3 to uncover the art of Rome and Pompeii
5 to admire the artists at Blue Star Contemporary
7 Artpace Museum
8 to view the works of Joo Young Choi
10 to glimpse at Witte’s, Toys: The Way We Play
to explore the to walk through the
12 Wonder Chamber
to vintage shop with Craftiques 13 15 Gillian DeVaal 18 20 22 to visit the historical La Villita 24
to listen to to interview with to learn at the San Fernando Cathedral Student Artists to see the sculptures at The Grotto
Spring is the best season for color. Flowers finally bloom, the sun stays up longer and the grass grows greener. I have always loved a lot of color, and being able to implement color into many aspects of my life.
I paint using bright acrylic paints; I decorate my room with colorful neon signs and a giant album wall to showcase my favorite records. To me, creating an art magazine made sense because I not only love art, but practice art in my own creative ways. This magazine showcases many of my artistic passions and the many artistic abilities of my fellow Paisano staff members. I have written articles, drawn graphics and spent endless nights designing the
{ Paisano Plus }
Magazine Editor: Jenna Taylor
Editor-in-Chief: Mason Hickok
Managing Editor: Laynie Clark
News Editor: Gauri Raje
Opinion Editor: Jake Mireles
Arts & Life Editor: Riley Carroll
Sports Editor: Luke Lawhorn
Web and Social Editor: Chloe Williams
Photo Editor: Dustin Vickers
Graphic Editor: Grace Robinson
Multimedia Editor: Marcela Montufar Soria
Distribution Manager: Genevieve Vega
Business Manager: Luke DeMario
Writers Riley Carroll, Andrew Christianson, Laynie Clark, Mason Hickok, Luke Lawhorn, Jake Mireles, Gauri Raje, Marcela Montufar Soria, Chloe Williams
{ Photographers }
Riley Carroll, Andrew Christianson, Mason Hickok, Kylar Royer, Marcela Montufar Soria, Genevieve Vega, Dustin Vickers
magazine layout to perfection. Well, at least it’s perfection to me.
“Meet Me Where the Art Is” was an idea I created and the rest of the Paisano staff voted on it. The concept stemmed from the goal that readers will feel inspired to express their creativity and find someplace or medium to artistically express themselves. The best part is you do not have to meet me anywhere. The beauty of art is that it is everywhere; you just have to be actively looking for it. “Meet Me Where the Art Is” was created in hopes that readers’ have a beginner’s guide to finding art, museums and local artists in San Antonio. I intend to display all different categories of local art
in San Antonio, including UTSA alumni artists, current student artists and many other mediums of San Antonio native art. This magazine will cover all art forms including ancient Roman sculptures, antique shopping, photography, ceramics, painting, music and fashion. I hope you enjoy reading ‘Meet Me Where the Art Is’ as much as I enjoyed making it. Thank you to all of The Paisano’s staff for coming along on this journey of my first semester as a magazine editor, and I am so impressed and thankful for everyone’s hard work.
Graphic Designers} Grace Robinson, Jenna Taylor
{
Cover Photo } Grace Robinson, Jenna Taylor
{ Back Photo } Jenna Taylor Advisor } Diane Abdo
{ Advisory Board Diane Abdo, Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Stefanie Arias, Sandy Norman, Sofia Garcia, John Helton, Corey Franco, Imelda Robles Paisano Plus is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsered, financed or endorsed by UTSA. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed toward: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249
(210)690-9301
Written and Photographed by Andrew Christianson
Opened on Feb. 24, 2023, the San Antonio Museum of Art’s (SAMA) Roman landscape exhibit displays paintings of the beautiful Roman countryside landscapes that were once damaged by decades of war in the Italian peninsula. The “Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii” exhibit displays wealth in Roman culture between 100 B.C. and 100 A.D. The multimedium exhibition depicts the Romans’ artistic
skills and their dedication to the gods and other mythical creatures.
Visitors can be mesmerized by the detailed variety of art, such as statues, paintings, murals and pottery, all imported from Rome. The Roman landscapes shown provide a glimpse into the artistic and cultural lens, which these civilians experienced. The artists clearly intended for viewers to experience their world in the way it looked and felt.
The Roman Landscape exhibit
is the first in the United States to explore the art landscape scenery as a new genre for Roman art culture. SAMA has been loaned these artworks from various parts of the globe, and many of the pieces had never been seen in the U.S. until the exhibit’s opening.
The Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii will be available to view for $5 from Feb. 24 to May 21 in the Cowden Gallery at SAMA.
