News Roundup, Jan. 27, 2022
The Blue Star Contemporary has installed two new spring exhibits: Threads Bare in the center’s main gallery, and the Black Art Library in the Art Learning Lab. The first is described as“an exhibition investigating intersections of art and fashion through textiles and related materials as medium or subject, to generate a more expansive understanding of how fashion and adornment play a role in defining individual and cultural identities.” It’s a promising concept since it’s well known that personal adornment plays a big part in many traditional folk costumes. We can’t wait to see what the artists have come up with! Curated by BSC’s curator and exhibition manager, Jacqueline Saragosa McGilvray, the show features the work of the following artists: Preetika Rajgariah, Juan Carlos Escobedo, Mickalene Thomas, Audrya Flores, C. Rose Smith and Luis Valderas.
The other exhibit, the Black Art Library, which will be on view through March 27, was created in 2020 by curator Asmaa Walton to help people discover more about black artists’ work, which has historically been lacking in art education. She hopes that her library will be used by students and researchers as a resource. (BSC, 116 Blue Star; 210-227-6960, www.bluestarcontemporary.org)
Another interesting exhibition is now in place at the Centro de Artes in Market Square. The two-story gallery is completely devoted to immigrant artists’ work, featuring 34 artists from 12 different countries who now call San Antonio home. The project received assistance from several other local arts institutions. (To find out more about it, see our article “Immigrant Artists Showcased at Centro de Artes” on this site) [Centro de Artes, 101 Santa Rosa St.; free admission; closed Monday-Tuesday
Centro Cultural Aztlan is celebrating its Mexican-American heritage and the “intersections of cultural diversity” with a new show – the 25th Annual Segundo de Febrero Exhibit – commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It’s curated by Hector R Garza, whose work is included in the exhibit. (Opening reception: Feb. 2 at 6 p.m., featuring literary and musical performances; closes March 3; 1800 Fredericksburg. Rd., 78201, 210-432-1896; free)
We also want to remind you of the DoSeum’s new exhibition, Uniquely Us: Understanding Race and Building Unity, which is designed to help kids process concepts of race and diversity through play-based learning. The exhibit took over a year to conceptualize and fabricate, as the museum wanted to get feedback and test prototypes throughout the development process. Families can examine and celebrate their skin color, hear from children about why they love their hair, discover similarities, and even create and share models of traditional dishes. (Runs through April 3, 2022; 2800 Broadway; 210-212-4453, www.thedoseum.org)
Photographer, Peter Szarmach, has a solo exhibit at the Kapej Coffee Shop and Gallery, downtown. He likes photographing nature, focusing both on the vastness of natural spaces and the details “that create visual awe or a wondrous abstract.” (415 Camden St., 78215; 210-838-8681; Reception scheduled for Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.)
There’s big news from the Public Theater of San Antonio! Though no new productions are announced, the theater’s leaders made one significant decision, namely to create – for the first time in the thespian history of the San Pedro Playhouse – a resident acting company consisting of local talent. San Antonio has very few professional companies. The Public’s executive/artistic director, Claudia de Vasco, wants to change that and hopefully align our city with other Texas cities blessed with a livelier professional theater scene. We are all for it! Details about the selection process for the resident company will be presented later in conjunction with the 2022-23 season announcement. Stay tuned! (Public Theater of San Antonio; 210-733-7258, www.thepublicsa.org
At the Magik, which is a professional family theater, you can take kids to see The Snowy Day and Other Stories, adapted for the stage from the booksby Ezra Jack Keats.The show “captures the enchanting moments of a child’s world,” including a new world after a snowfall. Recommended for ages 3 and older. (Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo, Hemisfair Park; tickets $20-$25; 210-227-2751, info@magiktheatre.org, the show closes Feb, 20, 2022)
A new series of concert, Caritas, will take place at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word over the next couple of months, with the first concert scheduled for Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. The series was initiated and supported byMary Ann Winden, a well-known San Antonio organist and music teacher, who hopes to expose more people to the powerful music of the organ, the king of instruments, as Mozart called it. This first concert will also be a memorial to her husband, Arthur Winden, also a musician and teacher, who will be honored by a number of musical artists and former students. (Jan. 30, 3 p.m., UIW campus, 4503 Broadway; free; www.ccvichapel.org) To learn more, see our article from Jan. 24, on this site.)
SOLI Chamber Ensemble is continuing its season with Specra, a concert that will feature composers from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico., offering a musical portrait of the N. American continent. The evening will feature the world premiere of Planetscape by San Antonio composer Brian Bondari. SOLI performs contemporary music by living composers. (Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl., 78209; ticket $15-$25, link: www.solichamberensemble.com)
Fans of the late rocker George Michael will probably invade the Tobin Center to see The Life and Music of George Michael Feb.1.The show chronicles his life and career while capturing the performance vibes and sound of his shows. It’s a chance to hear all the great hits of his 40-year career. BTW, Michael – born Georgius Kyriacos Panayistu – sold more than 115 million albums, and collected all the big music awards. (Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets $24.50 – $59.50; tickets@tobincenter.org, 210-223-8624)
The next day, the Tobin will present Gary Clark, Jr. with guest artist Blackillac. Clark won his first Grammy in 2014 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his song Please Come Home. He recently won three more Grammy Awards for This Land. (Feb. 2 at 7 :30 p.n.; Tobin Center, address above; Standing room only tickets $49.50, boxes and reserved seating $64.50 – $79.50; Ticket information as above.)
The popular San Antonio band, Pop Pistol, will play at 502 Bar, Friday, Jan. 28. (Jan. 28 at 9:30 p.m., Embassy Oaks #138; 210-257-8125, www.502bar.com)
For Country music lovers, there’s always something interesting going on at the John T. Floore’s Country Store, and this weekend it’s Randall King with Wynn Williams opening. (Sat., Jan 29, doors 7 p.m., show 8:30 p.m.; Floore’s Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Rd., 210-595-8827, www.liveatfloores.com)
Starting with this weekend, the Kerrville Renaissance Festival will once again bring medieval entertainment to the River Star Arts and Events Park, on the grounds of the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville. The fest recreates a medieval marketplace, featuring strolling musicians, magicians, jugglers and storytellers. Visitors can wear costumes, too, if they wish. King Edwin the Great will preside over the activities. The marketplace will have more than 30 special shops, and, of course, there will be a food court offering all sorts of goodies. The fest continues the following weekend (Jan. 28-30; admission $14.95 adults, $9.95 children, age 4 and younger free; free parking on site; 214-632-5766, www.KerrvilleRenFest.com)
URBAN-15 is wrapping up its international Josiah Media Festival with an Awards Celebration on Feb. 5. The ceremony is virtual and you can watch it at https://urban15.org/live-stream/ starting at 8 p.m. Following the award celebration, a special screening of festival winners will run the entire month of February. More info can be found on the organization’s website, https://urban15.org.
Luminaria Arts Festival is seeking artists who would like to take part in the festival in November 2022. All artistic genres and media are welcome but the piece must be a recent work completed in the last three years. You can submit your project starting Monday Jan. 31. Call closes Feb. 20 at 11:59 p.m. Get more info at https://luminaria.org.