San Antonio Museum of Art announces artist selection for community mural project

Sandra Gonzalez is one of the artists chosen to curate murals for the community mural project. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

As part of the generous grant awarded to the San Antonio Museum of Art by the Art Bridges Foundation this spring, SAMA has selected three local artists to create community murals celebrating the vibrancy and community of the Alamo City. Positioned on San Antonio’s eastside, westside and onsite at SAMA’s campus, the artists will begin creating their works this July and will showcase their completed murals this August. The community is invited to participate in the process through voting this June and sharing their ideas starting this week. The purpose of the initiative is to celebrate the importance of community through the arts, connecting San Antonio’s culturally diverse neighborhoods and their traditions through a creative framework. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)

The mural curation project is a joint effort between SAMA’s education department, the San Anto Cultural Arts, and the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum

About the Artists:

Suzy González – Mural Location: San Antonio Museum of Art Campus
Suzy is an artist, curator, zinester, educator, and organizer based in San Antonio, Texas. She has had solo exhibits at Presa House Gallery, Hello Studio, Palo Alto College, and two-person exhibits at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and the University of Connecticut. Suzy co-publishes the Yes, Ma’am zine, co-organizes the San Anto Zine Fest, and is half of the collective Dos Mestizx, who recently curated XicanX: New Visions in New York and Texas. She has created public art with the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Street Art Initiative, Centro San Antonio, and the City of San Marcos, and is currently working on a project with the City of Pasadena.

Victor Zarazua – Mural Location: Wicho’s Mexican Deli on the Westside
As a practitioner of the Graffiti Art Subculture, Victor started painting at the age of ten. Victor used this medium as an escape from outside influences in his neighborhood and schools. As a youth, he began to appreciate art, what it could do, and where it could lead him to. During high school, Victor found himself looking for like-minded youth and found SACA & SAY Si. Those two programs opened the door further for him to delve further into the arts and the “lowbrow” art movement. 

Sandra Gonzalez; Mural Location: Tony G’s on the Eastside (Mural to be created in partnership with Malachy McKinney)
Sandra is an active muralist in South Texas and an art educator at Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, who has also participated in numerous art exhibits throughout the U.S. In 2013, Sandra received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Sandra learned about engaging with the community through her work for the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program where she worked for over a year and  assisted with various large-scale murals, involving different communities such as inmates, mental health patients, students, and several artists.

From Saturday, June 26, 2021, to Saturday, July 10, 2021, the San Antonio community will have the opportunity to vote on one of three themes designed by each artist to create for each mural location. Those interested in voting may do so by visiting SAMA’s website where a landing page will be available for voting or in-person at SAMA using the onsite voting box; both will be available starting in late June. Each mural will be constructed throughout the summer starting July 12, 2021, and the completion of each will be revealed on Sunday, August 15, 2021. The San Antonio community is also invited to join in a special conversation between the mural artists and committee panel that Sunday.

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.

Art Bridges is a nonprofit arts foundation whose mission is to expand access to American art across the U.S. Founded by arts patron and philanthropist Alice Walton, Art Bridges has been creating and supporting programs that expand access to American art around the country by partnering with institutions of all sizes and in all regions on projects that deeply engage communities via thematic traveling exhibitions, long-term loan sharing collaborations, among additional initiatives.

“Murals have always been a powerful tool to educate and commemorate local histories. By asking for community input and having residents of San Antonio be a part of the mural selection process, we are emphasizing that art is for all and that art can be enjoyed anywhere. Communal relationships are the foundation of any society, so we must continue to build and grow with the people of San Antonio. We hope that the selected businesses continue to be an anchor in their community, and that these murals shine a light on how San Antonio is a beautiful, culturally rich city.” – Yohanna Tesfai, Public Programs Manager for San Antonio Museum of Art.

San Antonio Museum of Art honors military personnel with free admission

Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.

