Arts Alive San Antonio

By Kathy Molga, Contributor

Leonel Cavazos has been working hard on his latest painting for his Bihl Haus GO! Arts class. On this particular day, he was planning to present his painting to the entire class for critique and discussion. He knew he was onto something when he set out to paint the Statue of Liberty draped in an American flag but he needed some input from his classmates because he wasn’t quite satisfied with it.

When he joined the virtual class, Leo, as his classmates call him, found more than just a normal class where students work together on their respective art projects. It was more like becoming a part of a community, where older adults like himself freely share their interests, passions and stories.

When critique time came, fellow students began their comments with “oohs and aahs,” and expression of approval, such as “That’s really beautiful!” There was plenty of encouragement as artists from all skill levels and walks of life talked about ways to improve it.

“People always ask me why I started taking these art classes,” he said. “I guess I always liked making things, and when I was younger, I enjoyed painting. I started going over to our local senior center with my wife just to find out what activities they offered. When I saw how many art classes were available, I thought, ‘Why not give it a try!’ That was a few years ago. Now I’m hooked!”

Leo has even had some of his pieces in an exhibit at his local senior center. “It’s nice to think that something I do can have such a positive effect on others, but that’s not the only reason why I go. These art classes are my once a week break,” he explained. “It’s my time to get together with people who share my interests. We joke around and talk about everything. People are so generous.”

Gabbe Grodin, Leo’s art instructor agrees. “It gives them a sense of pride to show off what they’ve done. It also gives them a place to share their struggles and their accomplishments,” she said. “My students are actively sharing constructive comments during our virtual classes held on Zoom. They talk about what they can do to improve their creations. Everyone’s involved. It’s a community where everyone feels they have a stake in helping each other do their best work.”

The GO! Arts program at Bihl Haus Arts is designed for adults 60 and older. Each class has a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, which allows the instructors to devote time and attention to each individual student. Before the COVID-19 pandemic changed how we live and work, the in-person classes took place at Bihl Haus Arts and at other centers, such as the WellMed Senior Centers, or at one of the ten comprehensive Senior Centers run by the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services. “Now that we have Covid-19 restrictions, all of the Bihl Haus GO! Arts classes have gone online. This way there is no interruption in anything our classes have to offer,” noted Grodin.

With the understanding that many older adults have limited access to technology, the nine teachers in the GO! Arts program are doing everything possible to meet the needs of each student. They continue to provide free art supplies, they email, mail or text their lessons to students. They educate students on how to gain access to their Zoom classes, and students with no computer, can use their cell phones to call in to the class and participate in that way. “Classes are free, and we’ll do anything we can to help our students continue doing the artwork they so love,” said the teacher.

Bihl Haus began its long journey to becoming a true community arts center sixteen years ago when its founder and director, Kellen Kee McIntyre saw a for-sale sign on a building at 2803    Fredericksburg Rd. in the Art Deco district. Having an art and architecture background, she wanted to preserve the beauty of the old building and its grounds. With the help of artist Rita Maria Contrera, McIntyre, who was a UTSA art history professor at the time, fought relentlessly to preserve the historic 1920s building and turn it into a gallery and community art space, which she describes as “from the community, by the community and for the community.” Sometime later, a senior apartment complex was built around the Bihl Haus. “That’s when our programs for older adults began,” noted McIntyre. “We offered one class in 2007 for older adults and by the end of the year we had five classes, and all of them were full.”

Bihl Haus then began creating more of an interdisciplinary art approach, by offering visual, literary and performing arts options. Since then, the organization, which is a nonprofit, has continued growing and adding more community programs. In addition to on-site Bihl Haus Art Gallery exhibitions, and the still growing GO!Arts, it also offers an annual artists’ studio tour called “On and Off Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour,” and more recently, a program designed to meet the needs of Veterans with PTSD and depression called “Forward! Arts”.

As already mentioned, the GO! Arts program became an essential part of many senior centers around San Antonio. As instructor, Silvia Sarinara said, “If they were to take away these classes from our older adult students, we would have a lot of depressed people. Coming to an art class gives our older adults peace of mind in the midst of uncertainty, and that’s what keeps our students coming back for more. Older Adults in particular can feel lonely and disconnected – even more so during Covid-19.”

To prove the beneficial effect of art classes that give older adults a sense of community, Bihl Haus began to work with the Anthropology Department at UTSA. In partnership with the UT Health, they conducted several large-scale studies from 2009 to 2011 on older adults who live independently. These studies concluded that there was a significant improvement in mental health across the board. Surprisingly, there was also a reduction in medications taken among those who were attending the GO! Arts classes. “This was proof enough that we were on the right track, and it was a good reason for us to continue by moving our classes online,” said McIntyre.

 Since its first class was offered in 2007, the GO! Arts program has grown to serve over 400 return students and over 1000 individuals every year.

As for Leo, he intends to keep up with his classes. “They make me a better artist and a better person. I can’t wait for the next chance to show my classmates what I’ve done.”

The GO! Arts Program Fall Classes

A new semester of classes in everything from yoga to painting, drawing and creative writing is starting on August 17. All classes are online via Zoom. On the Bihl Haus website, you’ll find a complete list of GO! Arts classes and senior center contact information. To register, call the senior center nearest you. A calendar of classes can be found at: https://bihlhausarts.org/go-arts-class-calendar/

Bihl Haus Forward, Arts! Program offers healing art classes for veterans.

Bihl Haus has a program tailor-made for Veterans called “Forward, Arts!”. It’s mission is to offer veterans an art program that provides opportunities for healing, wellness and community engagement. The program, offered in collaboration with Vet TRIIP, provides drawing and painting classes to veterans who experience depression or PTSD. Science has proven that art can help heal the part of the brain that registers a traumatic wound. Through art therapy true healing can begin. For more information about this powerful program in healing through the arts, go to: https://forward-arts.org/.