Category: art exhibitions

Blue Star Contemporary announces Spring programs

Blue Star Contemporary’s programs celebrate Contemporary Art Month and beyond. 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)

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

There is still time to experience Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art at the Briscoe. The exhibit runs until Monday, January 18, 2021. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

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.

 

Briscoe Western Art Museum celebrates Native American Heritage month

The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Yanaguana celebration will take place November 21 and 22. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

November is Native American Heritage month and the Briscoe Western Art Museum is honoring the role that Native Americans played in shaping the American West with special events, exhibitions and family activities. The celebration spans both in-person events at the museum and activities to enjoy at home, as well as the museum’s annual Yanaguana:  Indian Arts Celebration, which will be a virtual event for everyone to enjoy November 21 – 22. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2020)

Named in honor of the Payaya people who were indigenous to the San Antonio area, “Yanaguana” was the word they used to describe what is now known as San Antonio River. Yanaguana: Virtual Indian Arts Celebration is free to enjoy online.

This year’s virtual event offers a glimpse into traditional and contemporary Native American culture, with musical performances and dancing, as well as storytelling and artist demonstrations. The celebration pairs with a visit to the Briscoe, where everyone can enjoy VISUAL VOICES:  Contemporary Chickasaw Art. Providing a modern view of Native American heritage from 15 contemporary Chickasaw artists, the traveling exhibition includes more than 55 artworks on display through January 18, 2021. The exhibition will be the main feature during Yanaguana, with both a virtual artists panel and the debut of the VISUAL VOICES virtual tour. Admission to VISUAL VOICES at the Briscoe is included with museum admission.

A traditional part of the Briscoe’s Yanaguana:  Indian Arts Celebration is an array of children’s activities focused on Native American heritage. With the event going virtual this year, the Briscoe invites everyone to “Bring Home the Briscoe” throughout the month of November. Part of the museum’s popular Lil Partners children’s programming, “Bring Home the Briscoe” features Western Art activities and hands-on art, letting children join in the celebration. The activity boxes are available for purchase both online and from the Museum Store.

Families who visit the Briscoe will also enjoy the family guide that accompanies VISUAL VOICES, providing a fun exploration of the exhibit, as well as Chickasaw art and culture. The guide is available for free within the VISUAL VOICES exhibition.

Yanaguana:  Indian Arts Celebration Schedule of Virtual Events

Saturday, November 21 – 10a.m. – Event Kick-Off and Blessing. Members of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation will open Yanaguana:  Indian Arts Celebration with a blessing.

11a.m. – Virtual Missions Tour. Join the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions to experience San Antonio’s Missions in a new way through a guided virtual tour by lineal descendants of Mission San José de Aguayo, Mission Concepción de la Purísima, Mission San Francisco de la Espada and Mission San Juan Capistrano. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the missions were built in the mid-18th Century by members of the Pampopa, Payaya, Sanas, Maraquitas, Pamaques, Quijanes, Tocanes and other tribes of the San Antonio area.

1p.m. – Ledger Art Workshop with George Curtis Levi. Ledger Artist George Levi leads participants through a historical and creative journey centered on ledger art—Plains-style narrative drawing.

2p.m.-  VISUAL VOICES Gallery Tour (Public Debut) – VISUAL VOICES program manager Laura Clark will lead a virtual tour of VISUAL VOICES:  Contemporary Chickasaw Art.

3p.m. – Flute Performance by Tim Blueflint Ramel. Artist, educator and performer Tim Blueflint draws his creative and musical influence from the memories and stories shared by his family and those who have graced his life. As a self-taught musician and artist, Blueflint has shared his improvisational traditional music, art and memories as a featured performer at venues throughout Indian Country and beyond.

Sunday, November 22 – 10a.m. Silversmithing Demonstration with Shane Hendren. A member of the Indian Arts & Craft Association (IACA), an organization committed to promoting the integrity of materials, Hendren shares his expertise as a silversmith.

11a.m. – Huichol Art with Karla Saenz. Karla Saenz will be demonstrating the ancient art of Huichol Art. While Huichol art is a relatively wide umbrella term, it is most commonly thought to encompass the production of beaded and string art, which is always brightly colored and features symbols, animals and designs which are centuries old and of great significance to the Wixáritari people.

Noon – Storytelling with Amy Bluemel. A gifted storyteller and educator, Amy Bluemel’s appreciation for cultural awareness came early. As the great-granddaughter of Eastman Kaney, an original Dawes Commission enrollee, Bluemel, a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation, often performs with the dance troupe Chikashsha Hithla during nationwide tours. She shares Chickasaw customs, and those of other southeastern tribes, with audiences of all ages.

1p.m. – Chickasaw Artist Board Panel Discussion. Join the Chickasaw Artist Board in a discussion about the VISUAL VOICES exhibition. Artists Joanna Underwood Blackburn, Kristen Dorsey, Margaret Roach Wheeler, Brent Greenwood, and Daniel Worcester will engage in a discussion of the show’s origins, the themes it is centered on and its significance for the Chickasaw Nation community.

