Category: Art News

Upcoming events at the Briscoe Western Art Museum

Events include a Father’s Day celebration and other art events. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Hands-on fun, free family activities and saddling up with sci-fi fill the summer with art and adventure at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. The Briscoe is hosting an array of programming to explore the Southwest influence on Western art during Southwest Rising: Contemporary Art and the Legacy of Elaine Horwitch Now through September 4. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2023)

The summer exhibition celebrates one of the most powerful and influential art dealers in the Southwest. Horwitch was responsible for launching the careers of hundreds of artists and was a leader in fostering “new Western art” or “Southwest pop.” During the exhibition, Southwest Rising artists will demonstrate their techniques and lead sessions where everyone can create a masterpiece of their own. Along with artist talks, monthly hands-on learning, free Locals Days and the museum’s annual National Day of the Cowboy celebration on July 22, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The summer line-up includes:

Celebrate the opening of Southwest Rising by exploring the way light and color interact with one another. In the exhibition’s interactive gallery, visitors can construct a display that will allow them to experiment with how light can change the way our eyes see color. This hands-on program is family-friendly, and all ages are welcome. Children 12 and under always receive free admission to the Briscoe.

  • Southwest Rising with Mark McDowell – Saturday, July 8, 1p.m. – 3p.m. $25 for non-members, $20 for museum members

Southwest Rising artist Mark McDowell leads guests in creating a work of art with colored pencils on wood, his preferred technique. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, McDowell has been featured in more than 40 one-man shows and numerous group exhibitions in museums, art centers and galleries across the United States and Europe. His work is in many public, corporate, and private collections. Class size is limited, so register today to ensure your spot. All skill levels are welcome and supplies are included with registration.

Art-FULL Summer: Painting Sessions

Enjoy painting sessions led by energetic and charismatic international artist Gio DiZurita. Based in San Antonio, DiZurita tells stories through her art, an everlasting transformation of life experiences.

Two summer dates include:

  • Father’s Day Fun:  Painting with Gio – Saturday, June 17, 10a.m. – Noon, 2p.m. – 4p.m.

Bring your dad jokes and have some hands-on fun. Fathers and their children (5 years or older) can enjoy a creative and fun family painting adventure, creating a Western scene in acrylic on an 11 x 14 canvas. Tickets are $45, or $35 for museum members. Registration is needed for each participant over the age of 12 and includes all supplies. The class size is limited, so register early to ensure your space.

  • Create Together:  Painting with Gio Date Night at the Briscoe – Thursday, July 13, 6:30p.m. – 8:30p.m.     

Let love and creativity bloom during a hands-on date night under the stars. Create a work of art during a relaxing evening sipping beer and wine in the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden. Couples will enjoy a creative painting adventure creating a Western scene in acrylic on an 11 x 14 canvas. Tickets are $45, or $35 for museum members. Registration is per person and includes beer, wine, and all supplies. The class size is limited, so register today to ensure your spot.

Add Some STEAM to Your Summer:  Hands-on Learning

The Briscoe’s free monthly education series “Full STEAM Ahead” sprinkles educational fun into the summer the first Sunday of each month. Learners of all ages work together and learn about the American West by engaging in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) learning experiences. Full STEAM Ahead is designed for all ages to enjoy, making it a terrific family activity. Enjoy STEAMing with your family 1p.m. – 3p.m. on the first Sunday of every month at the Briscoe – the same day that locals are welcome to enjoy the museum for free.

Summer 2023 Full Steam Ahead dates and topics include:

  • August 6: Full STEAM Ahead – Gone for the Winter

Learn more about wildlife and the fall migration of hummingbirds. After a short presentation, families will have the opportunity to create a hummingbird feeder using found and recyclable materials.

  • September 3: Full STEAM Ahead – Art in the Sky

Study the night sky through Kim Wiggins’ “Colonel Crockett’s Return to Cibolo Creek.” After a short study of the painting, everyone will create a bedroom planetarium to take home.

Free Cowboy Fun:  National Day of the Cowboy Celebration

Tippin’ its hat and celebrating the legacy of the cowboy, cowgirl and vaquero, the Briscoe Western Art Museum presents its annual National Day of the Cowboy celebration on Saturday, July 22, 10a.m. – 4p.m. at the Briscoe. The free community event, which includes free admission to the museum and its exhibitions, features indoor and outdoor activities for cowpokes of all ages. Saddle up with your family and head west for a day you will not forget.

