Pabst Blue Ribbon announces ‘The Mural Connection’ art walk

‘The Mural Connection’ will feature murals by a range of local, regional, and national artists. Photo: Pabst Blue Ribbon, used with permission.

Pabst Brewing Company is excited to announce “The Mural Connection,” a one-day art walk event taking place on Saturday, April 24, 2021, celebrating San Antonio’s arts community. As part of its commitment to supporting emerging artists, Pabst Blue Ribbon has partnered with the San Antonio Street Art Initiative (SASAI) and various artists to showcase new murals by local, regional, and national artists throughout downtown San Antonio. (Pabst Blue Ribbon, 2021)

Anyone interested in participating in “The Mural Connection” art walk can RSVP online. Tickets to participate in “The Mural Connection” are free by reservation only; limited tickets are available due to COVID restrictions. The after party will be open to the public, but participants who RSVP will have first access to the space. Masks and social distancing are enforced for each stop and hand sanitizer stations will be available at various stops along the way.

Participants in “The Mural Connection” will start at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) and end the walk at Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios in Southtown. The event will feature several stops along the trail, with one “hot stop” at Hopscotch where walkers can rest, grab something to drink, and take in the sights. The trail is as follows:

Start: 1p.m. – San Antonio Museum of Art – 200 W Jones Ave. As the starting point of the day, participants can check in at the Museum from 1p.m. to 2p.m. to scan the official event mural map QR code, featuring event details and the mural map for the participant’s journey. Participants can then experience the first mural by San Antonio artist Gary Sweeney and grab refreshments before they continue the rest of the mural walk. Participants are encouraged to find free parking at the SASAI pillars located on the corner of Quincy & St. Mary’s and walk a few blocks to the first stop at SAMA. Paid parking is also available at SAMA.

Former “San Antonio Brake & Clutch” Building – 891 Avenue B. Participants can view a mural by Los Otros at their leisure.

Pabst Marketing/Culture Building – Corner of Avenue B & 6^th St. Participants will have a chance to view murals by Angela Fox, Connie Chapa, and Jenkins2D at their leisure.

3p.m. to 4p.m. – “Hot Stop” at Hopscotch – 711 Navarro St., Suite 100. Participants are encouraged to stop along their journeys at Hopscotch’s lounge to refresh and take in the sights and sounds, including music by DJ Pop Guy Freakshow. Participants will be given a code to receive 30% off admission to experience the rest of Hopscotch’s interactive gallery at the day of the event or return and use the code for a future visit.

Corner of S. Alamo and Commerce St. Participants will have the chance to view a mural by Manola & Maria Ramirez at their leisure.

Corner of S. Alamo and Market St. Participants will have the chance to view an art installation by Essential Collective at their leisure.

328 Martinez St. Participants will have the chance to view murals by San Antonio artists James Supa and Albert Gonzales at their leisure.

812 S. Alamo St. Participants will have the chance to view a mural by Ricardo Oviedo aka Trout at their leisure.

Finish: 5p.m. – 8p.m. – Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios – 1112 S. St. Mary’s St. To close out the event, Pabst will host an artist reception at their recently opened gallery space to be installed by acclaimed street art gallery curator, Shek Vega of Gravelmouth Gallery. The celebration will feature music from DJ Rob Wolf, a mural by Ashley Dreyfus – Pabst 2020 Art Can Contest Winner, additional artwork, prizes, and more. The event will also feature a food truck vendor as well as refreshments.

Guests are encouraged to share pictures of their journeys on social media using the hashtags #Pabst and #SanAntonioStreetArt at the various stops along the way. Participants that tag and post at each of the mural stops will have a chance to win official prizes from SASAI at the reception at Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios from 5p.m. to 8p.m.

Artists involved in “The Mural Connection” include Gary Sweeney, Nik Soup, Shek Vega, Angela Fox, Connie Chapa, Jenkins2D, Manola and Maria Ramirez, Essentials Collective, James Supa, Albert Gonzales, Ricardo Oviedo AKA Trout, and Ashley Dreyfus – Pabst 2020 Art Can Contest Winner.