Written by Jenna Taylor and Photographed by Genevieve Vega
Brought to San Antonio by the McNay Art Museum is the “Art of Color” exhibit, a collection of multi-medium works of art, intended to encapsulate art within each color of the rainbow. The “Art of Color’’ features a collection of artists and is displayed in a way to showcase the dimension of art between each color, including warm, mono-chromatic and cooltoned shades.
The “Art of Color” is designed for visitors to get a closer look at a diverse array of pieces. Not only can you experience art from time periods as far back as World War II, but you can also appreciate modern pieces featured throughout the gallery. One modern art piece, Red Saturn and His Children (shown in the top
left corner), is a painting created by Art Professor and UTSA Alumni, Richard Armendariz. In Professor Armendariz’s biography for UTSA, he expresses that his art is heavily informed by the romanticism within Mexican, American and Indigenous cultures. Armendariz creates his pieces on wood blocks or paintings and burns power tools to carve culturally and historically significant images.
The “Art of Color’’ exhibit will call the McNay home until June 1, 2023. Tickets can be purchased online, or guests can receive free general admission every Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and the first Sunday of every month from 12 to 5 p.m.
All artwork from Tierra’s latest collection, “The Sins of Capitalism.” Pictured top left, “Recuerdos, pictured bottom left, “Sueños,” and pictured on the right, “Yanaguana.”
Mauro De La Tierra, a first-generation Mexican-American artist and San Antonio native, began his artistic endeavors at age sixteen.
“I didn’t have a lot of resources for art programs, but I was introduced to the subculture of graffiti, which really inspired me to pursue creating,” Tierra said. I began using spray paint, and I gradually moved to acrylics.”
San Antonio is a city known for its arts and culture. Tierra describes the San Antonio arts community as one with open arms.
With artwork displayed at over 70 different exhibitions in Texas, Carolina G. Flores has created many pieces featuring Latino culture, highway landscapes, family portraits and local San Antonio neighborhoods. Flores, a UTSA alumna, graduated with a B.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1971 and continued to earn her M.F.A. in 1978 from the University of Texas at San Antonio. In Flores’ artist statement, she says, “There in these portraits and landscapes are the stories I want to tell with an emotion of color and line. The flowers are an extension of my love of nature, color and movement.” To learn more about Flores, you can visit her website, carolinagflores.com.
Showcasing his solo exhibition titled “The Sins of Capitalism” at March’s First Friday at the Blue Star Arts Complex, Tierra shares that his favorite piece from the collection is a 42-by-42-inch canvas painting titled “El juez” using acrylic paint.
“I had roughly 12 days to work on it,” Tierra said.
Tierra’s painting, “El juez.”
“Something I’ve struggled with is imposter syndrome, but the art community here has been uplifting and welcoming,” Tierra said. “I found a mentor in my friend Albert Gonzales.”
Much of Tierra’s artwork focuses on socioeconomic and other global struggles such as addiction, environmental issues and the prison industrial complex.
“A lot of my work talks of my own personal life experiences,”Tierra said. “I had a very alternative upbringing. I was raised in a punk rock household on the east side for most of my adolescence. A lot of the messages I carry come from that upbringing. I watched my father get roped into the prison industrial complex along with some of my childhood friends who were not able to break out of that cycle. I talk about socio-economic struggles because that is what I know. I myself am a recovering addict and am three years sober. For me, personally, I feel art needs to be meaningful and used as a tool to bring conscious change and awareness.”
“I was fueled by adrenaline and anxiety, but I work well under pressure. I had four people model for it; my friends Miles Payne, Cristina Mauri, Valley Ortiz and Brandon Pittman. It’s my favorite piece because of the layers of meaning I was able to pack within it.”
Tierra further describes his intentions for the art piece.
“I wanted to create a statement piece about the systemic issues America is facing,” Tierra said “It speaks to the environmental impact of the de-regulation of corporations and those in power who are making decisions based on greed. It speaks to the silence of those witnessing injustice.”
One piece of advice Tierra would give to someone wanting to become a full-time artist in San Antonio would be, “Engage with your community! Build a foundation and support others. Stay humble, and welcome mistakes. The hardest part is going through sacrifices, but never let them discourage you from pursuing your vision. Don’t ever be afraid to take up space. Your voice and your experiences are valid.”
Mauro De La Tierra has a few projects and another exhibition coming up. In addition, Tierra, along with his sibling Mel Tierra and his partner, Raven Medina, have an illustration book in the works. This book will be his fourth and will “celebrate and show the vulnerability and struggles that come with addiction.”
