Stephen Garza-Guzman and Nicole Amri announce first in-person events at Westside location and registration for 2021-2022 school year. Photo: google
Following the recent announcement of SAY Sí’s executive evolution, SAY Sí’s new Co-Executive Directors Stephen Garza-Guzman and Nicole Amri are excited to welcome the community into its new location as they prepare for the return of in-person events and student applications for the 2021-2022 school year. After delays to its official opening due to the pandemic, SAY Sí is excited to open its doors to the Westside for the first time as construction on the first phase of the new location ends. In order to remain accessible, SAY Sí will continue to offer virtual programming to serve as many students as possible throughout the upcoming school year. (SAY Sí, 2021)
“How often does a new leader have such blessings? Our mission is tried and true, and we’ve had the honor of growing up with and around our powerhouse of a staff. All this to serve students, parents and alumni who are truly the energy and power behind our organization. We’re ready.” – Nicole Amri, Co-Executive Director of SAY Sí.
Co-Executive Directors Stephen Garza-Guzman, a nine-year employee of SAY Sí, and Nicole Amri, a SAY Sí alumna and employee, plan to take what they have learned from the organization to build upon existing programs and serve more youth as they transition into their new roles and open the doors of the 1310 S Brazos location this August. As the organization continues to establish its new home in 78207, the leadership team looks forward to making more meaningful connections on San Antonio’s Westside.
“We are eager to recruit new students again, pilot new creative mediums and deepen our service to new populations,” – Stephen Garza-Guzman, Co-Executive Director of SAY Sí.
After graduating the class of 2021 and taking a short break this summer, SAY Sí will welcome the return of its students back into its studios starting this August, as well as four major in-person events for the public, including:
August: Back-to-School Art Supply Drive As part of many efforts to put school and art supplies in the hands of San Antonio youth, SAY Sí will give away free art supply kits to elementary- and middle school-aged students on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 10 a.m. to Noon at SAY Sí (1310 S. Brazos St. San Antonio, TX 78207).
September: The San Antonio Show Centered around local artists, both established and emerging, this celebration of San Antonio’s LatinX roots will dig into the past, present and future, and showcase all the things SAY Sí loves about San Antonio. The exhibition will be free and open to the public. Official dates will be shared at a later time.
November: Muertitos Fest SAY Sí will celebrate both Native American Heritage Month and Día de los Muertos in a slow reopening of in-person events/activities. More details to be announced in the coming weeks.
December: We Are Now: Youth Voices During Challenging Times In collaboration with UP Partnership, SAY Sí is taking submissions for this city-wide high school art show. For more information or to apply, contact SAY Sí.
Applications for the 2021-2022 school year will open on August 1, 2021. Updates and more information on the application process can be found online.
Founded in 1994, SAY Sí is a national award-winning, art-based nonprofit youth development program located in San Antonio, Texas. The goal of the organization is to provide San Antonio area students in grades 6-12 with the opportunity to develop artistic and social skills in preparation for higher educational advancement and career building. SAY Sí programs serve over 200 students from all of San Antonio’s school districts – in addition to serving 4,000 youth in community programs. SAY Sí’s unique approach to education has placed the organization on the national stage, with recognition as one of the top out-of-school-time organizations in the country by The Wallace Foundation, as well as serving as one of seven international youth arts organizations chosen to receive an inaugural Creative Catalyst Award by Adobe Project 1324 in 2016.
Yesterday the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) announced the acquisition of important historic Chinese artworks, including a gilt openwork crown and a gilt plaque decorated with a standing lion, both from the Liao dynasty (907–1125); a set of jade belt plaques from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), and a set of gilt silver hairpins embellished with kingfisher feathers from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). These new artworks expand SAMA’s stellar collection of Chinese art, which has particular strengths in ceramics from the dawn of Chinese civilization to modern time. The new acquisitions are part of an ongoing effort to enhance under-represented areas within the Museum’s wider Asian art collection such as metal work and jade. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)
“The artworks announced today capture the incredible artistry and skill of Chinese craftsman from across history, while also illuminating the importance of these objects—and the imagery and material they hold—to Chinese culture and society,” said Shawn Yuan, Associate Curator of Asian Art. “We are delighted to enhance the Museum’s Chinese art holdings with these stunning works, which further our ability to share narratives and develop understanding of Chinese material culture through time.”
Crown China, Liao dynasty (907-1125) Gilt bronze H. 11 7/16” Purchased with funds provided by the Bessie Timon Endowment Fund 2021.1.1
The magnificent gilt crown is a mortuary item for a noblewoman of the semi-nomadic Khitan people, who lived in today’s northern China and Mongolia in the 11th to 12th century. The domed cap is covered with chased floral scrolls and surmounted by a lotus flower and a now-missing deity. On each of the attached standing “wings,” two glorious phoenixes, with wide spreading wings and long tails, are positioned among scudding clouds. This crown is an example of the luxurious lifestyle of the Khitan elite, who established the powerful Liao dynasty and controlled an enormous landmass bordering Korea to the east and central Asia to the west. Acquiring this crown helps the Museum to present a more complete image of the rich Liao dynasty material culture, along with the Museum’s expansive collection of Liao ceramics.
