Contemporary flair hits the Alamo City - City beat: San Antonio

Forget the Alamo--if solitary for a moment. Although the historic remembrancer stands in the heart of downtown San Antonio, a novel wave of creative energy is making its mark upon this lively city. Steeped in tillage and romantic history many cite San Antonio as the art corridor to southwest Texas, where contemporary art suitables a Latin-rich heritage.

"In San Antonio, what you have is a vibrant arts and agriculture community" said Felix Padron, executive director of the Office of Cultural Affairs. "The preservation of traditions is the foundation of our creativity. Layered upon that are the events and activities that enhance that infrastructure."

With a population of more than individual million, San Antonio has metamorphosed from the small mission adjustment of the early 1700s. These days, the Alamo City is famous for the River Walk, which winds from one side the heart of downtown and tenders a myriad of boutiques and flavorful restaurants along its sunken walkways.

on the contrary just a few blocks away, "Southtown" is the heart of the art display a place where traditional and contemporary mode of speech coexist. This three-by-four block district contains a myriad of galleries showcasing works from folk to contemporary. Rendon Photography and Fine Art, Garcia Glass, Bower Gallery and Isaac Maxwell Metal are among the galleries rest along Southtown's labyrinthine streets.

That said, the Southtown make a humming sound owes much of its succes to the azure Star Arts Complex. The space render free of accessed its doors in 1985 when a collection of artists and developers transformed a scarcely any warehouses. Almost 20 years later, sapphirine Star has become the design for fusion South Texas-style.

The mixed houses an array of endeavors that mirror both heritage and experiment alike. The space display works by means of local and international artists. The Joan Grona Gallery showcases more established artists, and San Angel Folk Art shares sapphirine Star complex space, as well. Younger artists are also represented: The University of Texas at San Antonio Satellite Art Space throw backs the school's strong art department, and the "Say Si" space accommodates the creations of area high gymnasium students.

"What we're doing is promoting the individual artists by means of having exhibitions and getting them national attention;' said Bill Fitzgibbons, executive director of azure Star.

Southtown galleries find quite an audience at the beginning of each month with the First Friday Gallery walks. From 6 to 9 pm as many as 5000 tribe come for the art, live music and new suds from the Blue Star prepare by fermentation Pub, also housed at the complex

Adjacent to Southtown's main thoroughfare is "SoFlo" (South Flores Street) where galleries like as ONE9ZERO6 Gallery display art from acrylic to pastel. Its sister space, Salon Mijangos, proffers a simple European feel.

And just north of Southtown, ArtPace is one as well as the other a foundation and a residence for contemporary art. Opening its doors in 1995 ArtPace is unique in its primary mission: to bring contemporary artists from around the world to create work in San Antonio. from one side its residency and exhibition program, visitor curators select three artists for each of three revolution of times in a year. The artists are given a loft a stipend and materials for artistic creation. " [Art Pace Founder] Linda Pace and others like her have infused an identity for the San Antonio art community" said Padron.

In its eight years, the foundation has showcased 89 artists, including photograpby fleece Ziebell. "The San Antonio art community can make progress nowhere but up," said Ziebell, who lives in the area and is impressed through its art scene.

Artist Caesar Martinez couldn't agree more. Martinez has become known for his work upon contemporary Chicano culture. He acknowledges a dramatic change in the way the city has embraced arts and agriculture "It's come a long way. There was a time when [the art scene] was actual polarized. Across the board, sections of the city are more well-funded" said Martinez, who attributes this progres to institutions like ArtPace and azure Star.

Another renowned San Antonio art venue is the San Antonio Museum of Art. Known for its historical Texas works, it is housed in the equally historic deserted Star Brewery building. Nestled in the Alamo Heights suburb north of downtown, the McNay Art Museum is also worth a visit the pair for its collection of paintings and statuarys and for its divine landscaping and architecture.

Just a small in number miles north of downtown, the 24-room Spanish Colonial mansion of the late Marion Koogler McNay features work through several masters. In fact, the McNay was the first late art museum in Texas and possesse more than 14000 pieces of contemporary and present art.

Other art facts that pull the community together include Fotoseptiembre, a month-long festival of photography in September. The Office of Cultural Affairs also entertainers Contemporary Art Month in July "It's a city-wide thing; all the galleries do something special" said Martinez. "It is literally art month in San Antonio."

SOURCES

* ArtPace, (210) 212-4900

* sapphirine Star Art Space and compound (210) 227-6960