News Roundup, Feb. 18, 2022
There’s a bit of good news from the Musicians of the San Antonio Symphony (MOSAS). They will soon have an opportunity to play together but not under the auspices of the San Antonio Symphony. Scheduled for March 3 & 4, the concerts will take place at the First Baptist Church of San Antonio, which has a Fine Arts Series program. David Cho, the music director and conductor of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra will conduct. This will be the first concert since Sept. 18, 2021. As most our readers know by now, the musicians have been on strike for months. We’ll tell you more about the upcoming concerts next week. You can purchase tickets, $20, through the church at www.fbcsa.org/mosas or through Eventbrite.
But there will be some good music this weekend, too. The Agarita Chamber Players, one of the most innovative ensembles in these parts, will play two of its Humble Hall Concerts this Saturday. These are free, outdoor concerts, with the musicians playing from the platform of a modified truck and the audience informally sitting or standing around. Joining Agarita members will be the Unheard-of Ensemble, which shares one member with Agarita – pianist Daniel Anastasio. The other three are: clarinetist Ford Fourqurean, cellist Issei Herr and violinist Matheus Souza. (Feb. 19 at 11 a.m., Hemisfair Park, Central Game Plaza; and at 3 p.m. at the McAllister Park; free.)
Superstar Gladys Knight, also known as “the Empress of Soul” will grace the Tobin Center stage Feb. 23. She hardly needs an introduction since she us a 7-time Grammy-winner, as well as a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; ticlets $54.50 – $124.50, tickets@tobincenter.com or call 210-223-8624)
Two days before her appearance, the Canadian alt-rock band, Theory, will be on that same stage. This band explores a mix of styles, and is probably best known for two hits: “History of Violence” and “Rx Medicate.” (Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets $30, to purchase, see above.)
San Antonio guitarist, Allan Hendrickson, a blues master, will play at the Lonesome Rose Club. (Feb. 18 at 9 p.m.; Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mart’s St., free; 210-455-0233, www.thelonesomerose.com
Grammy-winning hip-hop artist, Wale, whose real name is Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, is scheduled to appear at the Aztec Theater Saturday. His song “On Chill” spent 23 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually reaching the 22nd spot. (Feb. 19 at 8 p.m.; Aztec Theater, 104 N. St. Mary’s St.; $30-$80; 210-812-4355, www.theaztectheatre.com)
Virtuoso pianist, Christian Sands, brings his jazz-keyboard poetry to the Carver Community Cultural Center Friday, Feb. 18. His latest album “Be Water” had won a lot of praise. (Feb. 18 at 8 p.m., Carver Center, 226 N. Hackberry; $35; 210-207-2234, www.thecarver.org)
Singer/Songwriter Dana Cooper has returned to San Antonio after more than a decade to play at the Lonesome Rose. He is touring behind his latest album “I Can Face the Truth.” He is the recipient of several folk music awards and is no stranger to these part, having played at the Kerrville Folk Fest and on Austin city Limits. San Antonio’s Thurman Love will open. (Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.; Lonesome Rose; see address and phone number above; www.thelonesomerose.com)
Our theatrical stages have mostly been deserted lately, but the Jump-Start Performance Co. has been active all along. The company’s new offering is “Screaming into the Void Theater Festival: Pandemic Diaries.” Great title! The fest will present new dramatic and poetic works from San Antonio writers, dealing with mental wellness. Writers include Rita Anderson, Jaqueline Velez, Alex Ramirez and the director/producer Holly Nanes, who is directing a large acting ensemble. (Feb. 18-20 and Feb. 25-26 at 8 p.m.; 710 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201’ choose-what-you-pay, from zero to $20; https://dojour.us/e/15492; for info call 210-5867 or email info@jump-start.org)
The Overtime Theater is seeking new scripts from women playwrights for its New Play Development Series’ Women’s History Month Program. Preferred are short one-act plays that require a small cast of one to four actors. To submit: submissions@theovertimetheater.org
The visual arts front is always lively. The San Antonio Museum of Art has just opened “Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth,” a mixed media, largely documentary exhibit that includes historical portraits of American Indian chiefs that are mesmerizing. The exhibit with the history and plight of the Crow Native American tribe. (On view through May 8; SAMA, 200 W. Jones Ave., 210-978-8140, www.samuseum.org)
The city-owned Centro de Artes has reopened with an engaging exhibition of international artists who now reside in San Antonio. Though the show has been open for a while – and we reported on it – the Grand Reopening Reception is scheduled for Tuesday. This will be an opportunity to meet the participating artists. We can tell you that the artworks presented are mostly strong and truly original, and definitely worth a visit. (Grand opening Reception, Feb. 22, 6-9 p.m.; Centro de Artes, Market Square; on view through July 3, 2022; free admission; closed Monday-Tuesday; www.getcreativesanantonio.com/Galleries/Centro-de-Artes)
And speaking of Market Square, a brand-new sculpture has been installed on the steps of Centro de Artes. Inspired by the ice-cream treat known as “paleta,” the large colorful sculpture, created by local artist David Blancas is titled “Sabor del Mercado.” Blancas has created more than 50 renditions of this frozen treat. (And they don’t melt in the heat!)
The Ruiz-Healy Gallery has just opened a new exhibit: “Neo-Surrealism and Magic Realism” that focuses on “dreamlike and figurative works that emulate the complex and often irrational visions of the unconscious mind.” Featured artists include Bruno Andrade, Victor Chaca, Irma Guerrero, Katie Pell, Bettie Ward and many others. (On view through April 23; Riuz-Healy Art, 201-A East Olmos Drive, 78212; 210-804-2219, info@ruizhealyart.com)
And there’s a new exhibit at the San Antonio International Airport. The new show, in honor of Black History Month, is “The Story of Us: Wilcox Ranch, 150 Years in Jake’s Colony. A Freedom’s Settlement in Guadalupe County.” The exhibit is organized in collaboration with the San Antonio African-American Community Archive and Museum (SAACAM). It’s located in Terminal A, lower level by the baggage claim area.