Plaque with a Standing Lion China, Liao dynasty (907-1125) Gilt bronze L. 8 3/8” W. 4 7/8” Purchased with funds provided by the Bessie Timon Endowment Fund 2021.1.2
The gilt bronze plaque decorated with a standing lion is an example of the impressive craftsmanship of the Liao dynasty. The energetic lion, hammered in low relief, stands on his left hind leg while thrusting the other forward. The lion’s broad chest rises, and his massive head turns backward as his flamboyant mane sweeps upward. Under the bushy eyebrows, the lion’s eyes focus intensely on a flaming pearl. The imagery has a Buddhist origin: the lion guards the Buddha’s teaching while the flaming pearl represents the Buddha’s wisdom. The images of a lion with protective power are rarely seen on other Liao works in the Museum’s collection.
Belt Plaques China, Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Jade Elongated tab: 3.5”x1.4”; rectangular: 3.1”x1.4”, 2.2”x1.4”, 1.4”x0.7”; tear-drop: 1.4”x1.3” Purchased with funds provided by the Bessie Timon Endowment Fund 2021.1.3.a-r
The set of eighteen jade plaques is the first important jade work to enter the Chinese collection. Jade has been China’s most valued gemstone since the dawn of its civilization. These plaques were once attached to belts worn by noblemen. The rectangular plaques are carved in high relief with lively scenes of male figures teasing frolicking lions with ribbons—an auspicious subject with a long history in Chinese art. The hardness of jade is second only to that of diamonds. The delicate carvings on these plaques present the impressive craftsmanship of the jade carver.
Hairpins China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) Silver and kingfisher feather 5 ¾” to 5 ¼”x3 ¼” by 3 1/8” Purchased with funds provided by the Bessie Timon Endowment Fund 2021.1.4.a-c
The set of three gilt silver hair pins is an exciting addition to SAMA’s collection of Chinese dragon robes, embroidered brocade, shoes, and jewelry—all items from the wardrobes of upper-class families. All three hairpins are inlaid with kingfisher feathers, whose colors are as brilliant as azurite, lapis, cobalt, and turquoise. They were iridescent under the sunlight, creating a dazzling visual effect. Kingfisher feathers were a luxury material used on hair ornaments and crowns for thousands of years. The dominant image on each hairpin is a stylized bat with foliate wings outlined in thin silver. Bats are considered auspicious because the word bat is pronounced the same as luck and blessing.
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.
Plaque with a Standing Lion China, Liao dynasty (907-1125) Gilt Bronze L. 8 3/8″ W. 4 7/8″ Purchased with funds provided by the Bessie Timon Endowment Fund 2021.1.2 Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Blue Star Contemporary presents the work of Doerte Weber, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Terran Last Gun. Photo: google
Blue Star Contemporary (BSC), San Antonio’s first and longest-running contemporary art nonprofit, announces the opening of three new summer 2021 exhibitions, opening to the public on Thursday July 1, 2021. The solo exhibitions feature the work of Doerte Weber, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Terran Last Gun. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2021)
Doerte Weber presents Shed, a collection of weavings reflecting on COVID-19, everyday life during the pandemic, and climate issues. Joanna Keane Lopez is a multidisciplinary artist whose work blurs boundaries between contemporary sculpture and architecture through the medium of adobe mud. Her BSC presentation will include a newly commissioned sculptural work. Terran Last Gun presents an exhibition of ledger drawings, a form which rose to prominence among Native American artists in the mid-1800s and continues today.
In her work, Doerte Weber reflects on the emotions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic as she worked on more than 45 handwoven towels. As Weber worked on the loom, she experimented with patterns, colors, designs, and inscriptions. The resulting work is a direct reflection on the feelings of frustration, worry, and acceptance.
Joanna Keane Lopez is a multidisciplinary artist whose work blurs the boundaries between contemporary sculpture and architecture through the medium of adobe mud. By working with materials of adobe architecture, earthen plaster, and alíz (a clay slip paint) her work addresses sculpture’s relationship with land. Through the passing down of knowledge of the vernacular architecture techniques of the greater Southwest, Joanna creates work that seeks healing and reparation of fragmentation towards land, home, family, and community that is connected to her own multi-generational roots in New Mexico.