Pabst Blue Ribbon has done similar art walks in other cities across the globe, but following the company’s move to San Antonio last year, Pabst has tapped into San Antonio’s vibrant art culture. The brewing company hopes that “The Mural Connection” will encourage San Antonians to support local artists while becoming more familiar with walking and biking trails throughout downtown. The event also supports SASAI’s Phase III initiative to build “The Largest Outdoor Gallery in Texas™” and continue advocating for public art and its artists through SASAI’s signature Artist Development Program.

“Ever since Pabst’s headquarters relocated to San Antonio last year, the city’s various communities, especially its artistic community, have embraced us with open arms,” “Pabst has always been a supporter of change-makers and creative doers across the U.S., so we definitely want to highlight and support the doers here. San Antonio is filled with so much creativity and we’re excited to be a part of it.” – Moima Chowoe, Pabst Community and Social Impact Lead.

Since 1844, Pabst has been American-owned and operated, and is North America’s largest privately held brewing company. Pabst’s portfolio includes iconic brands with deep ties to American heritage, such as its flagship Pabst Blue Ribbon and others such as Lone Star, Rainier and Old Style. Their people and their brands are committed to embracing change and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

San Antonio Street Art Initiative (SASAI) is a private non-profit charity that focuses on two areas of advocacy: education and mural art programming. SASAI scouts talent to participate in the city’s best, highly visible, community projects that showcase their artwork on a larger scale and also seeks to create educational programming for career development. This ultimately allows our diverse and colorful city to be recognized and celebrated globally, across the world while advocating for artists through fair-pay, continued work opportunities, and professional development to aid in the artists’ continued career growth. To date, SASAI has completed almost 50 murals and advocated for the careers of over 36 artists.

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New interactive pop-up coming to Aztec Theatre

In Living Pixels’s Pabst Immersive Art Show will take place at the Aztec Theatre in April. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Pabst Brewing Company and Wide Awake are excited to announce a new interactive art pop-up at the Aztec Theatre in downtown San Antonio next month. The art experience titled In Living Pixels will feature seven San Antonio-based artists’ creative interpretations of the digital and natural world around them. The pop-up is free to the public and takes place April 9-15. (Pabst Brewing Company, 2021)

In Living Pixels is a series of immersive and interactive installations that allow guests to have a multi-dimensional view of themselves and the spaces around them. The artists and collectives featured in the exhibition are Wide Awake, Chris Sauter, Natalia Rocafuerte, Charlie Kitchen, Domeinic Jimenez, and Ryan Hunter.

In Living Pixels will contain five separate installations:

Garden Party – Wide Awake + Dom Jimenez – Guests will be surrounded by neon flowers, greenery, and more as they are invited to sit in retro lounge chairs while their faces are projected on vintage TV sets, though their bodies appear as they are, making for a unique photo opportunity.

Let’s Meet Up – Wide Awake + Alan Weissling Pallares – Guests can catch their reflections in 18 large mirror security domes as they seesaw back and forth.

Rainbow Xscape – Natalia Rocafuerte + Dom Jimenez – The installation will use cameras mounted on top of televisions and throughout the space that project images onto selected screens, while morphing the images through various color gradients.

Knowing and Seeing – Chris Sauter – The installation features a freestanding room with circular holes scattered through the walls allowing light to filter through the space creating a mildly hallucinogenic effect. The installation aims to inspire viewers to question their perceptions and the way they take in information.

Unnamed – Charlie Kitchen – Charlie Kitchen will use nature and optical illusions to create a space that makes guests look at the natural world differently.

In addition to the installations, In Living Pixels will also feature the Creators Lab, a space where two creators provide exploratory engagements inspired by the installations including nail art and aura photography. The Creators Lab is available on the opening weekend only (April 9-10) for the first three hours each day.