2p.m. – Ty Defoe Dance Performance. Grammy-award winning performing artist and educator Ty Defoe (Oneida/Ojibwe) shares his culturally significant dance traditions through song, movement and storytelling.

The Native American Heritage “Bring Home the Briscoe” activity box includes many beautiful and diverse native groups of the West. Available for purchase through December 31, the box contains supplies to complete six different activities, plus a book and links to additional video content for added context. Activities include storytelling medallions, The Three Sisters, ledger art, mini canoe carving, basket weaving and pinch pots. The kits are ideal for children ages 6–12, making them perfect for keeping hands busy over Thanksgiving break. The kits are $20 for museum members and $25 for non-members. Available in the Museum Store, “Bring Home the Briscoe” can be ordered online with curbside pickup or shipping available.

Briscoe Western Art Museum’s fall exhibit: Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art

Brenda Kingery Pow Wow. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is giving everyone a modern view of Native American art and showcasing stories of the West that go far beyond boots and spurs during its fall exhibition, VISUAL VOICES:  Contemporary Chickasaw Art. The traveling exhibition, which includes 15 Chickasaw artists and almost 60 artworks, will be on display at the museum from Friday September 25, 2020, through Monday January 18, 2021. The public was invited to enjoy a first view of the exhibition during its opening reception on Thursday, September 24 and there will also be a virtual curator’s talk on Saturday, September 26. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2020)

Featuring the artworks of present-day Chickasaw painters, potters, sculptors, metalsmiths and weavers, 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 Brenda Kingery, Brent Greenwood, Daniel Worcester, Billy Hensley, Margaret Roach Wheeler, Norma Howard, Maya Stewart, Lisa Hudson, Dustin Mater, Paul C. Moore, Tyra Shackleford, Erin Shaw, Lokosh (Joshua D. Hinson), Joanna Underwood Blackburn and Kristen Dorsey.

Featured in the exhibition, Dustin Mater’s “Cosmic Warrior II”, a 2015 mixed media work that includes acrylic on molded plastic, as well as rabbit fur, deer antler and black lip oyster shell, is the stunning stormtrooper helmet that goes beyond anything George Lucas ever envisioned. And is definitely not a typical Native American headdress.

VISUAL VOICES Virtual Curator’s Talk

Saturday, September 26, 11a.m. – Noon

Join Ryan Badger, the Briscoe’s Curator of Education, and VISUAL VOICES: Contemporary Chickasaw Art curators, Dr. Manuela Well-Off-Man and Karen Whitecotton as they discuss VISUAL VOICES. Well-Off-Man, chief curator of the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, and Whitecotton (Citizen Potawatomi), the director of collections at the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, will discuss the background of the VISUAL VOICES exhibition as it closes out its national tour at the Briscoe. Tickets are free for museum members and $10 for nonmembers. Briscoe members please RSVP by phone: 210.299.4499 or email: rsvp@briscoemuseum.org.

VISUAL VOICES: Contemporary Chickasaw Art is made possible by a grant provided by the Chickasaw Nation, guidance from the Chickasaw Artist Board and assistance from First Americans Museum. This exhibition is also made possible with funding from Humanities Texas and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the federal CARES Act. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The museum’s health and safety protocols require temperature checks and that both staff and guests wear masks. Additional sanitizing and cleaning protocols are observed throughout the day and both visitor services and the museum store feature plexiglass shields for additional protection.

Museum hours are 10a.m. through 3p.m. seven days a week. 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.

OrigamiintheGarden² opens this weekend at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

White Bison by Kevin Box and Robert J. Lang. Photo: sabot.org

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibition, OrigamiintheGarden² this weekend.  It will be on display from Saturday September 19 to Sunday May 9, 2020. Making its Texas debut, this incredible outdoor sculpture exhibition, created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, captures the delicate nature of the origami paper art form in museum quality metal. Displayed within beautiful garden settings are examples of typical origami: soaring birds, gliding airplanes, galloping ponies, floating boats and emerging butterflies.  The exhibition features Box’s own compositions as well as collaborations with world-renowned origami artists Tim Armijo, Te Jui Fu, Beth Johnson, Michael G. LaFosse and Robert J. Lang. (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2020)

There will also be a variety of dedicated programs to get visitors involved with the OrigamiintheGarden² exhibit while abiding by CDC guidelines for COVID-19. These include a curated audio tour, paper-making and origami folding classes and Japanese cooking classes. Distance learning opportunities for school groups and adults will focus on the relationship between origami and engineering, the roles plants play in paper creating, the science of paper-making and the life cycle of the butterfly through the lens of origami.  This is all included with general admission and is free for members.

Opening weekend hours are 10a.m. to 2p.m. and includes guided and self-guided exhibition tours, origami inspired hands-on activities, storytelling by Sue Kuentz on Saturday only, cash bar and food prepared by Jason Dady, shaved ice and more. COVID-19 guidelines are listed online.