Terran LastGun creates a visual interpretation of nature, the cosmos, cultural narratives, and recollections in reduced geometric aesthetics and vibrant energetic color harmonies. Often referencing Piikani painted lodges and visual iconographic vocabulary, his work explores the varying relationships between color, shape, nature, and sky. Piikani or Blackfoot painted lodges are visual masterpieces of the Great Plains and are pre-European invasion classic art. Through various art making approaches, Terran Last Gun seeks to connect the ancient to the contemporary while creating visual color stimulation. His presentation at BSC, features ledger drawings which explore and visually dissect the three visual tiers of most Piikani painted lodges with a focus on the top and bottom zones, and the various narratives that accompany them and make connections to the land and sky.
For the first time at Blue Star contemporary, the exhibitions are accompanied by an interactive app featuring in-depth exploration through gallery texts, visitor prompts, and information aimed at giving visitors a broader context to engage with the works of art. The newly launched app is free to download and available at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
“Last month, we saw great energy and excitement in our galleries as people enjoy their new freedom and venture off to see art in person. This app has allowed our visitors to have an enhanced on-site experience, but it has also allowed them to spend more time with the exhibition content once they are back home and take time to reflect on the work they saw.”
Mary Heathcott, Executive Director
All BSC’s summer exhibitions will be on view through September 5, 2021. Terran Last Gun’s exhibition was made possible in part by First Peoples Fund. Blue Star Contemporary’s exhibitions are supported in part by the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Blue Star Contemporary (BSC) is the first and longest-running nonprofit space 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, BSC welcomes 30,000 residents and cultural tourists each year to experience contemporary art through its exhibitions, public art projects, and education programs. In 2016, BSC became the first San Antonio arts organization to be W.A.G.E.-certified, solidifying its commitment to fair compensation of artists and creative professionals.
Blue Star Contemporary is collaborating with Darmstädter Sezession to support the global contemporary art community and strengthen ties between San Antonio and Darmstadt, Germany. Photo: google
Blue Star Contemporary (BSC) is delighted to announce its partnership with The Darmstädter Sezession (das), one of the oldest artist associations in Germany, for its 2021 Prize for Young Artists. Founded in 1919, The Darmstädter Sezession of Darmstadt, Germany is an organization whose promotion of young artists is an integral part of its activities. Every year, the artist association awards an outstanding young contemporary artist recipient as part of an open competition and exhibits their work. Projection/Projektion, this year’s program, will be presented in partnership with Blue Star Contemporary and includes video exhibition screenings in both cities and three monetary prizes. For the 2021 award, both organizations invite video artists to submit works for consideration. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2021)
San Antonio and Darmstadt have been sister cities since 2017. As an extension of their Sister Cities International partnership, BSC and das are excited to collaborate on this competition supporting the work of international contemporary artists. Like BSC, the das has a long-standing history of supporting artists, and particularly of promoting the careers of emerging artists.
The title Projection/Projektion refers not only to this year’s presentation format of video works, but also to the nature of the collaboration and the general need to develop new visions of the future. Projections, whether understood artistically, economically, politically, or psychologically, always have something to do with expectations. They can be a means of exploring paths into the near future and are thus an important tool in the navigation of societies.
This year’s awards are divided into three categories: Projection San Antonio, Projektion Darmstadt, and the Carlo-Mierendorff-Prize:
Projection San Antonio Blue Star Contemporary’s call for artist entries invites San Antonio-based artists who work with the camera. Applicants are invited to submit up to one video work of no more than 10 minutes in length through the online open call. A selection of up to 12 works will be chosen for the shortlist by a jury of curatorial professionals and screened at multiple sites in San Antonio. The shortlist works will be screened alongside audiovisual works by Darmstädter Sezession members and the Projection/Projektion Darmstadt winner. The San Antonio open air screenings will be presented in partnership with the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office during the 6th annual World Heritage Festival and are scheduled for presentation at the historic Mission Marquee Plaza on Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9. From this selection, a San Antonio artist will be chosen as the winner of the Projection San Antonio prize and will receive $6,000 USD. The prize-winning and shortlisted films will be presented as part of the open-air cinema in Darmstadt.
The Projection/Projektion San Antonio screenings and award are made possible by the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts and Culture and Office of Global Engagement. Information on the screenings is available online.
Projektion Darmstadt Each year, the Darmstädter Sezession hosts a competition for contemporary artists. This year, for the first time, the Darmstädter Sezession’s call for artist entries exclusively invites young artists who work with the camera. Open to all artists everywhere born after January 1, 1981, applicants are invited to submit up to one video work of no more than 10 minutes in length through their online platform. A selection of up to 12 works will be presented during a two-week open-air screening in Darmstadt. From this selection, a jury will choose the winner. The winner of the category Projektion Darmstadt will receive 5000€. The winning work will be shown alongside a selection of video works by members of the Darmstädter Sezession at screenings in San Antonio.