In Living Pixels will be open from 5p.m. to 10 p.m. each day and will take place in the Aztec Theatre located at 104 N St Mary’s St. in downtown San Antonio. The exhibit is free to experience, but time slots must be reserved to ensure a limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks will be required to walk through the installations. Tickets can be reserved online. In Living Pixels will also feature local DJs from Midnight Swim during operating hours and a bar on the upper deck of the theatre.

Since 1844, Pabst is American-owned and operated and North America’s largest privately held brewing company. Pabst’s portfolio includes iconic brands with deep ties to American heritage, such as its flagship Pabst Blue Ribbon and others such as Lone Star, Rainier, and Old Style. Their people and their brands are committed to embracing change and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Wide Awake creates and produces experimental and immersive art shows and specializes in connecting artists with community-driven brands. Founded by two San Antonio natives, Paloma Cortez and Pamela Rachél, Wide Awake has collaborated with a wide range of local and global partners to create engaging and thought provoking work. Mantra – “We believe in taking risks and cultivating experiences that inspire each of us to stay curious and connect on a human level.”

North Saint Mary’s Street

Exploring downtown Brownsville

Saturday I headed out to downtown Brownsville to check out the Art Cube Exhibit Lazos de mi Cuidad at Linear Park. Nine local artists painted the larger than life cubes as part of this year’s Charro celebrations and are now displayed outside the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art. It is nice to see an artist community in Brownsville and all these impressive works of art are colorful, represent the city well, and are definite conversation starters. Local artists Miriam Hernandez, Clarissa Martinez, Eduardo Del Angel, Sam Rawls, Monica Lugo, Josie Del Castillo, Alejandra Zertuche, Ruby Garza, and Jonathan Hernandez contributed to this art project that demonstrate Brownsville’s vibrant culture.

While there, I stopped by the Brownsville Farmers’ Market to see if anything caught my eye since I rarely actually purchase anything at these things. Not that they do not sell quality products, but I am so picky about what I buy even though I desperately want to support local vendors. To my surprise I noticed someone selling vegan pastries so of course I had to check it out. Kudos to Vegangela.tx for her tasty and cruelty free baked goods. That morning she had cupcakes and brownies so I went with a sampler of four cupcakes: the Chai Latte, Earl Grey, chocolate, and vanilla. Let me just say that the Chai Latte one was delicious; it is not a flavor you often see here in the Rio Grande Valley, so that is why I jumped at the opportunity. As a vegan, I am always looking to support local vegan businesses, since they are hard to come by and should be encouraged. I hear she sold out, that is awesome!

Stopping by downtown Brownsville on a Saturday morning was a definite pleasure. Next time I think I will take my time and check out the rest of the park and the surrounding businesses. I hear 7^th and Park is right around the corner and is vegan friendly.

San Antonio Museum of Art offers Master Classes this April

The Latin American Popular Art collection is one of the San Antonio Museum of Art’s extensive collection. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.

The San Antonio Museum of Art is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and museum curators are hosting a virtual Master Class series to celebrate the museum’s extensive collection. Each Monday in April, art enthusiasts will hear from the curators about their favorite pieces from the museum’s 40-year history of collecting art from around the world. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)

Master class dates are April 5, 12, 19, and 26. Tickets for the series are $200 and registration for the event is available online.

The San Antonio Museum of Art enriches lives through exceptional experiences with art. Its mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret significant works of art, representing a broad range of history and world cultures to strengthen our shared understanding of humanity.