“For our next project, we are making a full book titled ‘30 Things to do instead of relapsing,’” Tierra said. “The goal of the project is to encourage other folks struggling with sobriety in a comedic yet wholesome way.”
Tierrra’s next release is his next solo exhibition at TERRITORY gallery, opening May 13. To find more work from Mauro De La Tierra, you can follow him on his Instagram, @maurodelatierra.
“What’s by Justin Chase Black Oil over graphite on acrylic sheet. A part of a collection of Alice in Wonderland inspired art. Portrait courtesy of @deathtocontent Written and Photographed by Jenna Taylor
Founded in 1973 by Linda Pace, Artpace has served San Antonio as a “laboratory of dreams” and a visual destination for contemporary art. Artpace operates as a nonprofit residency program that works to support artists both locally and internationally.
The unique 18,000 square foot building Artpace dubs home is located downtown at 445 N Main Ave. The building was constructed in the 1920s and once served as an automotive dealership; the space features several exhibition areas, including the notable Hudson Showroom and Main Space. The evident culture and views the space delivers only add to the weight of multi-medium art featured along their walls.
In its 28 years open to the public, Artpace has hosted more than 250 artists from over 38 countries. Artpace does not operate in the same way as other galleries. Rather, their core program works as a residency where they choose three artists three times annually. Of the artists, one is locally based, one nationally and the other internationally. During their residency, they live and create new work at Artpace for eight weeks. Their work is displayed at Artpace for two months. Spring residency exhibitions will be on display until the summer, and fall residency art opening receptions will take place on May 11, 2023, and Sept. 14, 2023. To learn more about their current exhibitions on display, visit artpace.org/events/. A crucial element of Artpace is that they offer art and events free to the public. This is possible due to their sponsors, including The City of San
Artist JooYoung Choi uses mediums such as sculpture, video, animation, painting, music and installation art, all to create a fantasy land dubbed “The Cosmic Womb.” Using this fantasyland and her inspiration from the media she consumed as a child, Choi creates the Cosmic Womb to uncover much deeper topics such as trauma, identity and resilience. Choi creates a bright and artistic world to tell a story about grief, loss and growth.
JooYoung Choi is from Houston, Texas. Her art is displayed with the mission of mixing fantasy and real-life stories and experiences. Not only has Choi received a B.F.A. from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and an M.F.A. from Lesley University, but she also displays her artwork in over 10 museums all over the nation, including The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle and The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.
In a quote from Blue Star Contemporary’s official website, “This exhibition introduces the Cosmic Womb multiverse and highlights some of its key characters and narratives. In creating a world that explores loss, healing and growth based upon a connective web of belief and faith in oneself, Choi expresses human resiliency and the strength that can be found through the power of storytelling.”
The Songs of Resilience from the Tapestry of Faith exhibit is a colorful and immersive art gallery located at The Contemporary at 116 Blue Star in San Antonio. More information about the exhibition including hours can be found at contemporarysa.org.
Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, Linda Pace Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and more.
Other events hosted at Artpace include free morning mixers, educational events, space rentals and their archive and resource library.
Artpace is available to visit Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information about Artpace and its opportunities, visit artpace.org/.
Written by Chloe Williams and Photographed by Dustin Vickers
The Witte Museum recently hosted “TOYS: The Way We Play,” a special exhibit that closed on April 2, 2023. The exhibition was housed on the second floor of the Susan Naylor Center. It showcased a collection of toys taken from across decades of history, with some being over a century old. A walk through the exhibit was certainly a trip down memory lane for people of all ages. The toys were divided into sections for ease of exploration.
“We Play Pretend” focused on games born out of imagination and make-believe, such as dressing up in costumes to stage adventures or playing at being a mom with a doll and cradle. These types of games are the spirit of all childhoods, allowing a developing mind to explore beyond the boundaries of their reality and into the unknown.
“We Play Together” focused on games requiring teamwork and fostering relationships. From a mid-20th century baseball bat, glove and ball to board games to an Xbox gaming console — the exhibit showcased how teamwork has always made the dream work.
The Witte Museum is located adjacent to Broadway street and sits inside Brackenridge Park. Touted as “the place where nature, science, and culture meet,” the museum was established in 1926. The catalyst for The Witte came from the mind of the school teacher and botanist Ellen Dorothy Schulz Quillin, who wanted a place where children could access the natural world.