This year, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) will once again participate in Blue Star Museums — a national collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and museums across the U.S. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, SAMA will offer active duty military personnel, including the National Guard and Reserves and their families, free general admission into the Museum. This summer, visitors to SAMA can explore new and current exhibitions on view, including Movie Metal (on view through June 20, 2021) and America’s Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution (on view starting June 11, 2021) as well as SAMA’s collection of works. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 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. 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.

 

San Antonio Museum of Art receives grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

The San Antonio Museum of Art receives grant towards the exhibition Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.

The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is honored to have been selected to receive a grant through the National Endowment for the Arts’ Grants for Arts Projects program. The Museum has been awarded a grant of $35,000 toward the exhibition Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii, which will be on view in Spring 2023. SAMA’s project is among the more than 1,100 projects across America totaling nearly $27 million that were selected during this second round of Grants for Arts Projects fiscal year 2021 funding. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)

The San Antonio Museum of Art will be the only venue for this groundbreaking exhibition, which will be the first in the U.S. to explore the rich body of landscape imagery in ancient Roman art. The exhibition will feature landscape scenes in a variety of media, including wall paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and cameo glass and silver vessels, many from Rome, Pompeii and other archaeological sites in Italy. These works depict a fascinating yet imaginary vision of a countryside replete with seaside villas and rural shrines, where gods and mythological heroes mingle with travelers, herdsmen, and worshippers. The NEA grant will support the installation of Roman Landscapes at SAMA and development of a bilingual self-guided tour that will draw connections between works in the exhibition and landscapes from other cultures in SAMA’s collection.

“As the country and the arts sector begin to imagine returning to a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce funding that will help arts organizations such as the San Antonio Museum of Art re-engage fully with partners and audiences.” – NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers.

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.

 

Blue Star Contemporary designs art making activities

Blue Star Contemporary designs art making activities for University Health’s Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program. Photo: google

Blue Star Contemporary (BSC), San Antonio’s first and longest-running contemporary art nonprofit, is pleased to announce its partnership with University Health’s Salud-Arte: Art of Healing Program to create an art activity kit for patients of University Health’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program. University Health’s AYA Cancer Program delivers comprehensive, expert medical care to teenagers and young adults with all types of cancers. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2021)

The goal of University Health’s Salud-Arte: Art of Healing Program is to use art to inspire healing, compassion, hope, and trust. The art kits, conceived and organized by BSC’s Education Manager Mari Hernandez, use the healing power of art to help young cancer patients navigate the difficult emotional and physical challenges that are part of a cancer diagnosis. Hernandez worked with San Antonio-based artists/educators Joe Harjo and Kim Bishop and writer/educator Viktoria Valenzuela to create art kits that are available to patients of the AYA Cancer Program. “I selected these remarkable artists for their ability to facilitate creative activities for patients in a thoughtful and sensitive manner,” Hernandez said. “We hope to create safe space for reflection and provide aid in the holistic process of healing.”

The kit contains three art activities that stimulate and guide patients through the creative process. Joe Harjo’s photographic prompts encourage the imaginative use of a black and white disposable camera as a form of documentation. Kim Bishop presents a series of cards with playful prompts that encourage the patients to make drawings and watercolor paintings. Viktoria Valenzuela’s poetry writing guide inspires self-expression and emphasizes the importance of one’s ideas and voice.

While the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in limited access to its exhibition spaces, Blue Star Contemporary sought new ways to fulfill its mission to inspire, nurture and innovate through contemporary art. By partnering with University Health, BSC serves a new community and upholds its promise to help San Antonio heal through the power of art.

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, 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.

“We are thrilled to join University Health’s Salud-Arte: Art of Healing Program to provide a moment of respite for young cancer patients, whose strength and resilience is worthy of admiration, particularly during this trying year. I commend BSC Education Manager Mari Hernandez and the three artists she’s worked with to create an extremely thoughtful and nurturing set of activities with the intent to inspire healing and hope.” – Mary Heathcott, Blue Star Contemporary’s Executive Director.