West Jones Avenue

Blue Star Contemporary’s outdoor screening of CAM Perennial exhibition

Blue Star Contemporary will be screening the all-video CAM Perennial exhibition. Photo: google

Blue Star Contemporary, San Antonio’s first and longest-running contemporary art nonprofit, is pleased to announce its roster of Spring 2021 events in celebration of Contemporary Art Month and beyond. These events take place online, on-site, or at special venues following every precaution to ensure COVD-19 safety. More information on these events and how to register is available online. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2021)

First CAM Perennial exhibition Outdoor Screening
Thursday, March 11, 2021 | beginning at 6:30p.m. at 116 Blue Star

In partnership with Contemporary Art Month, BSC hosts an outdoor screening of a selection of videos in the first chapter of the 2021 all-video CAM Perennial exhibition, Here, the river runs both ways, by curator Doreen A. Rios. All artists included in the exhibition were selected by CAM guest curator Doreen A. Rios from the CAM Open Call.

Chapter 1: Territory as body
“Our task is to make trouble, to stir up potent response to devastating events, as well as to settle troubled waters and rebuild quiet places.” – Donna Haraway

RECAPTCHA (2020), Heather Warren-Crow, 4:04 min.
Conceptual Migrant (2020), Patty Ortiz, 7:01 min.
Don’t Shhh Me (2020), Patty Ortiz, 3:58 min.
The Romance of Seeking (2020), Hannah Spector, 5:32 min.
Visible nest (2020), Julia Zipporah, 1:00 min.
#BIRDEATINGOTHER (2020), Julia Zipporah, 2:00 min.
Institute of Memory (2015), Daniel Jackson, 2:50 min.
_AnOldRuinousVault_H264 (2021), Daniel Jackson, 2:10 min.
A Love Affair with the Desert (2020), Karen Y. Martínez, 2:55 min.

Second CAM Perennial exhibition Outdoor Screening
Thursday, March 18, 2021 | beginning at 6:30p.m. at 116 Blue Star

In partnership with Contemporary Art Month, BSC hosts an outdoor screening of a selection of videos in the second chapter of the 2021 all-video CAM Perennial exhibition, Here, the river runs both ways, by curator Doreen A. Rios.

Chapter 2: Territory as land
“The knowledge that makes a difference in changing the world is knowledge that travels and mobilizes, shifting and creating new forces and agents of history in its path.” – Anna Tsing

Uncertain Site (2020), Hugo Santana, 3:01 min.
Archive for the Unconceivable (2020), Hugo Santana, 8:08 min.
(be)coming home (2019), Francis Almendarez, 3:48 min.
Dinner as I Remember (2017), Francis Almedarez, 3:14 min.
untitled (point in movement) (2015), Betelhem Makonnen, 3:05 min.
(w)here is here (2015), Betelhem Makonnen, 2:33 min.
Separated Together (2020), Hedwige Jacobs, 0:10 min.
Personal Space (2020), Hedwige Jacobs, 0:59 min.
Oceanic feeling (2021), Hannah Spector, 7:59 min.
Impresiones y paisajes (2019), Verónica Gaona, 5:21 min.

About the 2021 CAM Perennial Exhibition:
Here, the rivers run both ways
Curated by Doreen A. Ríos
When thinking about territories it becomes clear that the first one we inhabit is our body. As we keep expanding the definition, we come to terms with the fact that most territories grow outside our skin, yet our need to visualize said territories is very much embedded in our collective imagination through its representation. Uncharted territories that become lines, traces, boundaries. Always in motion, always recreating their behaviors. Navigating real and imagined territories is an act of placing ourselves within a series of moving flows and everchanging landscapes. This exhibition expands on the notion of wandering, the intimate – yet collective – daydreaming and, of course, the cultural mythologies delineated by migration, gentrification, gender, and communication systems. Scripted in two chapters – territory as body and territory as land – this selection reveals a series of unstable and fragmentary cartographies where constant hybridization is key. The visitor becomes a traveler between physical and symbolic territories inside a city that behaves as a dynamic system in flux where art is released into the wild to activate other sensibilities outside the white cube.

Blue Star Contemporary announces Spring programs

Blue Star Contemporary’s programs celebrate Contemporary Art Month and beyond. Photo: google

Lottie Mae Lounge pop up exhibition featuring Jorge Villarreal
Saturday and Sunday, March 6 – 7, 2021, 10a.m. – 5p.m. at Phil Hardberger Park | 8400 NW Military Highway, San Antonio, TX 78231. Register at this link.