According to the Texas State Historical Association, Quillin opened the museum with a charter from a nonprofit corporation called the San Antonio Museum Association. In 1923, Quillin purchased an extensive collection of natural history items and displayed them at a local high school. Naturally, as the collection grew, more space was needed to house the objects. So Quillin and her supporters asked the city to build a museum. Local businessman Alfred G. Witte offered $65,000 alongside the public funds gathered so far and helped bring the physical structure to life. In addition,
Witte requested that the museum be built inside Brackenridge Park. The Witte Museum’s opening meant San Antonio now had its first public museum.
Today, the museum offers handson learning experiences, engaging exhibits and year-round educational programming. The exhibit “Toys: The Way We Play” was most recently displayed. Along with the museum’s recurring exhibits, three are available to the public until late summer. They include “Antarctic Dinosaurs,” on display until Sept. 10, 2023; “Texas Art: Kinship and Culture,” on display until Aug. 13, 2023; and “San José Tiles: The Art & Artist,” on display until Aug. 13, 2023. In addition, opening May 24, and running until Sept. 4, 2023, is the “Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family” exhibit.
Admission prices, hours of operation, and more information can be found on the museum’s website: wittemuseum. org/.
“We Play to Learn” focused on games and toys that help children’s development by teaching them skills and utilizing concepts like vocabulary and math. Toys such as shape sorting toys help hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills, alphabots help kids with learning the alphabet and spelling and toy horse saddles can help with motor skills.
“We Play the Same Over Time” compared similar games and toys over the decades. The exhibit showcased a collection of dolls and model vehicles stretching back a century, which provided a charming sense of unity across time. The exposition of these timeless toys demonstrated the value of basic human nature and enjoyment. One thing is certain in this world: somewhere, sometime, a little girl will play with her doll.
“We Play in New Ways” focused on innovative toys and trends that come along with changing cultural landscapes and developing technologies. These toys, no doubt recognizable to young children, would be Nerf Guns, action figures from popular franchises like Star Wars, television and computer games.
Written by Mason Hickok and Graphic designed by Jenna Taylor
For over two decades, Clay Casa Pottery Painting in Embassy Oaks has offered customers a creative and engaging experience.
Studio Manager Marie Ocañas, who has been with the studio for over a year and a half, shared that the best part about Clay Casa is the memories made in the studio.
“It’s something that will last a lifetime,” Ocañas said. “We have people [that] come who brought their kids, and then they bring their grandkids, so it’s cool to see that generational effect happen.”
Pottery pieces start around $12 and can take a while to paint, but with care, the art and memories made alongside it will last for many years.
“You’re definitely going to spend at least two hours here,” Ocañas said. “I always recommend people to bring food, snacks [and] drinks. We even allow alcohol at this location, so you can really buckle in. It’s a really fun time. You spend all your time on a piece, and it looks amazing afterward, and you get to keep it for years to come, as long as you’re pretty careful with it.”
Ocañas believes that what sets Clay Casa apart from other similar businesses is its accommodating staff and customer service.
“We do our best to go above and beyond. Customer satisfaction is always our first thing,” Ocañas said. “We have a really great staff that is willing to help you [make] anything you want to. We have all these different techniques that we have like bubbles, marbling [and] lace. We help [customers] create something that they’re going to be really happy with. Some people think, ‘No, no, no. I really can’t do that. I have zero artistic ability.’ So, we have to cheerlead them through [and] convince them that [they] can do it. Anyone can do it, and we’ll help you every step along the way.”
Clay Casa hosts a variety of events for people of all ages, including for schools, organizations and more.
“We have lots of field trips,” Ocañas said. “We just did Compass Connections, and it’s a foster group, so we had about 36 kids here. It’s super fun to be able to do stuff like that because it’s people who don’t necessarily have the opportunity. There were some grumpy older boys who didn’t really want to paint. So, we [had] them blow bubbles and do marbling, and they ended up having a really fun time.”
For more information about Clay Casa Pottery Painting, visit their website at https://claycasa.com/. The studio is located at 502 Embassy Oaks #107 and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Looking for your next spot to take the most mesmerizing pictures for Instagram? Need a cute date night spot for you and your partner? Then look no further than the Wonder Chamber. Filled with twelve different interactive art spaces, the Wonder Chamber is the ideal place for art and photography lovers.
Each space has a different theme; most notable is their beating-heart set, where you can press a button and the moving red heart art display will beat to your pulse. Every eight to twelve months, the Wonder Chamber removes all the interactive art displays they had up for the season and updates sets with new art to stay on trend and renew the space. Currently, Wonder Chamber is showcasing their Season 4 collection titled “To be Human!” Each space is inspired by a different part of the human body, including the brain and mouth, and uses neon and psychedelic colors and lights to embody a new realm of the human experience.