Actions for the Earth opens at Contemporary at Blue Star

Lhora Amira, IRMANDADE: The Shape of Water in Pindorama, 2018-2020, HD video, single channel sound, film still. Image courtesy of SMAC Gallery, copyright Lhora Amira.

Blue Star Contemporary announces Actions for the Earth: Art, Care & Ecology, an exhibition curated by Sharmila Wood and produced by Independent Curators International (ICI) on view from June 2 through September 3, 2023. Actions for the Earth is a traveling exhibition that considers how artistic practices use kinship, healing, and restorative intervention to foster a deeper consciousness of our interconnectedness with the earth. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2023)

This exhibition turns to a group of interdisciplinary artists to engage with the overlapping, worldwide crises of our time. Ongoing climate change, entrenched social inequity, and renewed concerns over public health have all underscored the need for approaches that take on global responsibilities while caring for our local environment. For decades, artists have sought to find new antidotes to oppressive structures of power, and promoted greater understanding of the many ways that nature, health, and sustainability are intertwined.

Actions for the Earth presents the work of eighteen intergenerational artists and collectives who place action, instruction, reciprocity, and exchange at the forefront of their practices. By sharing their participatory artistic interventions and healing strategies alongside research in ecology, science, and ancient beliefs, these artists remind us that we are connected within a constellation of living networks, inseparable from the planet and its environments. Artworks on view create space for the honoring of ancestors, foreground the significance of Indigenous knowledges, and engage in speculative imaginings through science fiction and network sciences—organic, digital, and spiritual.

In its curatorial approach, Actions for the Earth acts as a resource for studying our current times. The works on view not only emphasize themes of learning, care, and intimacy, but offer concrete knowledge by inviting the public to participate in actions such as instruction-based meditation and deep listening activities. The life of these works, and the interventions they propose, extends far beyond the scope of the exhibition to engage people in their personal contexts. 

Artists: Ackroyd and Harvey, Lhola Amira, Arahmaiani, Sayan Chanda, Hylozoic/Desires (Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser), lololol, Ana Mendieta, Zarina Muhammad, Patrina Mununggurr, Pauline Oliveros, Yoko Ono, Tabita Rezaire, Eric-Paul Riege, Cecilia Vicuña, Katie West, and Zheng Bo

Contemporary at Blue Star presents exhibitions with artists from San Antonio and around the world sharing their global perspectives that encourage understanding, empathy, change, and action, fulfilling our mission to inspire, nurture, and innovate. Like most non-collecting contemporary art spaces, the Contemporary contributes fresh insights and perspectives on larger issues affecting society and culture by highlighting trends, movements, and conversations happening in art. Admission to the Contemporary is always free.

Disney Animation: Immersive experience extends residency in San Antonio

Critically acclaimed Immersive Disney Animation announces extensions in eight cities, including San Antonio. Photo: Lighthouse Immersive Studios.

Following celebrated premieres in 10 cities and rave reviews from critics and audiences across North America, Lighthouse Immersive Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios have announced that Immersive Disney Animation is being extended by popular demand to August 13, 2023 in Boston, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, Nashville, and San Antonio, with Las Vegas, Dallas, Atlanta, and Toronto continuing through September 4, 2023. The production will also open in Tokyo on April 29 at Mori Arts Center Gallery (52nd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower), with additional international presentations soon to be announced. (Immersive Disney Animation, 2023)

Immersive Disney Animation was called “Jaw-dropping” by Axios, “a peek behind the curtain that you would just never otherwise get” by the Boston Globe, with Elite Daily remarking, “you really feel like you’ve stepped inside your fave film.” Tickets are on sale now.

Creating iconic animated stories for all ages for nearly a century, Walt Disney Animation Studios has joined forces with North America’s top creator of experiential projection exhibitions (including The Original Immersive Van Gogh, which never traveled to Atlanta, but opened in over 20 cities across North America) to present the music and artistry within Disney Animation’s canon of films—from hits of today like Encanto, Zootopia and Frozen, to all of the classics including The Lion King, Peter Pan and Pinocchio. Audiences will feel like they have entered the incredible worlds of beloved Disney characters and become one with them.

