Donor Honor Roll

57 Years Fueled by the SSA Community of Supporters

When the School’s founders met in 1965 to incorporate the organization known today as Southwest School of Art, their motivation was nothing less than their deep love of the visual arts and for artists, to whom they wanted to give more opportunities to thrive. They also strongly believed in the transformational benefits that quality art education can provide to students of all ages and backgrounds. They were soon joined by a growing cadre of supporters who gave of their time, talent, and treasure to build and sustain this organization, including the leadership of the Conservation Society of San Antonio which initially saved the historic Ursuline Convent and Academy from destruction. SSA’s history is filled with countless people who volunteered their expertise as members of the board of trustees or for special projects, and who provided pro bono services, along with those who became members of Club Giraud as well as those who invested in SSA with their donations both large and small. Thanks to our supporters and their generosity, Southwest School of Art has served a remarkably large and diverse audience; preserved a significant historic site; helped revitalize downtown San Antonio; educated thousands in the visual arts; presented outstanding regional, national, and international artists in exhibitions, lectures, and symposia; expanded and improved facilities; established a solid endowment; achieved accreditation; and provided numerous programss and services for underserved populations. Now, as we prepare to merge with UTSA, our gratitude overflows. We have faith that the love so many people hold for SSA for a multitude of reasons will continue as Southwest School of Art itself grows as part of UTSA, enriching our larger community and region for decades yet to come. This Honor Roll of Donors includes people and organizations who have made particularly significant contributions to SSA in many ways over the past 57 years. We know there is a risk of unintentionally omitting someone who made such a contribution, for which we apologize. If you know of someone who should be recognized here, we would love to hear from you, and will update this honor roll accordingly.

• Andrés Andujar • Alturas Foundation • Argo Group US • Ann Griffith Ash • AT&T Foundation • James Avery Artisan Jewelry • Pamela & Henry Bain • Bank of America Foundation • Natalie & Barry Beller • Evelyn & Jim Berg • Bexar County • Adelle Brownlee Brewer • Maggie Saunders Block

Photo by Javi Valdes

• Sonya & Bob Blumenthal • Rosalie & Clifton Bolner • Elise & Craig Boyan • George W. Brackenridge Foundation • Molly & Jim Branton • Janie & Dolph Briscoe • The Brown Foundation, Inc. • Frank B. Burney • Charles C. Butt • Jyl & Randy Cain • Genie & Ron Calgaard • Paula & James Callaway • Roxana Gage Catto Advised Fund • Cavender Auto Family • City of San Antonio • Ruth Chang • Club Giraud • The Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation • Arthur Coulombe • The Victor & Peggy Creighton Charitable Trust • The Nathalie and Gladys Dalkowitz Charitable Trust • Robert L. Dauterman • The Dickson-Allen Foundation • Double W Charitable Foundation • Gilbert Denman • Mary Elizabeth Droste • Genevieve Lykes Duncan • Genny L. Duncan • G. Cameron Duncan • The Edouard Foundation, Inc. • Marilyn Eldridge • The Ray Ellison Charitable Foundation • Ernst & Young, LLP • Rita & John Feik • Janet & Bruce Flohr • The Flohr Family Foundation • Ford Motor Company • Ford, Powell & Carson • Friederich Air Conditioning • Lou Celia & Don Frost • Frost • The Charitable Foundation of Frost National Bank • Adele & Jack Frost • Jerry Fuentes • Patricia Jane Fugitt • The Goldsbury Foundation • The Greehey Family Foundation • Mary Green • Sarah E. Harte and John S. Gutzler Fund • H-E-B Grocery Stores • H-E-B Tournament of Champions • The Ewing Halsell Foundation • The G.A.C. Halff Foundation • Dudley Harris • Joyce & Richard Harris • Houston H. Harte • The Hearst Foundation, Inc. • Helen Marie Hendrie • Karen Hixon • Hixon Properties Incorporated • Mary Griffith Hobbs Foundation • Estela Hollin-Avery • The Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation • Johnny Clay Johnson • Ruth Roby Johnson • Floy Fontaine Jordan • JP Morgan Chase Bank • Joan and Herb Kelleher Charitable Foundation • The Kilpatrick Memorial Trust • Pansy Yturria Kimbro