In an interview with KENS5 News, the owner of Wonder Chamber, Robbie Sanchez, describes the Wonder Chamber, “We are not just a selfie museum, we are more than that, it’s immersive [and] it’s an experience.” All ages are welcome, as well as walk-ins and large groups.
Tickets can be purchased online, and there is a student discount for those with valid student identification. Children under two years of age get free admission, and children age three to 10 get tickets for $15. Tickets include one hour in the Wonder Chamber, and tripods are available to rent for an additional fee.
The Wonder Chamber is located at 8800 Broadway, Suite #116, and open Tuesday, through Thursday, from. to 9 p.m., Friday from to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Another vendor featured at Craftiques is Puente 805, which sells clay pieces that are hand-painted.
A fun example of art, fashion, and early publications in the 60’s is this Penney’s
Want an immersive art experience? Located at 711 Navarro St., Suite 100, Hopscotch San Antonio hosts jaw-dropping works of art and activities.
With varying hours, Hopscotch is a place that welcomes people of all ages. Head online to letshopscotch.com to purchase tickets for you and your party, then make your way downtown. The first floor of the building is a bar for the adults to sit and enjoy a classic drink while waiting to enjoy the art. Once it is time, you will be guided down the “rabbit hole” and into a room where your experience begins.
The rabbit hole is filled with different types of experiences, such as a giant glow-in-the-dark ball pit and a room for color therapy. Aside from that, there are immersive images shot onto the walls using projectors, which fill the space with color and movement.
After completing the rabbit hole, one final exhibit is atop the stairs before the exit. “Light Lines” by Campbell Landscape Architecture is the perfect way to close out your Hopscotch experience because you are left with a feeling of warmth and excitement,
Craftiques, a retail store made with vintage vendors and crafters in mind, opened its first store off of Bandera in 2000. This first store was built with less vendor space, thus resulting in the opening of their second store, located on NW Military Highway. This second location is suitable for more vendors, and it even has its own Garden Tea Lounge, where guests can enjoy tea or coffee and unwind.
A perfect mix of antiques, hand-made jewelry, vintage collectibles and more modern artwork, Craftiques brings a little bit of everything. Prepare to spend plenty of time perusing through over 200 different vendors, most of which offer discounts depending on the days of the week.
Craftiques’ oldest antiques include an antique phonograph
from the 1850s (pictured left), Barbie dolls from the ‘70s and ‘80s, memorabilia like Marilyn Monroe merch and vintage clothing and art curated by different vendors.
One of Craftiques most notable features is the abundance of handmade jewelry spread across all price ranges. The options are endless, and a lot of rings will have colorful crystals, which some believe to possess special meaning or importance. Since there are thousands of choices, finding something to take home will not be difficult.
Craftiques is open seven days a week. More details, such as exact addresses and store hours, can be found at craftiquesmall. com/about-us/.
Be sure to consistently check their website for updates on new exhibits and ticket availability. Their hours range from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
catalog. Penney’s was a custom hat and hair accessory store.Puente 805
There are so many artistically and musically talented students at UTSA. One of those talents include Gillian Mclain, who more commonly identifies by her stage name, Gillian DeVaal. “DeVaal was my paternal grandma’s maiden name; she passed away when I was twelve and as the years pass, I never want to feel any less close to her, so I keep her name with me.”
DeVaal began songwriting and learning how to play musical instruments since before she can remember, and even has memories “laying in [her] room at seven years old, writing on notebook paper some little rhymes or whatever [she] was feeling.” She began practicing with piano lessons in elementary school and soon after transitioning into three years of vocal lessons and teaching herself guitar and ukulele around age thirteen.
In her first debut of demos, DeVaal release songs “Again,” “Nightshade,” and “Crying Loud, Laughing Louder” to SoundCloud in 2019, around the age of 17. These tracks feature more acoustics
and contain simpler melodies that build into a beautiful and complex collection of melodies and instruments. DeVaal also records, edits, cuts, makes music videos and produces these tracks completely independently from a record label or other outside networks.