San Antonio Museum of Art to participate in 2021 Texas Biennial

Big Medium announced the five museum exhibition partners in the 2021 Texas Biennial: A New Landscape, A Possible Horizon, which includes the San Antonio Museum of Art. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Big Medium is pleased to announce the 51 participating artists and five museum partners of the 2021 Texas Biennial: A New Landscape, A Possible Horizon, co-organized by curators and artistic directors Ryan N. Dennis and Evan Garza. For the seventh iteration of the Biennial and for the first time in its history, the project will be distributed across five Texas museums, featuring exhibitions, programs, and works of public art in San Antonio and Houston from September 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022. Works will be implemented and on view at the San Antonio Museum of Art beginning August 19, 2021 through December 5, 2021. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)

In addition to artists living and working in Texas, the Biennial curators have broadened the scope of the project to include “Texpats,” i.e. Texas natives and artists with deep connections to the Lone Star State working in any part of the world. In another first, the 2021 Texas Biennial will also feature international artists for whom Texas and its history are subject matter.

Big Medium is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists and building community through the arts in Austin and across Texas. We provide opportunities for artists to create, exhibit, and discuss their work and connect to an engaged and diverse audience. We strive to make art a part of everyday life.

The Texas Biennial is a geographically-led, independent survey of contemporary art in Texas. The 2021 Texas Biennial: A New Landscape, A Possible Horizon is the seventh iteration of the program, making the Texas Biennial the longest-running state biennial in the country. The program was founded in 2005 by Austin nonprofit Big Medium to provide an exhibition opportunity open to all artists living and working in the state. Since its inception, the Texas Biennial has brought the work of over 300 artists to new audiences, spring boarding many artists’ careers and underscoring the diversity of contemporary practice in Texas.

Ryan N. Dennis is the chief curator and artistic director of the Center for Art & Public Exchange (CAPE) at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Evan Garza is a Washington, DC-based curator, writer, and a 2021–2022 Fulbright U.S. Scholar at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, Ireland. The curators are each natives of Houston, Texas.

Exhibition Partners:
San Antonio
Artpace (August 5 – December 26, 2021)
McNay Art Museum (September 1, 2021 – January 9, 2022)
Studio at Ruby City (August 1, 2021 – January 30, 2022)
San Antonio Museum of Art (August 19 – December 5, 2021)
Houston
FotoFest (September 2 – November 13, 2021)

Artists featured in the 2021 Texas Biennial range from emerging artists and collectives to well-established and internationally celebrated artists working in sculpture, film and experimental video, photo-based media, installation, sound, painting, printmaking, music and performance, social practice, and public art. The curators selected artists from more than 850 considerations over the last 18 months. Both Garza and Dennis performed hundreds of studio visits––in person before the pandemic and exclusively through virtual means since March 2020. Shortly after their appointment to curate the Texas Biennial, both Dennis and Garza moved with their respective partners and families out of Texas––Dennis to Jackson, Mississippi, and Garza to Washington, D.C.––immediately followed by the coronavirus pandemic and a year in lockdown. Separated from each other, their Big Medium team in Texas, and artists across the country by thousands of miles, Dennis and Garza organized the 2021 Texas Biennial via Zoom, FaceTime, email, phone, and text with the aid of curatorial and production assistant, Rigoberto Luna, in San Antonio and the support of Coka Treviño, Shea Little, and Big Medium in Austin.

“Intentionally broad in its scope and organized throughout the pandemic, the 2021 Texas Biennial is spread across San Antonio and Houston in order to realize a diversity of practices and explore a vast landscape of disciplines, themes, and historical events relevant to both Texas and contemporary global discourse. Principal themes of the project––the mutable histories contained within objects and people, activism and issues of racial and social justice, and narratives unique to the history and land of Texas––are examined in multiple creative disciplines and across multiple sites.” – Evan Garza

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Briscoe Western Art Museum presents Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western

Special exhibition, trivia night, and a summer film series brings Hollywood to the River Walk, Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