Carlo-Mierendorff-Prize For the first time, the Darmstädter Sezession will offer a prize for people who reflect on art through language. Whether this reflection takes place in writing, in the form of a podcast, or as a video contribution on the Internet is completely open. The Darmstädter Sezession seeks people who offer new approaches and perspectives on contemporary art. The competition is open to all applicants born after January 1, 1981, regardless of their nationality or place of residence. However, submissions must be in German or include a German translation. The call is directed at all persons who regularly publish texts, audio contributions, or videos about art. The winner will be selected by a jury of experts and will receive 1500€. The prize money includes the assignment to write an article about the winning artwork from Projektion Darmstadt.
Contributions for all categories can be submitted via the online CuratorSpace platform. Only applications that have been submitted completely and on time via this platform will be admitted to the competition. Information about how and what to submit can be found online.
The open calls are live now through July 16, 2021. Shortlists will be announced on August 16, 2021.
“After several months of facing a world-wide health crisis and the resulting isolation between nations, we could not be more proud to participate in a program that supports artists and reminds us we are still part of a global arts community. It’s truly special to find an organization whose values and goals align with ours, especially when it’s on the other side of the world and in one of San Antonio’s sister cities.”
Mary Heathcott, Executive Director of Blue Star Contemporary
Blue Star Contemporary (BSC) is the first and longest-running nonprofit space 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, BSC welcomes 30,000 residents and cultural tourists each year to experience contemporary art through its exhibitions, public art projects, and education programs. In 2016, BSC became the first San Antonio arts organization to be W.A.G.E.-certified, solidifying its commitment to fair compensation of artists and creative professionals.
Jenelle Esparza, Continent. Photo: Jenelle Esparza, used with permission.
The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) announced yesterday that it has acquired eight artworks by seven San Antonio-based artists, including Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Jenelle Esparza, Joe Harjo, Jon Lee, Ethel Shipton, Chris Sauter, and Liz Ward. The acquisitions are part of the Museum’s Initiative to Acquire Art by Contemporary San Antonio Artists, which was developed to enhance the Museum’s commitment to support the city’s visual artists by acquiring works for its collection. The artists were chosen with the support of an Advisory Committee comprised of San Antonio-based visual artists, professors, collectors, arts leaders, and Museum staff and Trustees, who have also made recommendations for additional artists whose work could be purchased in the future. The Committee was Co-Chaired by SAMA Trustees Katherine Moore McAllen, PhD, and Dacia Napier, MD. All of the artworks, which include textiles, painting, photography, prints, and sculpture, mark first entries by the artists to SAMA’s collection. The new acquisitions are scheduled to go on view at the Museum in late fall, with more details about the presentation to follow. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)
Over the past several years, as part of its vision to diversify its collection and best represent its community, SAMA has placed a particular emphasis on acquiring works by artists from San Antonio as well as from across Texas. Recent acquisition announcements have included works by Texas-based artists Ana Fernandez, Kirk Hayes, Earlie Hudnall Jr., Michael Menchaca, Marcelyn McNeil, Daniel Rios Rodriguez, and Liz Trosper. In 2020, SAMA also presented Texas Women: A New History of Abstract Art, which focused on women artists from across the state that have and continue to contribute to the development of abstract art—a subject that previously had not been explored in depth. Artist Liz Ward, whose acquisition was announced today, was among the artists featured in the exhibition.
More details on each of the artist and artworks below:
Jennifer Ling Datchuk (American, born 1980) Enter the Dragon, 2020 Porcelain, ceramic decals from Jingdezhen, China, wood, gold mirrors 65 × 16 × 5 in. (165.1 × 40.6 × 12.7 cm) San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with The Brown Foundation Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund and funds provided by Dr. Katherine Moore McAllen, Dr. Dacia Napier, Edward E. (Sonny) Collins III, and The Sheerin Family, 2021.2
Trained as a ceramicist, Jennifer Ling Datchuk’s practice is grounded in explorations of identity, beauty, and femininity—drawing from her own experience as an Asian American woman. Utilizing found and handmade ceramics and porcelain motifs in her sculptures, installations, performances, and photographs, Datchuk calls attention to both historic and contemporary cultural appropriation, while also blurring the boundaries between craft and fine art. Datchuk was named 2021 Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist by the Texas State Legislature.
Jenelle Esparza (American, born 1985) Continent, 2017 72 × 100 in. (182.9 × 254 cm) Handmade quilt, recycled fabric and clothing, embroidered blocks, batting, cotton blends San Antonio Museum of Art, Gift of Zoe A. Diaz, 2021.8
Jenelle Esparza’s multidisciplinary practice examines the connections between agriculture, gender, race, and bodily experience. Through photography, textiles, and installations, Esparza uncovers the history of cotton farming in South Texas and its principally Mexican American labor force.
