NEWS ROUNDUP, March 4, 2021
March is Contemporary Art Month with many artists and art venues participating in a range of events. To kick-off the celebration of contemporary art Friday, Blue Star Contemporary will present An Original Drive, a multidisciplinary performance by Xavier Gilmore with collaborators Anthony Francis, Kellen Stanley, Nick Long, Edwin Stephens, and San Antonio poet laureate, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson. “Through sound, scent and video, they explore the spiritual Roll, Jordan, Roll, using improvisation and communication,” says the announcement without further explanation. You can view the performance Friday at 6:30 p.m. online via @bluestarart Facebook Live or view the livestream broadcast in-person at the CAM and Slab Cinema drive-in located in the parking lot of Artpace, 513 N. Flores. Go to www.bluestarcontemporary.org to find out how to register since space is limited.
Also opening as part of CAM is an exhibit of Jorge Villareal’s work at the Lottie Mae Lounge located inside Phil Hardberger Park. It’s one of those “pop-up” shows that will be on view for only two days, March 6-7. The exhibited work is the product of – or inspired by – the artist’s residency in Berlin, Germany, in 2019. The Berlin Residency Program is administered by Blue Star Contemporary, and gives selected artists the opportunity to spend three months at the Kunstlerhaus Bethanien facility in Berlin, developing new projects. (March 6-7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Phil Harderger Park, 8400 NW Military, 78231; to register: https://visitbsc.as.me/schedulrphp?appointmentType20531644)
Unrelated to CAM, Centro Cultural Aztlan is presenting its 43rd annual Segundo de Febrero virtual exhibition, which commemorates the 173rd anniversary of the signing of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war between the U.S. and Mexico. The new borders also influenced the rise of a bicultural awareness among the people living in the area. Participating artists are Israel Rico, Robert Wilkins, Raul Servin, Victor Tello and Angelica Mayorga. The exhibit will be on view through March 26. (1800 Fredericksburg Rd. 78201; to see it in person make an appointment by calling 210-432-1896 or view online on Aztlan’s website, www.centroaztlan.org and/or on the organization’s Facebook page.)
Centro Aztlan will also celebrate National Women’s Month with a special event, Floricanto de Mujeres, to take place at 7 p.m. on March 8, the internationally recognized Women’s Day. Participating poets and performers include: Sabrina Lopez, Dolores Zapata Murff, Alicia Zavala Galvan, Keli Rosa Cabunoc, Liza Ibarra, Nancy de la Zerda, Binisa Zentella and Marta Tavera. You can join the presentation by going to https://www.facebook.com/CentroCulturalAztlan/.
On the music front, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is bringing to town vocalist/guitarist Aaron Lewis, a co-founder of the rock band Staind, who is now pursuing a solo career. He will present a program of acoustic songs from his new album State I’m In. He wrote six of the ten tracks, which also include numbers by songwriters Dan Tyminski and the late Keith Whitley. Lewis’ previous album, Sinner went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums. He has a lot of fans. His song, It’s Been A While, remains widely popular. Appearing with him will be Ira Brown.
Another singer/songwriter Texans love is Max Stalling, who will perform with his wife Heather Stalling, Friday night at Sam’s Burger Joint. (See feature story on this site.) They will be followed by the San Antonio band Passing Strangers on Saturday (330 E. Grayson; doors open at 7:30, shows start at 8:30 p.m.; seating at tables. For tickets go to www.samsburgerjoint.com and click on “Calendar.”)
For classical music, you can count again on the San Antonio Symphony, which will perform its Classics III concert this weekend, Friday – Saturday at its Tobin Center home. As to program information, we only know the names of featured composers – Mozart, Rossini and Shostakovich. (Tickets at tickets@tobincenter.org or by calling 210-223-8624)
The African-American community, and the community as a whole, will celebrate the opening of the San Antonio African-American Community Archive & Museum this weekend. Located in La Villita at 218 S. Presa, the archive and museum will uncover, collect and preserve the history of black people in the area, from the early days of Spanish rule and the Texas Republic to today. (Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; office phone 210-724-3350; https://saaacam.org)
The San Antonio River Authority, in partnership with Bexar County, is looking for artists interested in creating a 5-panel mural for the 2nd segment of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, currently under construction. The murals should be “rendered” in materials that last in an outdoor creek environment, such as porcelain tile, glass, ceramic or stone mosaic tile, and other similar materials. They would like to appoint a team of several artists to conceptualize and design the panels which should have a coherent overall theme, relevant to the site’s history. The River Authority and the Bexar County Commissioners Court will judge the entries. The budget for the project is $350,000 to $400,000. Deadline: March 24, 2021. https://www.publicartist.org/call.cfm?id=3393.
At The DoSeum, families can view Beautiful Minds: Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage, an exhibit of artworks created by children with dyslexia. Though it opened last fall, new things are being added, such as a resource center featuring “learning elements to inspire all minds to play,” but especially the minds of students with dyslexia. These include 3D puzzles, building elements that can be manipulated in various ways, graphic novels and gestalt images. Art-themed pop-ups are also part of the exhibit, which closes March. 28. Families will also learn what dyslexia is, play various spatial and word games, learn how left and right sides of the brain engage, etc. The exhibit has already been visited by more than 16,000 visitors. (2800 Broadway; general admission $14; if possible, purchase tickets online: www.thedoseum.org; 210-816-7924)
And here’s another fun thing for youngsters to see: Snow White that premiered at the Magik Theatre months ago but will be featured in a free streaming event March 13 at 2 p.m. It’s not exactly the fairy take you grew up with but it’s funny and entertaining. Two actors portray all the characters! A live chat and Q&A with Rosa Gardner who plays Snow White and other characters, will follow the video presentation. Registration is required. (For information call 210-227-2751 or email info@magiktheatre.org.
The McNay Art Museum has just opened a new exhibit: Limitless! Five Women Reshape Contemporary Artbut more about that in our upcoming feature story. (6000 N. New Braunfels, 78209; www.mcnayart.org; tickets $10-$20)
And here is another of our musical treats, this one from San Antonio’s No.1 photo artist and all-round talented guy, Michael Mehl. Listen to his “four amorous piano pieces,” composed, arranged and performed by him: https://michaelmehl.com/music.