For San Antonio’s Contemporary Art Month, Lottie Mae Lounge is pleased to present the work of artist Jorge Villarreal in partnership with Blue Star Contemporary and the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy in a special pop-up exhibition. This two-day exhibition inside Lottie Mae Lounge, a fully renovated 1979 Airstream Sovereign, highlights Villarreal’s participation in BSC’s Berlin Residency Program in 2019, featuring artworks inspired by three months spent at the renowned Künstlerhaus Bethanien artist residency in Germany.

Xavier Gilmore performance of Anoriginal Drive for Contemporary Art Month kick-off.
Friday, March 5, 2021 | 6:30p.m. Online via @bluestarart Facebook Live. Livestream for viewing in-person at the CAM and Slab Cinema drive-in located in Artpace San Antonio’s parking lot at 513 N. Flores St. Click here to register via Eventbrite.

AnOriginal Drive is a multidisciplinary performance by Xavier Gilmore in collaboration with Andrea Vocab Sanderson, Anthony Francis, Kellen Stanley, Nick Long, and Edwin Stephens. Through sound, scent, and video, they explore the spiritual “Roll, Jordan, Roll” through improvisation and communication. This performance will officially mark the beginning of Contemporary Art Month in San Antonio.

Family Saturday art kit pick-up
Saturday, April 10, 2021 | 10a.m. – 6p.m. at 116 Blue Star while supplies last.

Family Saturdays at Blue Star Contemporary continue with the BSC Art Kit. Packed with self-guided activities and artist-created projects, the BSC Art Kit comes with everything you need to let your creativity and imagination take control. A self-guided scavenger hunt will take you through our galleries for a closer look at contemporary art and our at-home art projects will extend our exhibitions into the comfort of your home. Perfect for artists of all ages, but designed especially for children ages 5 – 9, the BSC Art Kit encourages families to explore BSC’s current exhibitions through fun-filled, hands-on activities that encourage reflection and creativity. Make a reservation to explore our gallery kit in hand. Family Saturdays in April will continue all month long while supplies last.

Texas Talks Art: Ryan Takaba with Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray
April 20, 2021,12:00p.m. 12:30p.m. via ZOOM. Register here.

Texas Talks Art is a multi-institutional initiative intended to introduce the work of artists across the state of Texas to a wider audience and to foster collaboration between local non-profit arts organizations. Taking the form of virtual 30-minute lunchtime talks, the series features 50 Texas artists and artist collectives in conversation with 50 Texas curators beginning in January 2021 and continuing throughout the year. Texas Talks Art is built on a belief in the need to work collectively to support the remarkable and diverse community of artists living and working in Texas. The series features an intergenerational roster of artists working across mediums and at differing points in their careers. Texas Talks Art encourages dialogue between arts professionals and emphasizes the broad range of concerns and questions that animate Texas-based artists.

“When did you forget you were an immigrant?”
Ongoing Through May 9. Participate by calling (210) 342-2667

Now through May 9, 2021 Blue Star Contemporary and Sanctuary City Project invites the public to reflect on its current exhibition by answering the question “When did you forget you were an immigrant?” To participate and leave a response call (210) 342-2667 and follow the prompts.

Sanctuary City Project is a social practice project of artists Sergio De La Torre and Chris Treggiari that engages communities to generate conversations around the history and policies of immigration in the US. Artists De La Torre and Treggiari invite the San Antonio community to reflect on their ideas, personal experiences, and histories with migration through call and response and additional community activations. The exhibition in the gallery includes screen printed posters installed and for take away, a digital timeline representing qualitative and quantitative research surrounding the sanctuary ordinances and immigration issues, a video work compiling peaceful immigration protests since President Trump’s election.