Joe Harjo (Muscogee Creek, born 1973) The Only Certain Way: Faith, 2019 24 Pendleton beach towels, 24 custom memorial flag cases 78 × 104 × 4 in. (198.1 × 264.2 × 10.2 cm) San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with The Brown Foundation Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund and funds provided by Dr. Katherine Moore McAllen, Dr. Dacia Napier, Edward E. (Sonny) Collins III, and The Sheerin Family, 2021.3
Joe Harjo is a multidisciplinary artist from the Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma. His practice redresses the historic erasure of Native American art, culture, and people. Through photography, sculpture, performance, and installation, Harjo explores Native American identity, debunks stereotypes and myths surrounding Indigenous People, and asserts the vibrant, contemporary presence of Native communities.
Jon Lee (American, born South Korea, 1968) O1701, 2017 and O1702, 2017 Woodcut 17 × 12 in. (43.2 × 30.5 cm), each San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with The Brown Foundation Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund and funds provided by Dr. Katherine Moore McAllen, Dr. Dacia Napier, Edward E. (Sonny) Collins III, and The Sheerin Family, 2021.4.1-2
Jon Lee’s woodcuts explore the poetic subtleties of color and line, reinventing traditional printmaking processes and materials. Born in Seoul, he draws on his native Korea’s rich and long history of printmaking, which includes the implementation of moveable type predating Gutenberg’s fifteenth-century printing press. For over ten years, his practice has focused on a traditional Japanese woodcut technique called mokuhanga that he honed during residencies at the Mokuhanga Innovation Lab in Japan, where O1701 and O1702 were printed.
Chris Sauter (American, born 1971) Shape of the Universe, Kandariya Mahadeva, 2013 Cut acrylic mounted photography, Sintra 60 × 30 in. (152.4 × 76.2 cm) San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with The Brown Foundation Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund and funds provided by Dr. Katherine Moore McAllen, Dr. Dacia Napier, Edward E. (Sonny) Collins III, and The Sheerin Family, 2021.5
Chris Sauter is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores connections between biology and culture, science and religion, the personal and the universal, and the past and the present. He often deconstructs materials in order to reconstruct them in new ways that challenge viewers’ perceptions.
Ethel Shipton (American, born 1963) The Valley – RGV, 2021 Archival digital prints on Hahnemühle German Etching Matte paper Series of 6 prints, Edition 1/8 24 × 36 in. (61 × 91.4 cm), each San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with The Brown Foundation Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund and funds provided by Dr. Katherine Moore McAllen, Dr. Dacia Napier, Edward E. (Sonny) Collins III, and The Sheerin Family, 2021.6.a-f
Ethel Shipton is a conceptual artist, who works across painting, installation, printmaking, photography, and text. She grew up in Laredo, TX, and her experience of a fluid US-Mexico border informs her practice, which focuses in particular on place, space, language, time, and movement. Her focus on signage observed along Texas roadways is an ongoing body of photo-based works on paper that began in 2014.
Liz Ward (American, born 1959) Ghosts of the Old Mississippi: Dismal Swamp/Northern Lights, 2015 Watercolor, gesso, silverpoint, pastel, and collage on paper 71 5/8 × 31 7/8 in. (181.9 × 81 cm) San Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with The Brown Foundation Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund and funds provided by Dr. Katherine Moore McAllen, Dr. Dacia Napier, Edward E. (Sonny) Collins III, and The Sheerin Family, 2021.7
Liz Ward’s practice—which includes paintings, drawings, and prints—is informed by natural history and our current environmental crisis. Ghosts of the Old Mississippi, a series of fifteen large-scale drawings, is based on maps of the ancient courses of the Mississippi River and reflects on society’s relationship to the environment.
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.
New cocktails at the Hopscotch Lounge: the Fiesta Frozen and the Pride Paloma. Photo: Hopscotch, used with permission.
Hopscotch, the new immersive art gallery in downtown San Antonio, is excited to announce a variety of programming, specials, and more for the month of June including new drinks and events for a cause. The gallery will also be opening its interactive LED ball pit for guests to enjoy later this month. See below for more information on what to expect from Hopscotch in June. (Hopscotch, 2021)
Hopscotch’s June 2021 offerings include:
New Cocktails at the Hopscotch Lounge In celebration of Fiesta’s return to San Antonio and Pride Month, Hopscotch is introducing two new cocktails to its bar menu during the month of June. The Fiesta Frozen, Hopscotch’s take on the beloved Mangonada, will be available for guests to enjoy while they partake in the festivities, while the Pride Paloma, with a rainbow gummy bear garnish, celebrates Pride Month. Portions of the proceeds for both specialty cocktails will be donated to Pride Center San Antonio. Both cocktails retail for $12.