• The Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation • The Marcia and Otto Koehler Foundation • The Kresge Foundation • The Kronkosky Charitable Foundation • Ellie Lamb • Lake | Flato Architects, Inc. • Bill Lende • The Lende Foundation • Bernard Lifshutz • James G. Lifshutz • The Lifshutz Foundation • The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc. • Walter N. Mathis • Mary Ellen Matthews • Kathryn Y. Maxham • Melanie & Bob Maxham • Mays Family Foundation • Joe McMahon • Edith S. McAllister • Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust • The Meadows Foundation, Inc. • Kay Mijangos • National Endowment for the Arts • Carolyn Negley • Nancy Brown Negley • Ann & Chico Newman • Guillermo Nicolas • The Nordan Trust • NuStar Energy • Linda Pace Foundation • Otis Parchman • Linda Perez • The Scott Petty Family Foundation • The Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust • Deborah & David Rogers • The Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts • Arch and Stella Rowan Foundation, Inc. • Rubiola Construction Company • Ethel T. Runion • San Antonio Area Foundation • San Antonio Express-News • John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation • Braina Franke & Page Saunders • Semmes Foundation, Inc. • Shield-Ayres Foundation • Silver Eagle Beverages • Cathy & Jack Spector • Jo & Tom Stribling • The Ruth and Vernon Taylor Foundation • The Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation • Texas Commission on the Arts • Ann T. Thomas • Margaret Batts Tobin • The Tobin Endowment • Betty & Charles Urschel • USAA Foundation, A Charitable Trust • Valero Energy Foundation • Gary Walton • Graham Weston • Beck & Charles Whitehead • Margaret Pace Willson • Windgate Charitable Foundation • The Zachry Foundation

Thank you for your support!

“I feel so fortunate to have been chosen to open Southwest School of Art's Teen Intensive Program back into session after such a hard few years of loss and lockdowns. Our returning students help guide me and our new students into a grand new adventure filled with fellowship and art-making. Thank you for making my life so much more rich and exciting. I look forward to the next chapter.” Kim Bishop

Answering the Call

By Esme Araiza

When Katie Pell passed away in 2019, students in SSA’s Teen Program were left with a hole in their close-knit community. This past fall, Kim Bishop, who is perhaps best known for her influence in the San Antonio art scene, stepped up to the position. “Katie was so encouraging to me, and it was a relief to be able to speak to another artist educator with such brilliance,” Bishop said. “Some of my favorite evenings were sharing a classroom with Katie and her group of Teen Studio kids with my adult groups.” Bishop’s journey with SSA began in 2009 when she was hired to teach adult community classes in drawing. In August of 2021, Bishop officially joined the SSA team to restart the Teen Studio Intensive program, which gives high school and middle school students the opportunity to develop their individual skills and talents in a serious learning environment. “The best part of my job, besides working with such an awesome group of artist-educators and in this amazing space, is my students,” Bishop explained. “They are likeminded, creative kids looking for a place to belong. To see them in their studio, their element, with their people, makes me feel hopeful and alive.” Bishop says Pell was the one who encouraged her to go back to school for her MFA. Even with 34 years of teaching experience and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Bishop questioned if she really deserved to be in an MFA program. “I’ve had to learn to get over my imposter syndrome,” she said. “It still raises its ugly head, especially the closer I get to graduation. Now I’m questioning if I really deserve not to be there.” Bishop will graduate this spring with an MFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Her experience in the program has been unique due to the pandemic. Her studio in the art building became a quiet refuge for her during the lockdown. Her favorite part of the program, though, has been getting to know the faculty at UTSA. Her professors, Ricky Armendariz and Christie Blizzard, pushed her to think differently and just create. “My multi-disciplinary classes with Libby Rowe, Mark McCoin, and Sarah Lasley have given me so many more tools and processes, while also giving me the confidence to fail successfully,” Bishop said. “I could not have asked for a better team of educators to learn from. I get mistyeyed when I think about not seeing them anymore.” With the merger between SSA and UTSA happening in just a few months, Bishop offers a valuable perspective during this transition period. “This is an exciting journey that we are on,” she said. “The future is not a given, so I am happy to surf this wave with you guys as best I can. We got this!” She explains that SSA students who will soon transfer to UTSA have many things to look forward to, like the print lab, printmaking studio, and multidisciplinary opportunities, not to mention the on-campus food court, rec center, and free VIA bus service. Her most important advice to incoming students is this: “Participate and show up!” Until the official merger, Bishop is focusing on her students in the Teen Studio Intensive and pushing them to explore a path to higher education. She continues to look to Pell for inspiration saying, “I feel her presence in the studio and am trying to fill her shoes in a way she would be proud of.”

Students in SSA's Teen Studio Intensive completed a number of different projects during the fall semester, including entering the Rodeo Art Contest and the Scholastic Art Competition.