San Antonio, TX: Where My Imagination Went Wild

Hopscotch

WHERE MY IMAGINATION WENT WILD!

Hopscotch

My first stop is Hopscotch, which is an immersive and experiential experience bringing artists to create a unique, impactful, and immersive experience. Guests are self-guided through different rooms, each with a different experience, but the main thread among the art is that of diversity and inclusion.

Whether the room plays with your senses or forces you to literally immerse yourself in a huge pool of glowing balls, or opens your mind to your darkest secrets, a visit to Hopscotch will help you create unforgettable experiences. One of the experiences is called Gaze, which is in collaboration with the Human Rights

Campaign, guests will find themselves in a maze of glass walls with positive and colorful luminescent words and phrases empowering the LGBTQ+ community.

After experiencing the art, take some time to chill by the bar, where the drinks are as imaginative as the art itself.

Not only are the names of the drinks creative, but the ingredients, their presentation, and flavors are also works of art. There are so many selfie-worthy moments for people of all ages, that you may need to relax and soak up the entire place, guaranteed to find art everywhere inside.

The Witte Museum

The Witte Museum

The Witte Museum is a prominent cultural institution dedicated to telling the story of Texas’ natural history, science, and culture. The museum is named after Ellen Schulz Quillin, whose maiden name was Witte, in honor of her generous contribution to the museum in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred G. Witte.

The Witte Museum has a wide range of exhibits and attractions, including displays on dinosaurs, Texas wildlife, Native American artifacts, Texas art, and the history of San Antonio and South Texas. It also features interactive exhibits, educational programs, and special events throughout the year. One of the highlights of the museum is the Robert J. and Helen C.

Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center, which offers an immersive journey through the diverse cultural heritage of South Texas, including the contributions of Native Americans, Spanish settlers, cowboys, and Tejanos.

The Witte Museum is located near the San Antonio River and is adjacent to Brackenridge Park, providing visitors with a beautiful natural setting to explore along with their museum experience.

During my visit at The Witte Museum, I had a chance to sit down and talk with the museum’s Vice President of Development and local LGBTQ+ activist, Justin Munoz about his life as an out and proud gay man in San Antonio and the work he did in his community. In addition to his role at the Witte, Justin served as an elected Executive Committee Member for Visit San Antonio and an elected Honorary Commander for Joint Base San Antonio, where he leveraged his experience in community relations and strategic partnership development. He was also the President of the San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce, a role that he was very proud to have.

Speaking to Justin, left me with a sense of easiness about being gay, that I hadn’t been feeling back home in Florida. He spoke about how the community rallied behind his work and supported his efforts in the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, not just the LGBTQ+ community, but the community at large. This clear sense of belonging surely increases the quality of life for everyone.

The McNay Art Museum

The McNay Art Museum is known for its impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. It was founded by Marion Koogler McNay in 1954 and was the first modern art museum in Texas.

The museum is housed in a Spanish Colonial Revival-style mansion, which was originally Marion Koogler McNay’s home. The mansion, built in the 1920s, provides a picturesque setting for displaying art and features beautiful gardens and courtyards.

The McNay Art Museum’s collection includes works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, Diego Rivera, Joan Miró, and many others.

It encompasses a wide range of art forms, including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and decorative arts. In addition to its permanent collection, the McNay Art Museum hosts temporary exhibitions, educational programs, lectures, and special events.

The museum’s mission is to promote the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art through its diverse exhibitions and programs.

During my visit to the McNay, I had the opportunity to meet the museum’s new Director and CEO, Dr. Matthew McLendon. Matthew had recently moved from the East Coast to San Antonio to take on the role of serving as the fourth Director and CEO in the museum’s 68-year history.

Matthew previously served in curatorial and educational positions at the Rollins Museum of Art and Tate Britain, London. He also served as teaching faculty for graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Virginia, Florida State

University, New College of Florida, and Rollins College. His partner, at the time of our conversation, was still living part-time in New York, where they both previously resided. Matthew and his partner traveled back and forth.

His perspective on being an out and proud gay man moving from a rather liberal state to a more conservative one was very important. Originally, there was a littl bit of hesitation about moving to a more conservative state, however, Matthew explained that the people of San Antonio welcomed him and his partner without reservations. Once again, I was reminded the people of San Antonio are genuine and welcoming.