The status for each city is as follows:

TORONTO (1 Yonge St.) | NOW OPEN through September 4
CLEVELAND (850 E. 72nd St.) | NOW OPEN through August 13
NASHVILLE (4416 Ridgefield Way) | NOW OPEN through August 13
DETROIT (267 E. Grand River Ave.) | NOW OPEN through August 13
DENVER (3900 Elati St.) | NOW OPEN through August 13
BOSTON (130 Columbus Ave.) | NOW OPEN through August 13
SAN ANTONIO (221 Burleson St.) | NOW OPEN through August 13
MINNEAPOLIS (1515 Central Ave. NE) | NOW OPEN through August 13
LAS VEGAS (3720 S. Las Vegas Blvd.) | NOW OPEN through September 4
COLUMBUS (940 Polaris Pkwy.) | NOW OPEN through August 13
DALLAS (507 S. Harwood St.) | April 20 – September 4, 2023
TOKYO (52nd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower) | April 29 – August 31, 2023
ATLANTA (159 Armour Dr.) | May 1 – September 4, 2023

“We have opened Immersive Disney Animation in ten cities so far, with our Dallas opening right around the corner. And while we expected a positive reception, we have really been blown away by just how incredibly excited audiences are with this experience, a testament to the timeless legacy of Disney Animation’s worlds, stories and characters.” – Corey Ross, producer and founder, Lighthouse Immersive Studios

The creative team for Immersive Disney Animation is led by Oscar®-winning producer J. Miles Dale (Best Picture 2018 -The Shape of Water). Mexico City-based Cocolab worked with Dale and the Creative Legacy team at Walt Disney Animation Studios to develop the program for Lighthouse Immersive Studios. Special Projects Producer Dorothy McKim (Oscar-nominated, Get A Horse!) is spearheading the project for Disney Animation.

Briscoe Western Art Museum pairs Free Locals Day with family programming

The Briscoe brings together locals day and full STEAM fun and a fantastic new exhibition. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is steaming into spring by pairing its monthly free days for local visitors with its popular “Full STEAM Ahead” educational series. The new double feature means locals can enjoy the museum for free, while families enjoy free, hands-on – and fun – educational activities. The new combination kicks off Sunday, April 2. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2023)

The Briscoe campus includes the McNutt Sculpture Garden and features 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life in the garden and around the museum’s beautifully restored historic building that once housed the San Antonio Public Library. The collection spans 14 galleries with Western art and artifacts, including 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. Best of all, locals can enjoy it all for free on the first Sunday of each month.

The Briscoe continues to tip its hat to its neighbors with the first Sunday of each month greeting Bexar County residents with free admission. The museum’s “Locals Day” waives museum admission so everyone can enjoy heading West without ever leaving San Antonio.

Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days through 2023, with free admission on April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 8, November 5 and December 3. Online registration for Locals Day is recommended. If you can not stop in on Locals Day, children 12 and under receive free admission to the Briscoe every day, as do active-duty members of the military, making the Briscoe a terrific spot for everyone to enjoy any time.

The Briscoe’s free monthly education series “Full STEAM Ahead” will now educate and entertain on the first Sunday of every month as well. Learners of all ages work together and learn about the American West by engaging in hands-on, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) learning experiences. Each activity ties back to the Briscoe’s art and artifacts, bringing the West to life in a new way.

From transportation and weather to animals, astronomy and engineering, each program explores an aspect of life in the West to engage and inspire learning. Full STEAM Ahead is designed for all ages to enjoy, making it a terrific family activity. Enjoy STEAMing with your family 11a.m. – 1p.m. on the first Sunday of every month at the Briscoe.

New 2023 Full Steam Ahead dates and topics include:

• April 2: Full STEAM Ahead – Painting Inspired Poetry
Celebrate Poetry Month and Fiesta at the Briscoe. After studying Kim Wiggins’ “Fiesta Day on the Plaza,” a vibrant, activity-rich painting showing a fiesta – families will create a poem about their favorite part of the painting. Bringing those words to life, they will then create their own artwork to illustrate their poetry.

• May 7: Full STEAM Ahead – Exploring Art in Nature
Learn about a form of art called “mandala,” a geometric configuration of symbols. After a short presentation, participants will go on a short nature walk through the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, where we will search for and collect interesting objects from nature. Those objects will be used to create a mandala. Digital photographs will be taken to capture each work of art.

• June 4: Full STEAM Ahead – Add Lightning to your Art
Learn about how electrical currents, including lightning, work. After a short presentation, create a piece of art with a light feature, then make the art glow by creating a paper circuit.

• July 2: Full STEAM Ahead – Tools of the (Cattle) Trade
The cattle industry is a vital part of the West. Hear more about the cattle industry and the simple machines cowboys used in their daily work, then create a simple machine using found and recyclable materials.

• August 6: Full STEAM Ahead – Gone for the Winter
Learn more about wildlife and the fall migration of hummingbirds. After a short presentation, families will have the opportunity to create a hummingbird feeder using found and recyclable materials.

