Arts Alive San Antonio

BY JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

The summer artists-in-residence have left but the work they created during their two months at Artpace, is now on exhibit at the downtown art center. This summer’s trio included Bogota-born, Paris resident, Ivan Argote, Los Angeles-based Nao Bustamante and San Antonio artist Michel Menchaca.

The first exhibit you are likely to see is Argote’s clever, amusing and uplifting exhibit “All Here Together – A Journey Where We Are All Monuments.” We would change that last word to “heroes,” which would probably convey his message more clearly. When you enter into his space, you’ll see in the middle of the gallery a staircase leading up to a platform, a pedestal, which the previous occupant – presumably an important personage – has decided to abandon. That’s illustrated by large painted sketches on the wall, showing the man climbing down and then resting on the grass. The pedestal can now be yours. The message: you are important; we are all important.

 ArtPace’s communications manager, Casie Lomeli, explained that Argote originally wanted to use the base of the now-removed Columbus statue in the Piazza Italia Park for his “We Are All Monuments” but that did not work out. So, he adapted the concept to spaces at Artpace. According to Lomeli, during an event, Argote invited people to climb another staircase and position themselves in a certain way to look like they are standing on Columbus’ plinth (with the help of a huge canvas photo of the structure.) Photos were taken of all those “monuments.”

We certainly like the idea of acknowledging everyone’s importance, but in our zeal to dethrone historical heroes, we also have to acknowledge that some individuals have accomplished exceptional feats and should be recognized for them. The valid question that Argote poses seems to be: How can the ordinary people of a community be involved in decisions regarding monuments placed in public spaces?

In the next gallery on the ground floor is “Bloom” the exhibit created by the multi-talented Nao Bustamante. In addition to being a visual artist, she’s also a performance artist, filmmaker, sculptor and writer. And she is clearly not happy with how women have been treated by the past and current gynecological practices. According to the provided statement, the inspiration for “Bloom” came from an idea Bustamante had about how to build a new speculum device, an instrument that physicians use to examine women.

In the gallery, you’ll find an antique gynecological examination table suspended in mid-air, and a table full of small sculptures created by Artpace attendees at a “Speculum Salon,” where they were asked to create their own versions of the instrument. There’s also a table with empty champagne glasses, bearing lipstick traces. Lomeli explained that on opening night, Bustamante positioned herself on the table which was then lowered to the ground. She proceeded to hand out lipstick to all present and serve them champagne. Also included are videos, dealing with gynecological practices, but we did not have the opportunity to watch them. Perhaps Bustamante can help the manufacturers of medical devices develop a new kind of speculum.

Upstairs you’ll find Michael Menchaca’s video installation. Technically complex, the five-channel video projection surrounds the visitor with circulating images, mostly focused on the Alamo. And the artist makes it clear on which side of the Alamo issue he stands- on the side of “Forget the Alamo.” The video is accompanied by a soundscape, also created by Menchaca with the intention “to mesmerize the viewer and create a space of somber contemplation.”

                                                              MORE NEWS FROM ARTPACE

A new exhibit, “Slowed and Throwed: Records of the City Through Mutated Lenses” opens July 29. Originally shown at the Contemporary Art Museum Houston, the installation and its associated programming “will dive into the significant influence of DJ Screw in Texas.” As hip-hop spread across the country, Texas hip-hop artists developed their own style. One of the innovators was Robert Earl Davis – or DJ Screw – who invented a personal “chopped and screwed” style. Using two turntables, he slowed down some tracks while layering others, distorting the music in the process, and including Houston-based rappers. The exhibit is placing his work “in conversation with contemporary visual artists.” Sounds interesting!

Artpace interim director of residencies & exhibitions, Kathy Armstrong, wants artists to know about the Artist Open Calll, the organization’s primary resource for identifying artists who are interested and eligible to participate in the Artists-in-Residence program and visits by curators who ultimately choose the artists for three such residencies every year. Texas artists who are interested to apply for 2023, should submit their application through www.AnyArtist.org. Artists can get their questions answered by calling 210-212-4900 or emailing to info@artpace.org. To contact AnyArtist, call 210-701-0775 or email to info@anyartist.org.