When asked about the favorite music video she has made, DeVaal said, “My favorite music video to make has always been About Us. I am lucky enough to have an amazingly talented cousin, Ainsley McClain, who got their film degree from UT Austin and they wanted me to be the subject of their projects one semester in Fall 2021. Ainsley recorded and mastered the audio, and her partner shot it all, along with a small but amazing crew. I started writing this song when I was about 15. It was surreal finally getting to perform it, and get it out to the world was such a sweet, full circle moment.” DeVaal explains that “visual art has personally made me appreciate my own beauty so much more. Getting to see myself from the perspective
of the camera has really made me at times be able to sit in the fact [that] I’m actually pretty! As someone with body dysmorphia, that process has been so scary at times but really freeing.” You can find DeVaal’s music videos and live performances on her YouTube channel, Gillian DeVaal.
In the future for her artistic and musical endeavors, DeVaal states “as far as I’ve grown musically, I’m much more comfortable with experimenting melody than I used to be. I want to reach the very edges of whatever key I’m in and never let the listener know where the notes will end up. I think it creates a more intriguing listening experience, and I definitely have Billie Holiday’s style to thank for that. All that really matters to me is making my inner child proud and showing her that I will not give up on her wild dreams.”
Be on the lookout for new projects from Gillian DeVaal on Apple Music, Spotify, and her Youtube Channel, all under Gillian DeVaal.
A musical artist who has started their freshman year this past fall semester at UTSA is Nicholas Garza, a punk-rock based violinist and guitarist for his band, Scrambled Eggs. “Violin was the first way I felt like I could truly express myself; punk rock was the second. I felt like it was a necessity to combine the two to truly get my voice out there in the musical world,” Garza stated. Inspired by the genre of math rock for its “complex yet fun nature,” Garza sought to create a band with that similar genre and his punk-rock background in mind. “I approached a drummer that was taking [a] class [with me] and from there, we wrote songs out of [the] ideas that I had created for the fast, melodic, punk-inspired, math rock duo that is Scrambled Eggs. I function as the guitarist, and I would like to think that we work together equally to create our music.”
Garza’s favorite performance so far has been when The Scrambled Eggs opened for Pink Zeppelin on January 23, 2023.
“That night we had our biggest crowd yet, and I successfully engaged with the audience to create a fun atmosphere.
Watching as the packed crowd bobbed their heads and moshed to our music was hands down the coolest musical experience I ever felt. That night, I felt like we truly entered the music scene, and I could not be more proud of our performance and thankful for being given this opportunity,” Garza reminisces.
When asked about his practice or routine for regularly making music, Garza says “I mainly give my violin the most attention, giving it around an hour a day of practice, not including rehearsals, performances, etc.
My amazing violin teacher, shoutout to Dr. Nicole Cherry, pushes me to be constantly improving via new techniques
and mental approaches to my musical craft! Outside of formal practice, I am constantly musically alert, looking for inspiration for lyrics and music in my everyday life.”
Garza explained that in the future his “band is currently planning this exciting skatepark show near my old high school, John Jay, on May 19th, and we’re recording our 2nd EP. I am still writing and recording songs and unusual covers, still freelancing on Fiverr as a session violinist and songwriter/ recorder, and keeping in touch with my punk rock roots while exploring new genres and soundscapes. I set many goals large and small, but I feel like the most important ones for now are to practice my violin every day, to eventually play an outof-town show as a band, and to double my income as a freelance musician on Fiverr from last year.”
Gillian performing her song “Everloving,” live. Directed and shot by her cousin, Ainsley McClain. Written by Jenna Taylor and Photo courtesy of Nicholas Garza
Q: How did you get into printmaking and photography?
A: “I’ve always done photography since I’ve had a phone. When I was eight, I got my very first digital camera, and it was from my grandparents. That was really cool. But none of those photos were good. That’s what kind of [made me realize that] photography is something people actually look at. But not until college did I realize that photography and the realms can be used in.”
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: “I have a very non-traditional art process. When it comes to ceramics, I say that clay does what it wants, and I’m just there to guide it.”
Q: What do you like about ceramics?
A: “It’s a love-hate relationship. I love it, yet I hate it. It is a very unforgiving medium, but at the same time, the reward is amazing. [There are days when] you are mad because you have nothing work out how you want [it to]. You have weeks where things just fall apart and break, and nothing comes out of it. And then you have days where everything is perfect. And those are the days you walk yourself into the studio, and you are in there for 10 to 15 hours, and you don’t leave. And you love it.”
Q: What are you trying to convey through your art?
Q: What has your art journey been like?
A: “I’ve always been kind of into art. I just haven’t really pursued it as a career until [a] few years back. As I progress further in all these classes, I have been learning a lot more techniques and skills and basically what I try to draw or put in my piece.”
Q: What mediums do you work with?
A: “The mediums I’ve been working with [are] ceramics and printmaking.”