• September 3: Full STEAM Ahead – Art in the Sky
Study the night sky through Kim Wiggins’ “Colonel Crockett’s Return to Cibolo Creek.” After a short study of the painting, everyone will create a bedroom planetarium to take home.

• October 8: Full STEAM Ahead – Pottery of the Southwest
Learn more about the pottery made by Native Americans in the southwest, including the techniques they used to craft their pieces. Use those techniques to create a piece of pottery of your own.

• November 5: Full STEAM Ahead – Native American Homes
Native Americans lived in a variety of homes. The type of home they built fit their culture and lifestyle. While learning about these different homes, put your engineering skills to the test and use materials provided to try to build a tipi, longhouse, wigwam, or other types of Native American shelters.

• December 3: Full STEAM Ahead – Gingerbread Cowboy Storytime at Cowboy Christmas
Join the Briscoe to celebrate the holidays with story time and a visit with Cowboy Claus. Families will listen to “The Gingerbread Cowboy” by Janet Squires. After the story, create a gingerbread cowboy of your own and make sure Cowboy Claus knows what you want for Christmas. Cowboy Christmas at the Briscoe is free holiday fun, making the Briscoe the perfect way to make holiday memories with your family.

The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10a.m. – 5p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active duty members of the military. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.

Night of Artists showcases the best of today’s western art

The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s annual exhibition and sale proves once again the strength of the genre. Opening weekend events take place March 24 – 25. Photo: Google

If you imagine Western art as dusty, historic relics of the past, you need to set your sights for San Antonio and the Biscoe Western Art Museum’s  2023 Night of Artists Exhibition and Sale, March 24-25. With the opportunity to view and purchase nearly 300 new works of painting, sculpture, and mixed media by 80 of the country’s leading contemporary Western artists, Night of Artists draws artists, collectors and art enthusiasts to the banks of the San Antonio River Walk for two days of unforgettable festivities kicking off one of the premier Western art exhibitions and sales in the world. Beyond the opening celebration, Night of Artists is a public exhibition and sale that spans six weeks at the Briscoe, March 26 – May 7, and is included with general admission to the museum. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2023)

The wide range of artwork reflect the vastness of the great American West. From scenic landscapes and inspired Native Americans, classic cowboys, and dazzling vaqueros, to stunning wildlife and detailed portraiture, Night of Artists features something for every art enthusiast. Some of the featured artists include Billy Schenck, Don Oelze, Z.S. Liang, C. Michael Dudash, George Hallmark, Kim Wiggins, Bonnie Marris, Michael Ome Untiedt, Teresa Elliot, and Jan Mapes.

Notable new artists participating this year include Jeremy Lipking, Eric Bowman, Glenn Dean, Dustin Van Wechel, Bob Guelich, Kevin Red Star and Tony Pro.

The Briscoe’s signature event and a must for any collector, Night of Artists, serves as the primary fundraiser for the museum, benefiting the Briscoe’s full array of exhibitions and programs throughout the year. The event’s two-day opening weekend kicks off with the annual Briscoe Bison Society Collectors Summit, where artists, collectors and gallery owners gather to share their insights during panel discussions and conversations exploring the Western art market and trends. Intended for everyone from the novice to the seasoned art collector, the panels feature nationally recognized Western artists, experts and gallery owners. The two-part summit takes place March 24 and March 25 at The Westin Riverwalk.

The Exhibition Preview, Dinner and Live Auction taking place in the Briscoe’s Jack Guenther Pavilion on the banks of the San Antonio River Walk unfolds on March 24 with an evening of cocktails in the Night of Artists exhibition, an elegant, seated dinner, and a spirited live auction. Conducted by Troy Black, the live auction features 35 separate works.

The Night of Artists Awards Luncheon takes place March 25, honoring the artists in this year’s exhibition and recognizing the annual award winners.

Night of Artists’ signature event, the Exhibition Opening, Art Sale and Reception, takes place March 25. This memorable evening includes the “Luck of the Draw” Art Sale, where works of art are available for purchase at a fixed price established by the artist. Attendees receive a ballot book and place an intent to purchase slip in the box next to a work of art they would like to purchase. When time expires, two slips are randomly drawn, allowing the first drawee the opportunity to purchase the piece or pass it along to the second drawee. All the excitement happens to the tune of live music under the stars in the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden.

Tickets for all Night of Artists events are available online or by calling 210.299.4499. The Night of Artists public exhibition will be on display during regular museum hours March 26 – May 7 and is included in museum admission. Unsold works during opening weekend will be available for purchase both in-person and online.

