San Antonio Street Art Initiative Board President Shek Vega. Photo: Karissa Rangel, used with permission.
Pearl is excited to announce a new creative partnership with San Antonio Street Art Initiative (SASAI) to help elevate the pedestrian experience on the east side of the property. Pearl has a long track record of celebrating and supporting local artists and this collaboration is the latest installment of that commitment. Five artists will be tasked with transforming the underpass between Broadway and Avenue A at Pearl into a dynamic mural that references the brand’s rich history in San Antonio through the lens of some of the region’s most talented street artists. (Pearl, 2021)
“The team at Pearl is honored to partner with San Antonio Street Art Initiative for this project. They are the ideal partners to help create a transformational space between Broadway and the heart of Pearl.” – Pearl’s Chief Operating Officer Mesha Millsap.
As part of Pearl’s dedication to support a community of makers on the property, the transformed underpass and pedestrian area will feature the works from local artists including:
“San Antonio Street Art Initiative has grouped together some of its strongest homegrown artists to aid in the completion of this Pearl project. This is a great opportunity to be a part of something that means so much to San Antonio.” – SASAI Board President Shek Vega.
The works will feature inspiration drawn from the San Antonio community that frequent Pearl as well as ideas taken from Pearl’s archives. The art initiative is officially underway at Pearl and the project is set to be complete by early November.
Pearl is a dynamic neighborhood built around the historic Pearl Brewery, which operated from 1883 to 1999. Located just north of downtown San Antonio on the banks of the San Antonio River, it is home to architecturally significant buildings like the brewhouse and stable—both built in 1894—and numerous plazas. Today, Pearl is home to dozens of unique culinary concepts, one-of-a-kind retail, weekend markets, residential communities, innovative office tenants, the San Antonio campus of the Culinary Institute of America, and the award-winning Hotel Emma. Pearl is a vibrant district where community gathers to play, work, and live; it is a place where things are made and celebrated with purpose and sincerity. We invite all to gather and experience the best of what San Antonio has to offer. Learn more atpearl.com.
San Antonio Street Art Initiative (SASAI) is an artist-run, independent, non-profit focused on two areas of advocacy: education/career development and mural art programming. Since November of 2018, SASAI has been leading the way for street and mural art in San Antonio, while working to create “The Largest Outdoor Gallery in Texas™.” SASAI’s acclaimed projects have beautified neighborhoods, contributed to economic development, advocated for fair-pay jobs to local talent, while being a driving force in the public art scene.
‘The Mural Connection’ will feature murals by a range of local, regional, and national artists. Photo: Pabst Blue Ribbon, used with permission.
Pabst Brewing Company is excited to announce “The Mural Connection,” a one-day art walk event taking place on Saturday, April 24, 2021, celebrating San Antonio’s arts community. As part of its commitment to supporting emerging artists, Pabst Blue Ribbon has partnered with the San Antonio Street Art Initiative (SASAI) and various artists to showcase new murals by local, regional, and national artists throughout downtown San Antonio. (Pabst Blue Ribbon, 2021)
Anyone interested in participating in “The Mural Connection” art walk can RSVP online. Tickets to participate in “The Mural Connection” are free by reservation only; limited tickets are available due to COVID restrictions. The after party will be open to the public, but participants who RSVP will have first access to the space. Masks and social distancing are enforced for each stop and hand sanitizer stations will be available at various stops along the way.
Participants in “The Mural Connection” will start at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) and end the walk at Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios in Southtown. The event will feature several stops along the trail, with one “hot stop” at Hopscotch where walkers can rest, grab something to drink, and take in the sights. The trail is as follows:
Start: 1p.m. – San Antonio Museum of Art – 200 W Jones Ave. As the starting point of the day, participants can check in at the Museum from 1p.m. to 2p.m. to scan the official event mural map QR code, featuring event details and the mural map for the participant’s journey. Participants can then experience the first mural by San Antonio artist Gary Sweeney and grab refreshments before they continue the rest of the mural walk. Participants are encouraged to find free parking at the SASAI pillars located on the corner of Quincy & St. Mary’s and walk a few blocks to the first stop at SAMA. Paid parking is also available at SAMA.