General admission: members – free, adults – $15, children ages 3 through 13 – $12, children under age 3 – free, military with valid ID – $13, students with valid ID – $13, Museums for All Discount – $3 (must show SNAP or WIC EBT card with valid ID; per person, up to four people). Tickets are available online.

Briscoe Western Art Museum announces monthly Locals Days

Briscoe Western Art Museum announces monthly Locals Days.

To thank the San Antonio community for its support, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is making the third Saturday of each month “Locals Day,” greeting locals with 50 percent off of general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days through Fall 2020, including September 19, October 17, November 21 and December 19. Since children 12 and under receive free admission, as do active duty members of the military, the Briscoe is the perfect spot for local families to enjoy. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2020)

Safe and Socially Distanced:  Travel West Without Leaving San Antonio

The Briscoe’s collection of Western art and artifacts showcases the stories of the West through visual art. Collection highlights include Santa Anna’s sword, works by Frederic Remington, Pancho Villa’s last known saddle, a fantastic Alamo diorama and artifacts, contemporary and historic paintings, sculptures, an impressive spur collection and other cowboy and Native American relics, weapons and photography.

One of the latest additions to the Briscoe is a bronze bust of President Lincoln sculpted by Gutzom Borglum, the artist who carved Mount Rushmore. The bust was crafted before Borglum began carving the likenesses of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Texas history fans will enjoy the Briscoe’s A-Tex Elliott Family Gallery, home to the museum’s popular display on the Battle of the Alamo. Featuring a legal document signed by Travis when he was working as a lawyer in San Felipe de Austin on the eve of the Texas Revolution, the gallery offers a new glimpse into William Barret Travis’ life before the Alamo.

Visitors may enjoy self-guided tours, watch short videos and learn more about the artists behind the works through the Briscoe’s app, available for iOS systems. Lil Partner activities for children are available on the app as well as the museum’s website through the museum’s “Beyond the Briscoe” program. The entire family can enjoy a scavenger hunt that explores the museum, play musical match-up or musical bingo, bringing the museum’s extensive collection to life for all ages.

The Briscoe continues to operate at 50 percent of its admission capacity by monitoring attendance through ticket counts. The museum encourages social distancing through its acre and a half campus on the banks of the River Walk, with outdoor displays that include 32 sculptures extending from the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden and a lush public space that features a beautiful courtyard surrounded by bronze sculptures depicting iconic figures of the American West. The Briscoe’s collection also spans 14 galleries in a restored 1930s building that offers high ceilings and spacious areas for guests to stay safely socially distanced. The museum’s health and safety protocols require temperature checks and that both staff and guests wear masks. Additional sanitizing and cleaning protocols are observed throughout the day and both visitor services and the museum store feature plexiglass shields for additional protection.

Museum hours are 10a.m. through 3p.m. seven days a week. 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.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s mission is 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 museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden.

“Like everyone else, we’ve been impacted by COVID-19. We’re grateful to the San Antonio community for its continued support. Whether it’s the story of the cowboy, the vaquero, the Native American or the wildlife that still roams the range, Western history is unique to the United States. San Antonio played a key role in shaping the West, making it a must for locals who enjoy our diverse history.” – Michael Duchemin, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Briscoe Western Art Museum.

PechaKucha San Antonio announces Volume 39 for this week

Eric Cooper, President/CEO will be one of the speakers at PechaKucha San Antonio Volume 39 on Thursday September 10. Photo: Josh Huskin, 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 the lineup for its Volume 39 edition, scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2020, live streamed on PechaKucha San Antonio’s YouTube and Facebook. The night begins with presentations starting at 7p.m. This will be PechaKucha San Antonio’s second online event to practice safe social distancing during these uncertain times.  (PechaKucha San Antonio, 2020)

Volume 39 will feature a talented group of locals. The six presenters include:

Eric Cooper – President/CEO

Emilie and Tatu Herrera –  Entrepreneurs

Angelica Holmes – Executive Director/Camp Founder

Celina Montoya – Community Leader

Cherise Rohr-Allegrini – Epidemiologist

Marc Anthony Smith –  Musician/ Philosopher

Emcee for the evening will be local publicist and PechaKucha SA former presenter Christian Reed-Ogba. Musical guest for the evening will be local band Dreambored. This event will be completely free and donations are encouraged to help support MOVE Texas and fund PechaKucha San Antonio. To donate, please visit Las Casas Foundation online. Donations will be split equally between MOVE Texas and PechaKucha San Antonio.  

Everyone who donates will be entered to win a curated gift basket that will be raffled off at the end of the event. The gift basket will include local goodies like a Sage & Honey grazing box, certificate for a Ben Yanto Visuals porch photo session, Tio Pelon’s Salsita, Wildflower Caramels, Twang premium salts and seasonings, and Lone Star Rio Jade Beer. PechaKucha San Antonio is presented in partnership with the Las Casas Foundation.

Pronounced “PEH-chuh KOO-chuh,” PechaKucha is a 20 image x 20 second arts and cultures series. Speakers 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 showcases 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.