Events at San Antonio Museum of Art to celebrate latest exhibition

The San Antonio Museum of Art’s latest exhibition Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii runs through May 21, 2023. Photo: Google

The San Antonio Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii, opened February 24 and continues through May 21, 2023. During its run, the Museum will offer a variety of related programming in collaboration with community partners including lectures in conjunction with Trinity University, a performance by OPERA San Antonio, a fashion show with custom clothier Limatus Bespoke, inspired menu items at Tre Trattoria, and a tasting with the San Antonio Botanical Garden. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023)

Self-Guided Audio Tours
Exhibition visitors will have the opportunity to take a self-guided audio tour that offers in-depth knowledge of landscapes and their impact and importance to the community. Audio will be provided by local experts in environmental issues, indigeneity, geology, flora and fauna, and more.

Tre Trattoria Exhibition-Inspired Menu Items
Inspired by Tuscan hillsides, Tre Trattoria – housed inside SAMA – will offer a special menu throughout the exhibition. Offerings will include Deviled Eggs “Carbonara,” consisting of Kewpie mayo, Parmigiano-Reggiano, black pepper, crispy guanciale and white truffle oil; Gnocchi Cacio y Pepe; Spaghetti All’Amatriciana; and a refreshing Strawberry Campari Spritz.

Limatus Bespoke x SAMA Fashion Show
Thursday, March 2, 2023 | 6p.m. – 8p.m. | Tickets: $35 | Front Row VIP: $60

Fashion meets art at this exclusive showing of Limatus Bespoke’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection inspired by the exhibition. Attendees can enjoy sips, art, music by Steven Lee Moya, and a one-night-only fashion show.

Evening for Educators: Reimagining the World Around Us
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 | 4:30p.m. – 6:30p.m. | Free
Enjoy a guided gallery experience with Dr. Leticia Rodriguez, visiting assistant professor of classical archaeology at Trinity University, connect with colleagues from throughout the city, and experiment with hands-on art activities to share in your teaching practice.

Free Spring Break Family Day: Roman Landscapes
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 | Free Museum and Exhibition Admission 10a.m. – 7p.m.
Art activities: 10a.m. – 3p.m.
Explore art-making experiences, story times, food vendors, performances, and more as part of SAMA’s Spring Break Family Day celebrating Roman Landscapes.

Concert with the Yale Whiffenpoofs
Sunday, March 19, 2023 | 11a.m. – Noon | Free with Museum Admission
Join the Yale Whiffenpoofs for a morning of music at SAMA. Every year, fourteen senior Yale students are selected to be in the Whiffenpoofs – the world’s oldest and best-known collegiate a cappella group. Singing a mixture of old Yale tunes, jazz standards, and other hits from across the decades, the Whiffenpoofs perform more than 200 concerts across six continents each year.

Landscapes by Boat with San Antonio River Foundation’s Frates Seeligson
Sunday, March 26, 2023 | 1p.m. – 2p.m. | Members: $25 | Non-Members: $35
In celebration of Roman Landscapes, SAMA has partnered with the San Antonio River Foundation for a special river boat tour. Frates Seeligson, executive director of the foundation, will lead an hour-long excursion focusing on the San Antonio River and how the natural landscape has shaped our community. Arrive early to experience Roman Landscapes before the tour and make connections between the ancient Romans’ relationship with the environment and our relationship with the South Texas landscape.

Lennox Seminar Lecture Series
The Lennox Seminar Lecture Series brings nationally recognized speakers to Trinity University’s campus for a variety of topics. This year, the series has partnered with SAMA and will feature lectures focusing on art, nature, and myth in Roman landscapes.

Lectures include:
Beyond the Picturesque: Personification as Landscape in Roman Visual Culture Friday, March 31, 2023 | 6p.m. – 7p.m.
Members, Educators, and Students: Free | Non-Members: $5

Join Jaś Elsner, professor of late antique art at Oxford University, for a lecture examining the place of personification in Roman landscape imagery.

Additional Lennox Lectures at Trinity University:
Bettina Bergmann, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Mount Holyoke College
Caitlín Barrett, Archaeologist and Associate Professor of Classics at Cornell University
Rachel Foulk, Professor of Art History at Ferris State University

Ancient Roman Recipes with the San Antonio Botanical Garden
Sunday, April 16, 2023 | 2p.m. – 3:30p.m.
Museum and Garden Members: $40 | Non-Members: $45
San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place

Learn about the flora and fauna featured in the works in the special exhibition Roman Landscapes and partake in dishes that bring together true Roman ingredients and a local spread of foraged greens, jams, winter pickles, meats, breads, and luxury desserts. Adult beverage included. Ages 21+.