Hopscotch Live Sundays – Live Music on the Patio every Sunday Guests can visit Hopscotch to hear various live music acts each weekend such as the musical stylings of Jose Amador, Denise Ramirez, Brass Tacs, and more. Visitors to Hopscotch can listen to Latin Jazz and other local favorites on the Hopscotch patio while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying food from the Backwoods BBQ & Tacos food truck and fan favorite ChipKabobs. There is no cover charge to attend. Jose will be performing at Hopscotch on the following dates: • Sunday, June 13, 2021- Jose Amador & TERRA NOVA • Sunday, June 20, 2021 – Brass Tacs Father’s Day Set • Sunday, June 27th, 2021 – Denise Ramirez Pride Set
Movies by Moonlight in Travis Park – Tuesday, June 15 Pre-Movie Happy Hour at Hopscotch from 5p.m. to 9p.m. After a COVID hiatus last year, Movies by Moonlight return to Travis Park. These free family-friendly films screen every Tuesday in June and July. Downtown Tuesday parking is free in COSA facilities (parking map) and food trucks will be onsite. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.
Hopscotch is teaming up with Tito’s Handmade Vodka to provide a lively happy hour atmosphere in the Hopscotch Lounge for guests before they watch their favorite movies. Guests can be on the lookout for fun spiked and nonalcoholic drink specials, sno-cones, popcorn, live music, and more.
June: 15 – The Sandlot 22 – Onward 29 – SING (Sing Along)
July: 6 – Aquaman 13 – The Goonies 20 – Raya and the Last Dragon 27 – Moana (Sing Along)
The Future is Freedom – Thursday, June 17 at 6:30p.m. Black Freedom Factory is hosting a Juneteenth celebration at Hopscotch that recognizes the organizations that help build avenues toward freedom. The event will feature food and drinks from Tony G’s Soul Food Restaurant and Chef Robbie Rodgers, as well as live music and more. All proceeds from the event will help fund The Texas Heat Wave Project & Corazon San Antonio.
Ball Pit Opening – Friday, June 18 Hopscotch will officially open its crowd-favorite LED ball pit starting Friday, June 18. Guests to the gallery can embrace their inner child by wading through the giant ball pit while enjoying the constantly changing colors. The ball pit is one of a few installations that were a part of the original Hopscotch popup in Austin in 2019.
Parents Rock! – Sundays in June 2021 In celebration of Father’s Day (June 20), Hopscotch is recognizing parents for all their hard work. Dads and moms can use the code PARENTSROCK at checkout to receive 20% off their ticket order for the gallery every Sunday in June. Parents can also enjoy live music from Brass Tacs, complimentary Pop Rocks candy and drink specials on June 20. The 20% off tickets offer is valid on Sundays in June of 2021 only.
Saint City Supper Club – Awkward Prom 2 – Thursday, June 24 at 7p.m. Hopscotch is partnering with Saint City Supper Club to host Awkward Prom 2 at the gallery, which will feature dancing, drinks, and food from Chef Mark Garcia. The event is an opportunity to relive prom as an adult while benefiting the Saint City Culinary Foundation, an organization that provides support to people working in the culinary industry. Tickets to the event are $50 per person and can be purchased here.
Third Eye Awakening – Every 4th Saturday in May – August at 8:30a.m. Guests are invited to make their way down the Hopscotch rabbit hole and unroll their mat in a consciously curated yoga and art experience designed to awaken the mind and body while inspiring the soul with the immersive masterpieces at the gallery. Inspired by the mural Conscious by local artist Los Otros, the yoga class led by Mobile Om will interweave breath, mindful movement, and meditation into a holistic experience aimed to unlock guests’ connections to their third eye consciousness, the home of their intuition and imagination. After a blissful savasana, guests can awaken their taste buds with a refreshing Rabbit Hole Rita to sip while they enjoy exclusive access to browse the Hopscotch gallery. Mobile Om Yoga will set up at Hopscotch every fourth Saturday over the summer. The yoga sessions begin at 8:30a.m. and space is limited. Guests are required to bring their own mats. Dates for Third Eye Awakening include: • Saturday, June 26, 2021 – Pride Edition • Saturday, July 24, 2021 • Saturday, August 28, 2021
Tickets for Third Eye Awakening are $45 and are available online.
Hopscotch is an immersive and experiential brand that 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 their communities.
The Briscoe’s Sculpture Garden at night. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
Summer fun takes on a Hollywood flavor as the Briscoe Western Art Museum showcases the cinematic art and storytelling of the Western. From an actual red carpet, velvet ropes and the unmistakable smell of popcorn to film clips rolling throughout the exhibition, the Briscoe transforms into a 1960s movie theater for its new exhibition, Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western, now at the Briscoe until September 6, 2021. To add even more blockbuster fun to the exhibition, the museum is hosting a stellar line-up of programming and events to further bring the Hollywood Western to life. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)
Summer of Cinema Events Line Up:
Trivia with a Western Twist Wild West Trivia at the Briscoe Friday, June 11, 7p.m. – 9 p.m.