Blue Star Contemporary (BSC) is the first and longest-running nonprofit venue for contemporary art in San Antonio, Texas. Founded by artists and grown from a grassroots art exhibition in 1986, BSC arose from the need to provide a platform for the work and ideas of contemporary artists. As an artist-centric, educational, forward-thinking, inclusive institution that strives to exceed expectations, 30,000 residents and cultural tourists experience contemporary art with BSC each year through its exhibitions, public art projects, and education programs. In 2017, BSC became the only San Antonio arts organization to be W.A.G.E.-certified, solidifying its commitment to fair compensation of artists and creative professionals.

Exhibitions at the Briscoe Western Art Museum

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is welcoming 2021 with a wide range of exhibitions and programs, celebrating the new year immersed in the art and beauty of the West. The term “Western Art” may suggest cowboys on the range, yet the genre is as expansive as the region itself, showcasing the rugged beauty of the area alongside the diverse people and wildlife who call it home. The following are the museum’s 2021 exhibitions. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)

VISUAL VOICES: Contemporary Chickasaw Art

Through January 18, 2021

The new year opens with the final weeks of a modern view of Native American art that showcases stories of the West far beyond boots and spurs. VISUAL VOICES: Contemporary Chickasaw Art includes 15 Chickasaw artists and more than 55 artworks, features the artworks of present-day Chickasaw painters, potters, sculptors, metalsmiths, and weavers. In San Antonio on the last stop of its national tour, the exhibition tells a beautiful and compelling contemporary visual story. From oil and watercolor paintings to textiles and metals, glass and bronze, the artworks are unique, intrinsically Southeastern in design and distinctive among contemporary tribal artists. Chickasaw artists featured in the exhibition include San Antonio native Brenda Kingery.

2021 Night of Artists

March 27, 2021 Celebration and Auction

March 28 – May 9, 2021 Public Exhibition and Sale

The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s 2021 Night of Artists Exhibition and Art Sale marks 20 years of celebrating Western Art with an opening event that includes both in-person and virtual celebrations. The Night of Artists includes the viewing and sale of nearly 300 new works of painting, sculpture, and mixed media by 80 of the country’s leading contemporary Western artists. When COVID forced the 2020 in-person event to be cancelled, the museum successfully hosted the Night of Artists sale online. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Night of Artists, the Briscoe will again welcome a virtual audience, as well as host the event in-person, ultimately allowing more art lovers to participate than ever before through the Briscoe’s first-ever hybrid Night of Artists event. The public exhibition and sale will also span in-person and online.

Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western

May 28 – September 6, 2021

Premiering this summer at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western tells the dramatic story of the Hollywood Western from the late 1960s to the 1980s. Against a historical backdrop of social unrest, political turmoil, economic uncertainty, and generational change, competing cinematic visions of the Old West vied for Americans’ attention within the popular culture of the day. “True Grit,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” and “The Outlaw Josey Wales” are just a few of the classic Western films highlighted in this exciting new exhibition organized by the Briscoe. Featuring costumes, props, and dozens of vintage movie posters, Still in the Saddle immerses visitors in the history and artistry of the Western, Hollywood’s greatest genre.

Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Photography of the Contemporary Northern Mexican Cowboy

September 16, 2021 – January 17, 2022

Making its United States debut, Vaqueros de la Cruz Del Diablo features celebrated photographer Werner Segarra inviting audiences to peer into the world of the Northern Mexican Vaquero – not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. With almost 40 images that span more than 20 years of the lives of the vaqueros, Segarra reflects a complex contemporary composition of the everyday life of the vaquero. Offering realistic moments of how they view themselves, surrounded by the tools of their trade, intertwined with the realities of their existence, the images detail a legacy that reaches back over generations and is the birthplace of the modern cowboy.

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 and up to four members of their families. 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. The museum is operating at reduced capacity with health and safety protocols that require both staff and guests to wear masks. Temperature checks are also conducted upon entry.