Texas Scholars Dig Roman Villas
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 | 6p.m. – 7p.m.
Members, Educators, and Students: Free | Non-Members: $5

Join scholars John R. Clarke (University of Texas at Austin) and Thomas Noble Howe (Southwestern University) for a presentation about their work exploring, documenting, and preserving luxurious Roman villas destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

SongScapes of Opera
Friday, May 12, 2023 | 7p.m. | Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20
The performance will highlight pieces from the standard classical repertoire as well as songs by composers from traditionally underrepresented populations. Opera singer and recitalist Bronwyn White will provide a short lecture about each piece before it is performed, including a brief translation, an interesting aspect of its history, musicality, subject, or place in the composer’s life, and how each song ties into the theme of SongScapes.

Wild West Wildlife Festival at the Briscoe Western Art Museum

Free festival highlights the animals and natural beauty of the West. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

From the heart of San Antonio, the museum known for spotlighting the art and beauty of the American West, the Briscoe Western Art Museum, is starting the year in a wild way with its free Wild West Wildlife Festival, as well as a weekend of beastly programming that features the most famous bear in the world to close out the fantastic Thomas D. Mangelsen: A Life In The Wild exhibition. Go “Full STEAM Ahead” into 2023 with free hands-on educational programming, free locals days and the amazing art of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2023)

Calendar highlights include:

Get Wild with Your Family: Free Wild West Wildlife Festival

January 21, 10a.m. – 3p.m.

Highlighting the animals and natural beauty that put the “wild” in the wild West, the Wild West Wildlife Festival celebrates the flora and fauna that define the West and inspire Western art. The Briscoe hosts a beastly day of animal fun, education and hands-on crafts for all ages. Activities highlight the wildlife that calls the West home, with a focus on Texas habitats and creatures great and small. The free festival features art, storytelling and more to inspire everyone to explore the nature all around them and includes free admission to the museum.

See the Beasts of the West at Thomas D. Mangelsen:  A Life In The Wild

Through January 29

Western Art celebrates the American West, including the wild places and wildlife that grace the land. Through January 29, the Briscoe features 40 of the renowned nature photographer’s most resonant photographs in Thomas D. Mangelsen – A Life In The Wild, taking viewers on a journey across the West and around the globe. One of the most prolific nature photographers of our time, Mangelsen is an award-winning photographer whose images have been exhibited internationally and published in iconic mediums such as “National Geographic,” “Good Morning America,” and “60 Minutes.”

Spend an Evening with a Famous Bear:  Meet Jackson Hole Grizzly Bear 399

January 27, 6:30p.m.

Join us as Todd Wilkinson, author of “Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek: An Intimate Portrait of 399, the Most Famous Bear of Greater Yellowstone,” talks about the most famous bear in the world, Bear 399. One of the oldest grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Bear 399 is the world’s most famous brown bear mother. Wilkinson will also discuss the iconic Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The event is free for museum members. Tickets are $14 and are available online.

San Antonio DreamWeek:  The Briscoe Presents Art In The Wild & Write In The Wild

January 29, 1p.m. – 4p.m.

Discover nature in the heart of San Antonio with San Antonio Poet Laureate Andrea Vocab Sanderson in the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden. Everyone will commune with nature and work hands-on with clay sculpting, sketch drawing or watercolor painting to explore DreamWeek’s themes of representation and identification. Guests will then be immersed in Thomas D. Mangelsen: A Life In The Wild for the last day of the exhibition. After presenting original poetry inspired by Mangelsen’s images, Sanderson will invite guests to choose an animal for their own poetic inspiration. The event is free with museum admission.

The Art of the Rodeo:  Student Western Art Competition Exhibit

On display January 5 – February 5, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Student Western Art Competition Exhibition fills the Clingman Education Gallery and is included with general admission. Featuring the 12 winning entries in the 2023 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Western Art Competition, the pop-up exhibit showcases the best work from the annual contest that includes 183 South Texas school districts across 54 counties, as well as those attending a private school or homeschooled in one of the eligible counties. Each of the works showcases an appreciation of western heritage, which the Briscoe and the Rodeo happily share. “Horse Talk” a colored pencil drawing by Katherine Ferno, a student at Dripping Springs High School, is featured as “Best in Show.” Enjoy the rodeo exhibition during regular museum hours and be sure to stop by when you are downtown for the Rodeo’s Western Heritage Weekend, February 4.