Former “San Antonio Brake & Clutch” Building – 891 Avenue B. Participants can view a mural by Los Otros at their leisure.
Pabst Marketing/Culture Building – Corner of Avenue B & 6th St. Participants will have a chance to view murals by Angela Fox, Connie Chapa, and Jenkins2D at their leisure.
3p.m. to 4p.m. – “Hot Stop” at Hopscotch – 711 Navarro St., Suite 100. Participants are encouraged to stop along their journeys at Hopscotch’s lounge to refresh and take in the sights and sounds, including music by DJ Pop Guy Freakshow. Participants will be given a code to receive 30% off admission to experience the rest of Hopscotch’s interactive gallery at the day of the event or return and use the code for a future visit.
Corner of S. Alamo and Commerce St. Participants will have the chance to view a mural by Manola & Maria Ramirez at their leisure.
Corner of S. Alamo and Market St. Participants will have the chance to view an art installation by Essential Collective at their leisure.
328 Martinez St. Participants will have the chance to view murals by San Antonio artists James Supa and Albert Gonzales at their leisure.
812 S. Alamo St. Participants will have the chance to view a mural by Ricardo Oviedo aka Trout at their leisure.
Finish: 5p.m. – 8p.m. – Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios – 1112 S. St. Mary’s St. To close out the event, Pabst will host an artist reception at their recently opened gallery space to be installed by acclaimed street art gallery curator, Shek Vega of Gravelmouth Gallery. The celebration will feature music from DJ Rob Wolf, a mural by Ashley Dreyfus – Pabst 2020 Art Can Contest Winner, additional artwork, prizes, and more. The event will also feature a food truck vendor as well as refreshments.
Guests are encouraged to share pictures of their journeys on social media using the hashtags #Pabst and #SanAntonioStreetArt at the various stops along the way. Participants that tag and post at each of the mural stops will have a chance to win official prizes from SASAI at the reception at Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios from 5p.m. to 8p.m.
Artists involved in “The Mural Connection” include Gary Sweeney, Nik Soup, Shek Vega, Angela Fox, Connie Chapa, Jenkins2D, Manola and Maria Ramirez, Essentials Collective, James Supa, Albert Gonzales, Ricardo Oviedo AKA Trout, and Ashley Dreyfus – Pabst 2020 Art Can Contest Winner.
Pabst Blue Ribbon has done similar art walks in other cities across the globe, but following the company’s move to San Antonio last year, Pabst has tapped into San Antonio’s vibrant art culture. The brewing company hopes that “The Mural Connection” will encourage San Antonians to support local artists while becoming more familiar with walking and biking trails throughout downtown. The event also supports SASAI’s Phase III initiative to build “The Largest Outdoor Gallery in Texas™” and continue advocating for public art and its artists through SASAI’s signature Artist Development Program.
“Ever since Pabst’s headquarters relocated to San Antonio last year, the city’s various communities, especially its artistic community, have embraced us with open arms,” “Pabst has always been a supporter of change-makers and creative doers across the U.S., so we definitely want to highlight and support the doers here. San Antonio is filled with so much creativity and we’re excited to be a part of it.” – Moima Chowoe, Pabst Community and Social Impact Lead.
Since 1844, Pabst has been American-owned and operated, and is North America’s largest privately held brewing company. Pabst’s portfolio includes iconic brands with deep ties to American heritage, such as its flagship Pabst Blue Ribbon and others such as Lone Star, Rainier and Old Style. Their people and their brands are committed to embracing change and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.
San Antonio Street Art Initiative (SASAI) is a private non-profit charity that focuses on two areas of advocacy: education and mural art programming. SASAI scouts talent to participate in the city’s best, highly visible, community projects that showcase their artwork on a larger scale and also seeks to create educational programming for career development. This ultimately allows our diverse and colorful city to be recognized and celebrated globally, across the world while advocating for artists through fair-pay, continued work opportunities, and professional development to aid in the artists’ continued career growth. To date, SASAI has completed almost 50 murals and advocated for the careers of over 36 artists.
SA Examiner 