This summer, the Briscoe Western Art Museum will showcase the Hollywood Western in a new light during Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western, premiering at the Briscoe May 28 – September 6, 2021. Step back in time and see the classic films in the context of then-current events, including the turbulent 1960s. Pairing historical context with film insights and facts to highlight the films and the genre in a new perspective, Still in the Saddle showcases the cinematic art and storytelling of the Western. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)

From an actual red carpet, velvet ropes and the unmistakable smell of popcorn to film clips rolling throughout the exhibition, the Briscoe will transform into a 1960s movie theater featuring almost 60 vintage original movie posters, as well as movie costumes and dozens of authentic lobby cards. Display screens throughout the exhibition will feature film clips illustrating representative moments of the genre, and costumes worn by John Wayne in the movies “Chisum,” “The Cowboys,” and “The Undefeated” will be on display.

The cinema focus is an opportunity for the Briscoe to spotlight the culture of the American West through the art of movies. “In the 1940s and 50s, the Western was the most popular movie genre in America. Even through the social unrest, political turmoil, economic uncertainty, and generational change we witnessed from 1969 to 1980, Hollywood Westerns continued to capture audience attention,” explains Michael Duchemin, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Briscoe Western Art Museum. “As the world outside of the theater doors changed, many thought the Western would ride off into the sunset. Yet the Western remained as rich and complex as at any time in its history. Looking at these films in the social context of the period provides a renewed appreciation of the stories these films share.”

Still in the Saddle was organized by the Briscoe with guest curator Dr. Andrew Patrick Nelson, a historian of American cinema and culture, film programmer, museum curator, and media commentator. Nelson is Chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts and Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of Utah, as well as the author and editor of numerous books and essays on Western cinema, including “Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood Western, 1969-1980,” and “Contemporary Westerns: Film and Television since 1990.”

Also this summer, the Briscoe’s popular Summer Film Series returns, kicking off with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” on Sunday, May 30. The Summer Film Series features an iconic film on the third Sunday of each summer month, with 1970’s “Little Big Man” on June 20, “True Grit” on July 18, and “The Long Riders” on August 22. “The Shootist” will close out the summer on Sept. 5. Guest curator Andrew Patrick Nelson will introduce each movie and explain how it relates to Still in the Saddle. Each film is free for members and $ 10 for future members or enjoy both general admission to the Briscoe and the film for $12. 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.

Red Carpet Fun
Still in the Saddle events and programming include an opening preview party, a curator’s talk and meet and greet, and the kick-off of the Briscoe’s popular Summer Film Series. Note: All events will follow COVID safety protocols. Event details and scheduling are subject to change.

Exclusive Preview Party:
Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western Exhibition
Thursday, May 27, 6p.m. to 8p.m.

Join guest curator Andrew Patrick Nelson, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts and Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of Utah, and Briscoe CEO and President Michael Duchemin, Ph.D., to go behind the velvet ropes for a first look at Still in the Saddle. The event includes complimentary valet, beer, wine, specialty cocktails, and light bites. Free for Briscoe members and $25 for future members, tickets are available by calling 210.507.4864.

Meet & Greet and Curator’s Talk with Andrew Patrick Nelson
Saturday, May 29, 2 p.m.

Join the Briscoe’s guest curator Dr. Andrew Patrick Nelson, Chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts and Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of Utah, for an in-depth look at this summer’s blockbuster exhibition, Still in the Saddle. Nelson will analyze the films that comprise the exhibition and discuss how the 1960s made the Western richer and more diverse. Included with museum admission.

Briscoe Summer Film Series: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
Sunday, May 30, 1p.m.

Start your summer with a Western classic, paired with an old-fashioned malt from Cheesy Jane’s food truck, sweet treats from Candy Counter, and free beer from Ranger Creek Brewing as the museum morphs into a draft house cinema to give everyone the full movie theater experience. Guest curator Dr. Andrew Patrick Nelson, Chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts and Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of Utah, will introduce the 1969 classic, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and highlight how it fits into Still in the Saddle. Free for members and $10 for future members or enjoy both general admission to the Briscoe and the film for $12.