San Antonio Museum of Art to launch ‘No Oceans Between Us’ in February

Wilfredo Lam, Untitled, 1965, charcoal and pastel. Art Museum of the Americas Collection. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

On February 12, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) will open ‘No Ocean Between Us,’ an exhibition that explores the art of Asian migrations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The exhibition features approximately 65 works of modern and contemporary art by Latin American and Caribbean artists of Asian descent, including painter and printmaker Wifredo Lam; installation artists Carlos Runcie Tanaka and Eduardo Tokeshi; painters Manabu Mabe and Tomie Ohtake; and video artist Laura Fong Prosper, among numerous others. The works included range from paintings and works on paper to installation and new media. ‘No Ocean Between Us: Art of Asian Diasporas in Latin America & the Caribbean, 1945–Present’ will remain on view through May 9, 2021. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2020)

The exhibition is organized around Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Panels within the exhibition provide brief descriptions of Asian diasporic communities and cultures in these countries as well as context for the histories of migrations from China, India, Indonesia, and Japan. Global forces such as colonialism, plantation labor, and war shaped the courses of Asian migration to Latin American and the Caribbean.

Some artists featured in the exhibition engage directly with these histories of migration and diaspora, the intergenerational Asian Latin American experience, or the hybridity of cross-cultural exchange. Many of the featured artists converse with global artistic movements of their moment. For example, the art of Wifredo Lam engages with the legacies of colonialism and enslavement in his home country, Cuba, while deploying the aesthetic language of cubism and surrealism. Peruvian artist Carlos Runcie Tanaka has leveraged the formal qualities of ceramics, origami, glass, and video installations to break down and examine existing cultural understandings of identity and history. The exhibition also features American artists who identify as part of these communities, including Guyana-born, Denver-based artist Suchitra Mattai, whose works in painting, fiber, drawing, collage, and video question historical narratives and colonialism and reclaim cultural materials.

‘No Ocean Between Us’ was inspired by the permanent collection of the OAS AMA | Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States, with additional loans from public and private collections. It was originally conceived by Adriana Ospina, OAS AMA’s Collections Curator and Educational Programming Manager, under the title Cultural Encounters: Art of Asian Diasporas in Latin America & the Caribbean, 1945–Present. At SAMA, the exhibition is being curated by Lucía Abramovich Sánchez, Associate Curator of Latin American Art, and Yinshi Lerman-Tan, Acting Associate Curator of American and European Art. Following its presentation at SAMA, the exhibition will conclude its tour at OAS AMA, opening there on June 5, 2021.

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. 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.

“Cross-cultural exchanges and dialogues have had an incredible impact on the development of global art movements and continue to shape the creation of art today. No Ocean Between Us offers an opportunity to learn about the under-explored influences of Asian artists in Latin America and Caribbean, as well as the history and contemporary identities of the region.” – Lucía Abramovich Sánchez, SAMA’s Associate Curator of Latin American Art

Calling all artists: Virtual Winter Art Show

The Harlingen Public Library is hosting a Virtual Winter Art Show. Photo: Harlingen Public Library, used with permission.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, the Harlingen Public Library hosted a Virtual Art Show and reached out to the community for submissions. Artwork submissions came in from all over the Rio Grande Valley in all age groups and due to the positive response from the community, the library is hosting another one this winter. The Harling Public Library is putting out an official call for art submissions for a Virtual Winter Art Show. Interested artists should send a photo of their work and responses. The photo should be high resolution, suitable for a family show and any medium is acceptable. All participants will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win some new art supplies. Submission deadline is Tuesday, December 8. The library website and social media will display the Virtual Winter Art Show. More information, as well as the Entry Form, is available online. (Harlingen Public Library, 2020)

The Harlingen Public Library provides dynamic and engaging services for a diverse and evolving community. Mission statement: “We exist to build bridges that strengthen the ties of our community. We create innovative pathways for people to connect with information and each other. Working together, the people of our community can experience infinite opportunities and growth. We are the bridge builders; we make ways where none exist.”