Howdy Neighbors:  First Sundays Free for Local Residents

To show how friendly the West is and to thank the San Antonio community for its continued support, the Briscoe Western Art Museum makes the first Sunday of each month “Locals Day,” greeting locals with free general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days through 2023, with free admission on February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 8, November 5, and December 3. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission to the Briscoe every day, as do active duty members of the military, making the Briscoe a terrific spot for local families to enjoy any time.

Full STEAM Ahead:  Free Education Series Offers Hands-on Learning Fun

Families and visitors of all ages can learn about the American West in the Briscoe’s free monthly education series, “Full STEAM Ahead.” Learners of all ages work together and learn about the American West by engaging in hands-on, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) learning experiences. Each activity ties back to the Briscoe’s art and artifacts, bringing the West to life in a new way. From transportation and weather to animals, astronomy and engineering, each program explores an aspect of life in the West to engage and inspire learning. Full STEAM Ahead is included with general admission and is free for museum members.

2023 Full Steam Ahead dates include:

  • January 21 (Wild West Wildlife Festival)
  • February 18
  • March 18 (Part of the Briscoe’s Spring Break Roundup)
  • April 15
  • May 20
  • June 17
  • July 15
  • August 19
  • September 16
  • October 21 (Briscoe’s 10th Birthday)
  • November 11 (Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival)
  • December 15                                                                                                                                              

SAMA presents Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii

Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii opens at the San Antonio Museum of Art in February 2023. Photo: Google

The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) recently announced that it will present Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii in February 2023, the first exhibition in the United States to explore landscape scenes as a genre of ancient Roman art. Serving as a contrast to the typical works of antiquity with which most museum audiences are familiar—the larger-than-life statues venerating gods or heroes, or scenes of battle or ritual found on friezes or pottery—these works instead depict artists’ idyllic visions of a countryside dotted with seaside villas and rural shrines, where gods and mythological heroes mingle with travelers, herdsmen, and worshippers. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023)

Organized by and presented exclusively in San Antonio, Roman Landscapes features more than 65 works, including major loans from museums in Italy, France, and Germany, many of which have never before been shown in the United States. The exhibition was curated and organized by Jessica Powers, SAMA’s Interim Chief Curator and Gilbert M. Denman, Jr., Curator of Art of the Ancient Mediterranean World, and will be on view at SAMA from February 24 through May 21, 2023.

Roman Landscapes will be accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue published by the museum, featuring essays by Powers; Bettina Bergmann, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Mount Holyoke College; Verity Platt, Professor of Classics and History of Art at Cornell University; Lynley J. McAlpine, Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow at SAMA; Timothy M. O’Sullivan, Professor of Classical Studies at Trinity University; and Thomas Fröhlich, Director of the Library at the German Archaeological Institute in Rome. In conjunction with the exhibition, Trinity University will dedicate its spring Lennox Seminar Lecture Series to subjects explored in the museum’s presentation.

Developed through several years of research that began with Powers’ explorations of works in SAMA’s own notable collection, Roman Landscapes will feature an array of wall paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and cameo glass and silver vessels created in Roman Italy between 100 BC and AD 250. The exhibition will introduce visitors to their cultural and archaeological contexts and highlight the artistic conventions that distinguish Roman landscape scenes, including fluid, almost impressionistic brushwork and the use of bird’s-eye perspective.

The exhibition is organized around five thematic sections. The first, “Garden Landscapes,” brings together paintings and sculptures from houses in Pompeii and nearby villas on the Bay of Naples to evoke the experience of a Roman peristyle garden. “Coastal Views and Cultivated Landscapes” and “Sacred Landscapes” present mural paintings and relief sculptures that depict seascapes and rustic shrines, images that show how landscape scenes once decorated lavish Roman residences. In “The Dangerous Landscapes of Myth,” mythological paintings then reveal landscape scenes as settings for hazardous encounters between humans and the gods, presenting visually the oft-told stories that served as warnings about individual or community behavior. The last section, “Landscapes in the Tomb,” compares wall paintings from communal tombs in Rome with those from houses and explores the adaptation of landscape imagery for funerary settings.

San Antonio is the nation’s seventh-largest city and is consistently listed as one of its fastest-growing. The Museum is housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk and is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. It 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.