Wild West Trivia at the Briscoe
Friday, June 11, 7p.m. to 9p.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 smarts. Teams will revel in friendly competition while enjoying food and signature cocktails. Participants must be 21 to attend. The event is $10 for individual or $50 a team for a team of six people.

Pabst Blue Ribbon to host First Friday event at Southtown gallery

Pabst Blue Ribbon’s First Friday event will feature art, music by Steven Lee Moya, and more. Photo: Pabst Blue Ribbon, used with permission.

Pabst Blue Ribbon will host a First Friday event at its Southtown gallery in San Antonio this coming Friday, May 7 from 4p.m. to 10p.m. The free event will feature music by local DJ Steven Lee Moya, refreshments and more. DJ set by Moya will be from 7p.m. to 10p.m. Guests can hang out, enjoy the music and view art from Pabst Blue Ribbon’s annual can design competition, which highlights the work of emerging artists across America.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios
1112 S St. Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78210

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.

Hopscotch May events and more

Hopscotch welcomes the month of May with a variety of new programming including live music, yoga, Mother’s Day specials, and more. 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 May. (Hopscotch, 2021)

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 local communities.

Hopscotch’s May 2021 offerings include:

Expanded Hours – Starting May 7, 2021. Just in time for the summer months, Hopscotch will begin staying open longer for visitors to enjoy. The new hours are as follows:
• Friday: 11a.m. – Midnight
• Saturday: 11a.m. – Midnight
• Sunday: 11a.m. – 7p.m.
Guests can purchase their tickets online. 

New Seasonal Cocktails
Along with their expanded hours, visitors to Hopscotch can find new cocktails for the season, like the crowd favorite Sangrita Swirl which combines the new Secret Sangria and Hopscotch’s frozen Rabbit Hole Rita, perfect for spring and summer days on the patio.

Backwoods BBQ & Tacos + ChipKabobs Residency at Hopscotch every weekend in May
Backwoods BBQ & Tacos, a food truck and DJ booth combined, will be stationed at Hopscotch every Friday through Sunday on the patio. The truck will offer items like brisket grilled cheese sandwiches, chopped BBQ sandwiches, mini tacos, and quesadillas. ChipKabobs will also be available every Friday and Saturday from noon to 5p.m.

Hopscotch Live featuring Sunday Salsa – Select Sundays from 2p.m. – 5p.m.
Guests can now visit Hopscotch to hear various live music acts each weekend such as the musical stylings of Jose Amador. Visitors to Hopscotch are encouraged to stop by the gallery to listen to Latin Jazz and Salsa favorites on the Hopscotch patio while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying food from the Backwoods BBQ & Tacos food truck. There is no cover charge to attend. Jose will be performing at Hopscotch on the following dates:
• Sunday, May 2, 2021
• Sunday, May 16, 2021
• Sunday, May 30, 2021
• Sunday, June 13, 2021
• Sunday, June 27, 2021

Parents Rock! – Sundays in May and June 2021
In celebration of Mother’s Day (May 9) and Father’s Day (June 20), Hopscotch is recognizing parents for all their hard work. Moms and Dads can use the code PARENTSROCK at checkout to receive 20% off their ticket order for the gallery every Sunday in May and June. Moms and Dads can also enjoy live music from Brass Tacs, complimentary Pop Rocks candy, and drink specials on May 9 and June 20. The 20% off tickets offer is valid on Sundays in May and June of 2021 only.

#OnlyinSA Mural Launch Weekend – Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 16, 2021
In connection with Centro San Antonio, Wide Awake Creative, and the San Antonio Parks Foundation, Hopscotch will be celebrating the launch of a new mural in Travis Park on Friday, May 14. Hopscotch will offer drink specials, music, and more during the launch weekend, which will be free to the public (please note: the launch at Travis Park and in the Hopscotch lounge and patio is free but guests must still pay for tickets to experience Hopscotch).