Enjoy a fun night of Western trivia and test your smarts at the Briscoe’s first Wild West Trivia Night. Bring your friends to create a team or join a table of soon-to-be-friends and test your Western smarts. Teams will revel in some friendly competition to score prizes while enjoying food, beer, and wine under the stars in the McNutt Sculpture Garden. Gather your posse, grab margaritas from La Gloria’s margarita truck onsite and see who ends the night still in the saddle, with the top three teams taking home prizes. Participants must be 21 to attend. Tickets are $10 for members, $25 for future members, and include two drink tickets.
Popcorn, Beer and Cinematic Art: Summer Film Series
Perfectly paired with the exhibition, the Briscoe’s popular Summer Film Series returns with an eye toward the West. The Summer Film Series features an iconic film on the third Sunday of each summer month, with Briscoe guest curator Dr. Andrew Patrick Nelson introducing each movie and explaining how it relates to Still in the Saddle. Nelson, the guest curator of Still in the Saddle, is a historian of American cinema and culture, film programmer, museum curator, and media commentator, as well as the Chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts and Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of Utah and the author and editor of numerous books and essays on Western cinema.
Each film is free with museum general admission and as always, museum members enjoy the museum and movie for free. Briscoe Summer Cinema passes include three films for $25 or enjoy all five films for $50 and receive an individual museum membership, granting you unlimited access to the Briscoe’s exhibitions and programming throughout the year. Tickets are available online, while Summer Cinema passes are available by calling 210.299.4499.
Father’s Day Special “Little Big Man” Sunday, June 20, 1p.m.
Bring Dad to an afternoon at the movies with a Texas twist: a side of barbecue and whiskey. Father’s Day is Locals Day at the Briscoe, where all Bexar County residents receive half off of general admission. Enjoy the museum and the movie for $6. Treat Dad like a king with a free whiskey tasting from Ranger Creek Whiskey and free Ranger Creek Beer, perfect to wash down the fantastic barbecue onsite. Then enjoy the 1970 classic, “Little Big Man”, the story of Jack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, telling the tale of his life being raised by Native Americans and fighting with General Custer.
“True Grit” Sunday, July 18, 1p.m.
Grab a beer with The Duke and enjoy 1969’s “True Grit”, where John Wayne’s performance as U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn earned him an Oscar. Popcorn, candy, and free beer from Ranger Creek, alongside fantastic food truck fare, make it a perfect way to enjoy a classic.
“The Long Riders” Sunday, August 22, 1p.m.
Escape the August heat with an afternoon at the movies with 1980’s “The Long Riders”. Grab your brother and watch real-life brothers portray the Jesse James gang in a sympathetic portrayal of the brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge. Brothers James and Stacy Keach star as Jesse and Frank James; David, Keith and Robert Carradine play Cole, Jim and Bob Younger; Dennis and Randy Quaid play Ed and Clell Miller, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest play Charlie and Bob Ford.
“The Shootist” Sunday, September 5, 1p.m.
Close out the summer with John Wayne in his final film role in 1976’s “The Shootist”. Wayne portrays a dying gunfighter spends his last days looking for a way to die with a minimum of pain and a maximum of dignity. Still in the Saddle closes on Labor Day and this last film of the summer series is a great way for a fantastic exhibition to ride off into the sunset.
Cinematic Books
Briscoe Virtual Book Club: “True Grit” by Charles Portis Tuesday, July 6, 6:30p.m.
The museum’s virtual book club will focus on titles that have become blockbuster movies including “True Grit” by Charles Portis in July, then “Blood Meridian” by Cormack McCarthy in September. There is no charge to participate in the book club.
An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 32 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. Inside the museum’s beautifully restored historic home inside the former San Antonio Public Library building, the Briscoe’s collection spans 14 galleries, with special exhibitions, events and a fantastic museum store, providing art, culture, history and entertainment. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online. Per the latest CDC guidelines, vaccinated guests are welcome to enjoy the museum and Jack Guenther Pavilion without a mask. The Briscoe respectfully requests all non-vaccinated guests wear face coverings.
SAY Sí will be providing the community with free art supplies. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
With the start of summer upon us, SAY Sí has once again partnered with Alamo Colleges District to provide community members with free art supplies for kids. Free art supply bags will be available for curbside pickup for parents with elementary- and middle school-aged children on a first come, first served basis while supplies last; limit two kits per car. Those interested in receiving an art supply bag can complete the interest form online. (SAY Sí, 2021)
Kits will be available for pickup this Friday, June 4 from 10a.m. to 1p.m. at the ACD District Support Operations building, located at 2222 N. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX, 78215.