Q: Why do you gravitate toward these mediums?
A: “I gravitated towards these mediums because I found a sense of enjoyment with it. Last semester was my first semester in printmaking, and I basically consider that my second home now. With ceramics, it’s really relaxing and soothing to work in there. I just feel very comfortable in these environments to the point where I can be there all day and just work on things.”
Q: What are things that you draw inspiration from when it comes to your art?
A: “My art typically involves a little bit of nature as well as the human anatomy, [and] how our human involvement co-exists with nature as a whole.”
Q: What does art mean to you?
A: “I guess the art I draw really depends on my mood. So like, if I’m upset for some reason, then [I would depict that in my picture or] when I’m happy or attracted to someone or something like that, it might show in my artwork as well. Art usually tends to go off of what you’re feeling.”
A: “[The thing I’m trying to really get across right now] is even if you don’t feel like you’re good enough, you are. Even if you feel like no one cares about you, there’s someone. You just have to be willing to go out there and look.”
Q: What has your art journey been like?
A: “Very non-traditional. I grew up in a household where art was not something you did, so even in college, I never thought I’d be an artist. I started as a Biology major. [It] was a rough semester, so I took a ceramics elective because I needed some kind of elective just to fill in a hole in my degree plan, and I fell in love with it. Three weeks later, I changed my major and now I want to [do] ceramics.”
Written by Luke Lawhorn and Photographed by Dustin Vickers
As the seventh largest city by population in the United States, San Antonio natives take it upon themselves to plant their city with art to give the Alamo City more of an expression.
Leticia Huerta, who was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States with her family, is a Chicana artist known for her public art and paintings that reshape community spaces. Huerta earned a B.F.A. in painting from the University of Texas-San Antonio and has brought the city many notable pieces of art.
“Bloom” by Huerta was created in 2018 and has since turned into a series of sculptures around San Antonio. The original “Bloom” was planted as part of the city’s public art program. Located at the trailhead of the Mud Creek Loop in McAllister Park, the artwork became really popular with local bikers, hikers and runners in which hundreds of each pass by the Bloom every day.
Bloom is comprised of three unique metal sculptures. The 12-foot tall sculptures are a series of wildflowers created from elements that resemble larger-than-life bicycle parts. The artwork takes inspiration from trail users and the native wildflowers nearby. The surrounding area has been shaped by years of flooding which has created a rough terrain ideal for hikers and mountain bikers. Silver rings are placed on the flower stems to indicate various flood levels. The “Blooms” found at this location are inspired by Winecup, Plains Coreopsis and Mexican Hat wildflowers. With the success Bloom brought to the park, plans started taking shape for a project with the Parks and Recreation Department that would plant additional Huerta-cultivated blooms all around San Antonio.
Aside from the main location at McAllister Park, you can find them downtown at the Public Art Garden, Farias Park, Eisenhower Park and Brazzos Pocket Park.
The first spinoff “Bloom” was constructed in March 2021 in the River Walk Public Art Garden. After that, a new piece was installed in Eisenhower Park in April of 2021, then later in Brazos Pocket Park in May. The city continued after the summer with the addition in Mario Farias Park in August 2021, in South Side Lions Park in January of 2022 and then at the Tezel Road Community Facility in June 2022.
Originally debuting in June 2014, the San Fernando Cathedral has been a must-see destination for locals and tourists alike. Back after a short suspension due to roof repairs in January, The San Fernando Lights Show is back in action. With the perfect blend of vibrant art and rich San Antonio history, the San Fernando Lights Show, known as The Saga, is unlike any other lights show.
Projected on the oldest operating sanctuary in the nation, The Saga is an art and light show created by French artist Xavier de Richemont. The show informs the audience
about the history of San Antonio and the foundation and leaders that lead at that time.
The Main Plaza website states, “The Saga projection covers 7,000 square feet of light, color and visual narration projected onto the majestic façade of San Fernando Cathedral — the oldest cathedral in the United States.” Perfect for all ages, and even better — completely free to the public.
The San Fernando Cathedral will be holding the intricate lights show at 9 and 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday at the Main Plaza, located at 115 Main Ave.
Written and Photographed by Jenna Taylor
San Antonio’s Westside community displays its culturally-rich vibrancy in many ways; one of these is through murals and public art. An instantly recognizable piece is “La Veladora of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” by the late Jesse Treviño.
The mosaic — completed in 2003 — is the world’s largest statue of the Virgin Mary. The piece adorns an exterior wall of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center — a community fixture of the Westside. The eternal flame depicted in the mural acts as a beacon for Westside.