Third Eye Awakening – Every 4th Saturday in May – August at 9:30a.m.
Guests are invited to 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 9:30a.m. and space is limited. Guests are required to bring their own mats. Dates for Third Eye Awakening include:
• Saturday, May 22, 2021
• Saturday, June 26, 2021
• Saturday, July 24, 2021
• Saturday, August 28, 2021

Tickets for Third Eye Awakening are $45 and can be purchased online. 

Love, Tito’s – Charity Event benefiting San Antonio Pets Alive – Friday, May 28, 2021
Hopscotch is Partnering with Tito’s Vodka to announce a monthly partnership that will benefit local nonprofit organizations. Their inaugural event, Bark on the Park will benefit San Antonio Pets Alive. The event will feature live music, give back opportunities, swag, and cocktails from Tito’s including Hair of the Dog (a Bloody Mary) and Tito’s Greyhound, a grapefruit and vodka concoction. Guests are invited to kick off Memorial Day weekend with their pups on Hopscotch’s patio at the Bark on the Park event and learn more about volunteer and adoption opportunities.

Photography: Recent Acquisitions now on view at San Antonio Museum of Art

Photography: Recent Acquisitions is now on view through Fall 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The latest installation at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), Photography: Recent Acquisitions, is now on view through Fall 2021 during standard hours of operation in the Museum’s Arcade Gallery. Spanning different generations and diverse backgrounds, the artists whose photographic works are on view are united by their insightful awareness of everyday life, especially the experiences of marginalized communities. Their ability to capture a formally rich image with socially conscious content makes their voices some of the most vital today. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)

Influenced by photojournalism and documentary photography approaches, these works are drawn from larger photo-essays or series and often motivated by a personal desire for social change or justice. Featuring works by Danny Lyon, Leonard Freed, and LaToya Ruby Frazier, the installation focuses on photographers who have a close relationship with their subjects—immersing themselves in the communities and the lives of those who inhabit them. Through their cameras, these photographers capture life in America—both monumental and everyday moments—in unforgettable images that explore the connections we have with our surroundings and one another. This exhibition of recent acquisitions was curated by Lana Meador, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Lavanderia #2 by Christina Fernandez

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.

Frida Kahlo Oasis at San Antonio Botanical Garden

The Frida Kahlo Oasis will open on Saturday May 8, 2021. Photo: San Antonio Botanical Garden

The San Antonio Botanical Garden, in partnership with the Museo Frida Kahlo, have created a world-class exhibition celebrating Frida Kahlo and her deep connection with plants and the natural world. Frida Kahlo Oasis opens on Saturday May 8 and will be on view until Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Opening weekend activities on May 8-9 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. will feature exhibition tours, Frida-inspired hands-on activities, cash bar and food prepared by Jason Dady, and more.  (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2021)

The Botanical Garden invites you to immerse yourself in the lush green sanctuary of the exhibition which features a one-of-a-kind stylized version of Casa Azul, Kahlo’s iconic blue home.  Discover the tropical and native plants that Kahlo loved, iconic landmarks, and Mexican Arte Popular – monumental animals that profoundly influenced her timeless art. Exhibit is included with Garden admission and membership.

The exhibition’s Casa Azul garden will occupy a 2,100 square food space nestled in the heart of the Botanical Garden, shaded by giant oak trees, and overflowing with Mexican native plants, and a mixture of tropical foliage and desert plants, including elephant ears, bougainvillea, agave, and marigolds. Visitors are invited to explore the famous landmarks of Kahlo’s garden at Casa Azul such as the pyramid that displayed Diego Rivera’s pre-Columbian artifacts collection, the frog-themed fountain, and Kahlo’s desk and easel. The exhibition will also feature six monumental animals specially sighted throughout the lush garden grounds – a Dog, Monkey, Deer, Butterfly, Parrot, and Hummingbird – which often appear in Kahlo’s artworks, as a testimonial to her passion for Mexican Arte Popular.

The Botanical Garden will offer a variety of Frida Kahlo and Mexican inspired programs to engage visitors along with the exhibition.  These include special curated tours, art history lectures, culinary and cocktail workshops, and adult and family events.