Cowboy Christmas at the Briscoe Western Art Museum this Sunday

Meet Cowboy Claus and have free western holiday fun at the Briscoe’s Cowboy Christmas event this Sunday. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Unwrap Western fun and meet Cowboy Claus at the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s annual Cowboy Christmas, 10a.m. – 2p.m., Sunday, December 4. This year’s Cowboy Christmas falls on the museum’s monthly “Locals Day,” when the Briscoe greets locals with free general admission. Cowboy Christmas is also free, making the Briscoe the perfect way to enjoy holiday fun and make memories with your family. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2022)

Cowboy Christmas features a day of family fun exploring the museum with holiday crafts and visits with Cowboy Claus onsite 11a.m. – 1:30p.m. Families are welcome to snap pictures with Cowboy Claus, while a special 12 Days of Christmas scavenger hunt will lead you through the Briscoe’s fantastic collection. Christmas crafts, including ornament making, will give everyone a bit of the West to take home and of course, a stroll through the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden is the perfect path to enjoy the River Walk and all of its holiday beauty.

Everyone enjoying Cowboy Christmas can also get wild while they are at the Briscoe thanks to the museum’s fall exhibition. The museum is a photographic zoo featuring 40 of the renowned nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen’s most resonant photographs. Thomas D. Mangelsen – A Life In The Wild takes viewers on a journey across the West and around the globe. One of the most prolific nature photographers of our time, Mangelsen is an award-winning photographer whose images have been exhibited internationally and published in iconic mediums such as “National Geographic,” “Good Morning America,” and “60 Minutes.” The exhibition is open to the public through January 29, 2023, and is included in general admission, making it free for locals to enjoy on Locals Day.

To show how friendly the West is and to thank the San Antonio community for its continued support, the Briscoe Western Art Museum makes the first Sunday of each month “Locals Day,” greeting locals with free general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy Cowboy Christmas and Locals Day by registering online.

Not a local? The Cowboy Christmas fun is included with general museum admission. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission at the Briscoe, as do active duty members of the military, making the museum a terrific spot for families to add to their holiday plans. Active duty military families receive half-price admission when accompanied by their active duty family member. Year-round, retired and former members of the military also received discounted admission.

The first weekend of each month is also Bank of America Museums on Us, allowing Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust cardholders to gain one free admission to the museum. Through Museums for All, recipients of SNAP, WIC, and MAP receive free general admission to the museum through Museums for All.

For everyone looking to fill their gift lists, the Briscoe’s Hendler Family Museum Store features something for everyone on your list. Shopping the museum includes holiday finds, home décor, and gifts for men, women and children that are not available at traditional retailers. Something sure to be popular in Cowboy Claus’ bag of gifts this year: gift memberships to the Briscoe. Share the wide open spaces of the West – and all of the art, heritage and programming of Briscoe – with someone special on your gift list by giving them a museum membership. Membership includes free and discounted museum event admission, exclusive member events and so much more, all on the banks of the River Walk.

Free Family Saturday at the Contemporary at Blue Star

Contemporary at Blue Star presents Free Family Saturday on December 3, 2022. Photo: Contemporary at Blue Star, used with permission.

Contemporary at Blue Star, San Antonio’s first and longest running contemporary art nonprofit, proudly invites San Antonio families to Family Saturday on December 3 from 1p.m. to 4p.m. During this free event for families and kids of all ages, Red Dot Artists Ashley Perez, Andy and Yvette Benavides, and Ernesto Ibañez will inspire youth to look at and understand contemporary art through fun-filled hands-on activities and art making. Family Saturday is free and open to the public. There will be complimentary food and refreshments. Support for the Contemporary at Blue Star’s Family Saturday is provided by the King William Association. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2022)

Currently on view at the Contemporary is the Red Dot Show. The exhibition presents and celebrates the work of over 100 San Antonio-based artists, offering the public an opportunity to start or expand their own art collections, with works on sale for a wide variety of tastes and budgets. Proceeds from art sales equally benefit artists and the Contemporary at Blue Star’s year-round exhibitions and expansive, no-cost art education programs, which inspire, nurture, and innovate through contemporary art.

The Contemporary was founded in 1986 for artists, by artists, through a grassroots movement sparked by the cancellation of the first major museum exhibition of contemporary art in San Antonio. Six arts supporters and artists founded Contemporary Art for San Antonio to provide an exhibition venue for artists and the public. With the support of donors and property developers Bernard Lifshutz and Hap Veltman, the founders, artists, and volunteers converted a warehouse into a gallery for the first annual Blue Star Exhibition. Over the years, the Contemporary has grown to include a professional staff, a robust calendar of onsite and offsite exhibitions, community collaborations, creative youth development programs, international exchange opportunities for artists, and public art projects. Formerly known as Blue Star Contemporary, the institution announced its mission-driven new name, graphic identity, and website in 2022.