Hopscotch gets ready for the holidays

Hopscotch lounge. Photo: Hopscotch, used with permission.

Hopscotch, the uniquely curated immersive art experience that opened earlier this year in downtown San Antonio, is preparing for the holidays with decorations, giveaways, new festive cocktails, a holiday brunch and more. From November 27, 2020 through January 3, 2021, guests are invited to make Hopscotch a part of their holiday festivities this season. (Hopscotch, 2020)

Hopscotch Holidays will feature unique trees, including a white 12-foot tree, four seven-foot rainbow trees and two seven-foot zebra trees. There will also be plenty of holiday photo opportunities throughout the space.

The gallery’s food and beverage program is getting into the holiday spirit with festive cocktails that guests can sip as they stroll through the installations. Hopscotch’s seasonal cocktails that will be available from December 4th through January 3, 2021 include: Velveteen Rabbit (Hot) – Mexican Hot Chocolate – Hot Chocolate, Cinnamon and Jalapeno Infused Espolon Tequila; Mistletoe Marg – Desert Door Sotol, Lime Juice and Agave with a Floater of Pom and a Pomegranate or Cranberry Garnish; Sweater Vest – Chai and Orange Infused Treaty Oak Old Fashioned Cocktail and Año Nuevo – Deep Eddy Vodka, Simple Syrup and Prosecco with Cranberry Garnish.

Hopscotch will also host its second 2020 Hangover Brunch on Sunday, December 13. Guests are invited to say goodbye to the present year and usher in 2021 with specials from Smack’s Chicken Shack and music from vinyl DJ Aaron Peña. Hopscotch is closing out 2020 in the giving spirit and will offer 21 days of giveaways on its Instagram starting December 4, 2020 and ending January 1, 2021. The 21 items will be announced daily, and winners will be selected starting December 11, 2020.

Guests who want to do some holiday shopping can pick up a unique item at the gift shop and support local artists by purchasing items like one-of-a-kind Justin Parr glasses, Amada Miller sculptures and earrings, books and prints from Eva Marengo and Matt Tumlinson. Shoppers can also purchase a custom postcard from Gary Sweeney to send to friends and family this year. Proceeds from the sale of each postcard will benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. Hopscotch also has a range of other gifts and merchandise available for purchase, including gift cards to experience the gallery. Shoppers can visit the gift shop without purchasing admission into Hopscotch.

Hopscotch offers three-hour complimentary parking in the Travis Park Plaza Garage, making it an ideal starting point for guests to visit downtown San Antonio this holiday season. The Christmas tree in Travis Park is located directly across the street from Hopscotch and the San Antonio River Walk is only a few blocks away.

During the era of COVID-19, Hopscotch will be taking precautions to make sure the experience is safe for both staff and guests—including state of the art automated air decontamination systems, limited touch points, mandatory masks and temperature checks for guests and employees, HEPA HVAC filters, professional deep cleans, hand sanitizer stations throughout, limited venue hours and strict capacity limits.

Hopscotch brings together artists in collaborative environments to create distinctive shared experiences. Co-founded by entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, Hopscotch provides distinct experiences through the curation of local-centric, immersive, and experiential art. Hopscotch creates platforms for local, national and international artists to experiment with a wide spectrum of mediums and technology. Hopscotch’s aim is to elicit a sense of joy and wonder in the curated spaces, where guests may explore beyond their day to day reality. Hopscotch strongly believes in cultivating lasting relationships and a synergy with artists and the local communities they are in.

“It goes without saying that this has been a difficult year for most, so we wanted to offer an opportunity to bring joy to our guests and show our appreciation for our fans who have helped make Hopscotch a success. There is so much to see and do in Downtown San Antonio during the holiday season, and we are happy to add to that experience in our own safe way.” – Nicole Jensen, Hopscotch co-founder.

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Category: art exhibitions