A veladora is a table or bedside lamp that often carries significant religious connotations. For some, the interweaving of art and religion brings peace and comfort. These themes are felt in the depiction of the Virgin Mary.
Treviño passed away on Feb. 13, 2023. In a piece by Alex Williams from The New York Times, Anthony Head — the author of a 2019 book on Trevino’s life — lauded San Antonio as Trevino’s muse. “San Antonio was his muse and his canvas,” Head stated.
Trevino’s legacy is felt not only on the Westside but also in the rest of San Antonio. If you have ever driven north on I-35, you may have seen another large mosaic on the side of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. “Spirit of Healing” is an incredible nine-story piece of public art.
Both pieces elicit feelings of protection: “Spirit of Healing” to families in strife and “La Veladora” to a community on the rise. So next time you find yourself on the Westside or in Downtown San Antonio, stop for a moment, look up and observe.
Located in one of the most visited destinations in San Antonio — the River Walk — La Villita’s history is an influential part of San Antonio’s foundation. La Villita, or “little village,” served as a key gathering place for generations of San Antonians. Coined as “San Antonio’s first neighborhood,” as explained by La Villita’s official website, La Villita began in the 18th century when
the only civilians were local squatters. Because La Villita was so close to a military base, this neighborhood provided the locals with protection from Indian raiders and allowed citizens to build homes and communities on the land. La Villita was one of the missions that helped form San Antonio into the historical city it is today.
In the late 1870s, the neighborhood job industry was booming with stonecutters, watchmakers, telegraph operators, cabinetmakers, clothing designers and more. As trade began to thrive, the population increased, resulting in “increasing numbers of both
renters and owner-occupants making their homes in the La Villita neighborhood.”
However, this economic and population increase was not enough to withstand the poverty and strife of the Great Depression; thus began its restoration in 1939 through the San Antonio City Council’s La Villita Ordinance.
Former San Antonio Mayor and U.S. Congressman Maury Maverick dedicated the Ordinance to “the promotion of peace, friendship and justice between the United States of America and all other nations in the Western Hemisphere.”
Written by Jake Mireles and Photographed by Dustin Vickers
An addition to the facade of the Alamo Candy Company has caught the attention of Alamo City natives and tourists alike. Visitors flock to the candy store to stand in the shadow of a massive mural dedicated to a local and international legend who is still larger than life decades after her passing.
Selena Quintanilla, a Tejano music pioneer more commonly known as Selena, has been immortalized in a colorful artistic display, to much fanfare from the local community and her fans across the region.
The mural depicts Selena in her notorious purple jumpsuit on a colorful backdrop that draws inspiration from her Hispanic roots. The artist, Alan Calvo, painted the mural to commemorate not only a cultural icon but a close family friend. According to an article from San Antonio Current, Calvo’s father had known the Quintanilla family since
the ‘80s and had remained close to them after Selena’s passing. Calvo eventually moved to the Alamo City, where he began doing small portraits of Selena to stay connected to the memories of her music from his youth and to commemorate her connection to San Antonio’s culture.
To San Antonio natives who remember the golden days of the Queen of Tejano music, the mural represents more than just Selena; it represents her connection and love for Alamo City. Whether it is the familiar backdrops in her music videos, the sound of her voice playing on the local radio, her many performances in venues around the city or her boutique, Selena Etc., none can deny that her legacy is entangled with that of San Antonio and its inhabitants. Visitors can view the mural on the side of the Alamo Candy Companies building, located at 1149 W. Hildebrand Avenue.
“The Grotto,” installed in 2009, is the artificial riverside cave sculpture created by artist Carlos Cortés out of concrete. It has many beautiful features from its real waterfalls, man-made stalagmites and stalactites and several large concrete openmouthed heads from which the waterfalls flows. Located on the River Walk at the bend of the river between the Camden and Newell Street bridges, the placement conjoins the San Antonio roadways and riverway.
According to the San Antonio River Foundation, the donations were made to fund “public artworks for the benefit of our community and in support of our partners in the $384 [million] San Antonio River Improvements Project. All works along the Mission Reach have been donated to the City of San Antonio’s public art collection in perpetuity.” Art such as “The Grotto” or “Whispers” has been created to inspire creativity and showcase the vibrancy and culture of San Antonio. Be sure to stop by “The Grotto” on your next adventure to the River Walk. To find more information, visit the San Antonio River Foundation’s website, sariverfound.org/portfolio/thegrotto-carlos-cortes/.
