Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

When I walked into the Bihl Haus Arts gallery, recently, I found myself surrounded by a hundred-plus small-scale paintings, depicting a huge range of themes. “Every one of them has a story,” remarked Mycah Lee Arellano, the current executive director of Bihl Haus, who took the helm of the institution about eight months ago. I was there to interview him about his experience so far and plans for the future. Arellano is only the second leader in the center’s history, following in the footsteps of founder, Kellen Kee McIntyre.

Before coming to San Antonio, Arellano lived and worked in Austin, as a non-profit volunteer and professional leader. So, what attracted him to apply for the leadership job with Bihl Haus Arts, a treasured San Antonio art nonprofit in mid-town.

“I think it’s a calling to serve community,” he said, as we were sitting in the gallery around a table with new education director, Jill Ewing. “I’ve been working with non-profits for 30 years in education and arts. So, when I was approached to take this position, it was just part of the calling to serve the arts community. The arts heal. We all deal and experience trauma in life. Older people, after 55, are dealing with a loneliness epidemic. Our goal is to reach to that population, as well, as veterans and their families, to help them cope with some tools that the arts can provide. We can see that arts heal people.”

Some years ago, two San Antonio university professors, Dr. Jill Fleuriet from UTSA and Adelita Cantu from the Health Science Center (now UT Health), conducted a study about the effects of art classes on the mental health of older participants. While similar previous studies focused primarily on assisted living facilities, the San Antonio study looked at older people who lived in the community. Published in 2012, the study that confirmed the positive impact of art classes, helped secure the sponsorship of WellMed for these programs at Bihl Haus Arts. Expanding the program became a goal.

When the organization’s board interviewed Mycah for the job, they set out two goals: to attract new board members and to creatively think about revenues. In recent years, Bihl Haus has mostly been funded by the city’s department of human services and he is currently trying to identify other possible sources.

“I believe that a nonprofit, after five years should creatively think out of the box,” he said. “How do we sustain ourselves without that funding.  For example, through programs that would bring resources. We should also bring new board members in to enrich and strengthen the organization. Some board members have been here too long. We have two new members, and, actually, I have a meeting today with another potential board member who may be willing to sustain our vision.”

He described the vision as “reaching as many people as possible in our community.” Part of the vision is also the hope that the finances will allow the organization to invest in additional real estate. Bihl Haus is an old home, restored and adapted for gallery use. It sits inside the enclave of the Sorento Apartment
complex and is sometimes hard to find for people who have not been there before. The gallery is nicely laid-out, and it also benefits from a pool that embellishes the surrounding grounds. Weather permitting, opening night receptions were often enjoyed outside around the pool.

“We don’t know where that new facility will be but we need to go where people need us,” noted Arellano. “It can be the southside or the westside, somewhere where the population has not been served. We will need a building where we can hold our classes but one that can also bring revenue by being used for events by other organizations, or by leasing space in it. I always tell people – a nonprofit is a business.”

After eight months in San Antonio, he feels comfortable here. “I call San Antonio ‘the brotheryhood city,” he noted. “Since I’ve come here, there have been people reaching to us, asking how they can support our organization. Businesses in the Deco area have supported us. So, I’ve been welcomed with open arms.”

And he has already established a connection with Centro Aztlan, a gallery and art center just a few blocks away on Fredericksburg Rd. As for changes within Bihl Haus, Arellano has hired a staff to take care of specific areas of activity, including the already mentioned education director, Jill Ewing, and gallery coordinator Pat Kay. The other two are Nick Gonzalez, director of Analysis/HR, and Sarah Gonzales-Busse who coordinates the annual On & Off Fred Tour. The organization also hires arts instructors to work with the adult students.

So, what is coming up?

Fall For Arts is an upcoming exhibit/fundraiser featuring San Antonio artists that will be supported and hosted by the Jefferson Bank, which happens to be right across the street from the gallery at 2900 Fredericksburg Rd. Artists can contact the gallery coordinator, Pat Kay at gallerycoordinator@bihlhausarts.org to submit up to ten pieces of work for the Sept. 15 fundraising show, Kay said. Up to 30 artists will be included. To buy tickets call 210-339-8982 ext. 3. The current student show closes Sunday, 12-2 p.m. The next gallery exhibits are scheduled to open Sept. 23 & 26; (We’ll tell you more as they open.) Down the road, In March, it will be time again for the popular, On and Off Fred Tour, that allows art lovers to visit artists’ studios, homes, gardens and galleries in the surrounding neighborhoods where many local artists live.