Founded in 1994, SAY Sí is a national award-winning, art-based nonprofit youth development program located in San Antonio, Texas. The goal of the organization is to provide San Antonio area students in grades 6-12 with the opportunity to develop artistic and social skills in preparation for higher educational advancement and career building. SAY Sí programs serve over 200 students from all of San Antonio’s school districts – in addition to serving 4,000 youth in community programs. SAY Sí’s unique approach to education has placed the organization on the national stage, with recognition as one of the top out-of-school-time organizations in the country by The Wallace Foundation, as well as serving as one of seven international youth arts organizations chosen to receive an inaugural Creative Catalyst Award by Adobe Project 1324 in 2016.
Blue Star Contemporary (BSC), San Antonio’s first and longest-running contemporary art nonprofit, announces the opening of its first summer 2021 exhibition, The Sitter, opening to the public on Thursday June 3, 2021. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2021)
The Sitter features works by artists using contemporary portrait painting and figuration to build narratives and generate conversation around the subjects’ actions, experiences, or identities. The exhibition highlights how contemporary artists expand their definition of portrait painting and how they can activate the figure through paintings, drawings, and photography. The sitters or subjects transcend the role of model or muse and are sometimes collaborators or activators, giving access to broader contexts and unraveling complicated stories.
For the first time at Blue Star Contemporary, The Sitter is accompanied by an interactive app featuring an in-depth look at the exhibition through gallery texts, visitor prompts, and information aimed at giving visitors a broader context to engage with the works of art. The newly launched app is free to download and available at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
“As our community heals and feels ready to venture out, we are thrilled Blue Star Contemporary stands strong and ready to be a place for inspiration and enjoyment of contemporary art. We had long planned to launch an interactive app to accompany our exhibitions, and now seems like the perfect time to launch a digital component that enhances the visitor experience on-site and provides an opportunity to revisit and reflect on the art once back home.” – Mary Heathcott, Executive Director.
Opening later in the summer on July 1 are new exhibitions featuring the work of three distinctive artists. Doerte Weber presents weavings reflecting on COVID-19, everyday life during the pandemic, and climate issues. Joanna Keane Lopez is a multidisciplinary artist whose work blurs boundaries between contemporary sculpture and architecture through the medium of adobe mud. Her BSC presentation will include a newly commissioned sculptural work. Terran Last Gun presents an exhibition of ledger drawings, a form which rose to prominence among Native American artists in the mid-1800s and continues today. All of BSC’s summer exhibitions will be on view through September 5, 2021.
Blue Star Contemporary’s exhibitions are supported in part by the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Terran Last Gun’s exhibition was made possible in part by First Peoples Fund.
Blue Star Contemporary (BSC) is the first and longest-running nonprofit space 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, BSC welcomes 30,000 residents and cultural tourists each year to experience contemporary art through its exhibitions, public art projects, and education programs. In 2016, 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.
SAY Sí will host their annual Small Scale • Big Change fundraiser from June 1 – 17, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
This June, SAY Sí will host their annual Small Scale • Big Change fundraiser from June 1 – 17, 2021. Over the span of 16 days, the nonprofit youth arts organization will virtually auction off pieces of art that were created by both student artists and celebrated artists from around San Antonio. This year’s theme is Comunidad y Arte (Community & Art) and the auction will include over 150 diverse pieces from local artists, with 50% of proceeds going directly back to participating artists and support of SAY Sí’s tuition-free programming. (SAY Sí, 2021)
List of participating artists include: Deborah Keller-Rihn (20-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Hiromi Stringer (Five-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Suresh Pitamber (10-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Meredith Dean (Five-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Paula Owen (22-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Jane Bishop (Six-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Louis Vega Treviño (22-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Suzy González (Two-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Tim Olson (Six-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Richard Arredondo (25-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Analy Diego (Four-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Raul Rene Gonzalez (One-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Raul Servin (15-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Andy Tschoepe (Nine-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Vikki Fields (20-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser) Jorge Garza (20-year participant in SAY Sí’s annual fundraiser)
June 1, 2021: Digital artwork bidding and “buy-it-now” purchasing begin June 1 – 17, 2021: Artwork is available for bidding digitally June 16, 2021: “Buy-it-now” purchases will end at 11:59 p.m. June 17, 2021: Final Auction Night @ 7p.m.; Artwork bidding will end at 7:59 p.m. SAY Sí Digital Auction Site
Founded in 1994, SAY Sí is a national award-winning, art-based nonprofit youth development program located in San Antonio, Texas. The goal of the organization is to provide San Antonio area students in grades 6-12 with the opportunity to develop artistic and social skills in preparation for higher educational advancement and career building. SAY Sí programs serve over 200 students from all of San Antonio’s school districts – in addition to serving 4,000 youth in community programs. SAY Sí’s unique approach to education has placed the organization on the national stage, with recognition as one of the top out-of-school-time organizations in the country by The Wallace Foundation, as well as serving as one of seven international youth arts organizations chosen to receive an inaugural Creative Catalyst Award by Adobe Project 1324 in 2016.
SA Examiner 