultures spread across six continents. In its upcoming exhibition, 40 Years, 40 Stories: Treasures and New Discoveries from SAMA’s Collection, SAMA will present works from the collection that are currently held in storage and that have been selected by members of the Museum’s curatorial team as works of particular personal interest, inspiration, and fascination. Many of the 40 objects chosen for the show have been off view for numerous years, while others are being presented for the first time. In other instances, artworks capture little-known or under-studied artistic and cultural narratives. Together, the works engage audiences anew with SAMA’s broad-ranging holdings and highlight the depth, range, and dynamism of the collection. 40 Years, 40 Stories will be on view from October 16, 2021–January 2, 2022. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)
Among the highlights in the exhibition is the reinstallation of the monumental painting Mary, Lady Arundell of Wardour (1767) by the famed English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds. The full-length portrait was acquired by SAMA in 1981 and held a prominent position in its European decorative arts gallery for many years. In 2016, the painting was sent to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for a multi-year conservation project, which was completed this year. The newly conserved painting reveals a new depth of detail and color within Reynolds’ composition. The removal of old, discolored layers of retouching and varnish has given the portrait a fresher and more balanced look. Another work in the exhibition that is being presented following recent conservation is the late 17th- to early 18th-century Chinese handscroll, Peach Blossom Spring. The work depicts the tale of a fisherman who discovers a utopian community. The handscroll, which has been in storage for many years, was repaired and remounted, so that it can be safely unrolled for viewing.
40 Years, 40 Stories also presents for the first time several new acquisitions, including an exquisitely carved Islamic amulet that was acquired in 2013. The amulet is inscribed with 63 Names of God and a verse from the Qur’an, and was intended to invoke divine protection. The exhibition will also feature a recently acquired Petrosphere, a massive stone sphere that weighs more than 600 pounds and was produced by the ancient inhabitants of Costa Rica. Found in groups, these spheres demarcated features of the landscape for communities in the Diquís region, though their precise meaning is not yet understood. The exhibition will also be the first occasion to show Celia Eberle’s sculptural installation Moss Grotto (2016) at SAMA. Recently acquired in 2019, this monumental work invites contemplation of the inevitability of Nature and of human loss.
Other objects in the exhibition include embroidered textiles made by Salvadoran refugees who fled their country’s civil war in the 1980s that have never previously been shown; a mosaic depicting a Nereid that was thought to be an ancient Roman work but was later discovered to be a 20th-century copy after a floor in the Baths of the Seven Sages, Ostia; a richly carved Yoruba veranda post; and a painted portrait of Pola Negri, a femme fatale of 1920s and 30s Hollywood who retired to San Antonio and left her glamorous portrait to the Museum.
Works in 40 Years, 40 Stories will be organized loosely by subject, function, and aesthetic resonance, capturing the ways in which seemingly disparate objects relate to and connect in dialogue together. The exhibition is curated by Powers, with objects selected by members of SAMA’s curatorial, collections, and education teams.
40 Years, 40 Stories is generously supported by the Sue Denman Memorial Exhibition Fund, the Helen and Everett Jones Exhibition Fund, the Amy Shelton McNutt Exhibition Fund, and the Daniel Sullivan Exhibition Fund.
“All of the artworks featured in the exhibition have a story to tell about culture, community, and history. The exhibition provides an exciting range of creative and technical innovation through time and captures the ways in which material culture has always been and continues to be essential to both constructing and understanding the world in which we live. At the same time, re-examining our collection felt like the perfect way to celebrate the Museum’s 40th anniversary. It’s an opportunity to explore how the collection has evolved and is also instructive as we continue to bring works into our holdings that capture the diversity of artistic production across time, geography, and media.” – Jessica Powers, Interim Chief Curator and The Gilbert M. Denman, Jr. Curator of Art of the Ancient Mediterranean World.
The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. The Museum hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.
SA Examiner 