Chalk It Up, Flamenco… News Roundup, Oct. 8, 2020
The annual Artpace event known as Chalk it Up will take place this year again but in a modified format to fit our new pandemic-shaped reality. There will be no massive gathering of eager chalk artists downtown, creating murals along Houston Street and Main Avenue. Instead, both teams and individual artists will be spread around the city, all working in their own separate spaces. Through a collaboration with the San Antonio Public Library system, 20 featured artists will draw their murals Saturday, Oct. 10 at various library branches in the ten city districts. Viewers are welcome to come around to watch them but they must stay in their cars. To see the list of artists and libraries go to www.artpace.org. If so inclined, you can also participate by working on Chalk It Up at Home project, using your driveway or patio, and uploading your images to social media sites. All designs have to reflect in some way the 2020 theme of “community.”
Chalk It Up is normally a fundraising event for the nonprofit contemporary art center that provides artists residencies, educational programs and exhibits, but this time, the organizers raised just enough money to cover expenses, including huge amounts of chalk.
We believe that decentralization of the event is good for the community as more people can potentially be involved, especially in future years when we will again be free to gather with each other. (See the Oct. 7 feature story on this site.)
Flamenco fans have something to look forward to this weekend, as well. Arte y Pasion, a loose group of Flamenco artists led by the intrepid Tamara Adira is presenting its newest show, Mantas De Luz, created by Adira and San Antonio’s current poet laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson. The dance-and-spoken-word presentation is built around a story of a young girl named Ana Franco, whose diary is found someplace near the US-Mexico border. On stage, her story is expressed through vignettes that narrate her dreams and her life as she described it in her diary.
Adira is an accomplished and passionate flamenco dancer who will be accompanied by singer Chayito Champion and guitarist Randy Cordero. Of Jewish heritage, she is clearly drawing some parallels with the story we all know, that of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who wrote in her diary about her life in hiding, and later perished in a concentration camp.
The show will be performed live in Adira’s own little amphitheater, but it will also be available via Zoom for a $10 donation. Saturday, Oct. 10, social time 8 p.m., show 8:30 p.m. For tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4759716
Musical Bridges Around the World is launching its 23rd season on Oct. 11 with a virtual concert titled We Shall Overcome, featuring an international jazz ensemble that “shatters boundaries with a program of hope and resilience.” Starts at 7 p.m., free; www.musicalbridges.org
At the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, the Musical Movie Marathon continues, with Rent, Oct. 9, followed by Sing, Oct.11. But for the more adventurous there’s Art Heist, a new interactive show based on a true story of America’s largest art theft. This is actually a live show that will run Oct.16-25. Just giving you a heads-up. More next week! Tobin Center’s box office can be reached at 210-223-8624 or online www.tobincenter.org
As we told you a couple of weeks ago, the San Antonio International Airport is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with musical performances by local musicians. The lively mariachi group, Flor de Jalisco will conclude the festivities Oct. 15. Find out more at https://flysanantonio.com/events/
Gemini Ink’s big fundraising extravaganza, cleverly named Inkstravaganza is coming up Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. The virtual event (yes, one more!) named Lift Every Voice, honors two prominent individuals, Express-News columnist Cary Clack and the tireless and generous Jim LaVilla-Havelin who will be recognized as the Teaching Artist of the Year for “his life-changing work with youth through the writing arts.” The event includes a performance by Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson; a reading by Clack followed by a Q&A, musical performances and a “Conversation with Cary” moderated by San Antonio’s probably best-known poet Naomi Shihab Nye. Tickets are $50; https://geminiink.org/inkstravaganza-event/ or call 210-734-9673.
The Briscoe Museum of Western Art wants you to “kick back and kick up your heels on the banks of the San Antonio River” by visiting its charming Sculpture Garden for Sips and Sounds of the West, debuting Friday, Oct.16. On this inaugural night you’ll be entertained by Clint Tomerlin, a singer-songwriter, multiple instrumentalist, aspiring poet and occasional funny man. Cocktails and munchies will be available to order. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. If purchased in advance, tickets are $12 and include three drink tickets, as well as an admission ticket to come back and enjoy the rest of the museum during regular visiting hours. Now, that’s deal! The Briscoe has a lot to offer, including right now a unique exhibit of contemporary Chickasaw art. (Social distancing will be enforced.) The Briscoe is right on the River Walk at 210, West Market St.
And did you know that the iconic Gruene Hall in New Braunfels has reopened and has been busy booking bands and filling its calendar fast. This Saturday’s show is sold out but you can still buy tickets for next Saturday when Asleep at the Wheel will perform. The famous band that won ten Grammys is marking its 50th anniversary; 8 p.m. tickets: 830-629-5077 or visit www.gruenehall.com
For a musical treat listen to the Aria for Piano and Violin by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, sent to us by the Cactus Pear Music Festival. It’s one of their “musical moments” a lyrical, caressing music, performed here by Cactus Pear founder, violinist Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, and pianist Ryo Yanagitani. https://www.cpf.us/musical-moment-14