News Roundup, Feb. 29, 2024
NEWS ROUNDUP, 2/29/2024
March is Contemporary Art Month in San Antonio. It provides a month-long platform for the artists and March galleries in the city to share the best they have to offer. The annual CAM Kick-off will take place at the Contemporary at Blue Star in the Blue Star Complex, Friday March 1. For the occasion, the Contemporary will be premiering two exhibitions – Michael Guerra Foerster’s show, “Without a Trace,” and the CAM Perennial exhibition – “Vernacular Systems,” curated by Christopher Blay and featuring a number of artists. These are Ricky Armendariz, Nela Garzon, Jennifer Battaglia, Juan Carlos Escobedo, Preston Gaines, Raul Rene Gonzales, Mark Anthony Martinez, Shavon Morris, Marc Newsome, Alan Serna, Monique Sullivan and Zulma Vega. The host organization will also use the occasion to announce the grantees of the Berlin Residency Program for the 2024-25 period. (March 1, 6-9 p.m.; Contemporary at Blue Star, 116 Blue Star, 78204; free)
Also in the complex, on S. Alamo, but in a different space, another exhibit is opening: “This Ship is Sailing” curated by Vikky Jones, and featuring contemporary surrealist work “with a strong undercurrent referencing relationships.” Featured artists include: Maria J. Brown, Adrian de la Cruz, Beth Devillier, Ann Enzminger, Anthony Garcia, Cassie Gnehm, Raul Rene Gonzalez, Rafael Fernando Gutierrez, Jayne Lawrence, Nain Leon, Symone Martinez, Wiley Martinez, Marcy McChesney, Lacey Mills, Mauro Murillo, Tim Olson, Poeme, Calvin Presley, Octavio Quintanilla, Andrei Renteria, Libby Rowe, Gary Sweeney, and others. (115 Blue Star, (Bldg. D in the residential alley, the former UTSA Satellite Space; opening receptions Feb. 29 and March 1, 7-11 p.m.) Also open for additional viewing the following weekend, Friday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; closing reception March 21, 7-11 p.m.
Musical Bridges Around the World Art Gallery will be presenting paintings and mixed media works of artist Stefani Job Spears “in an exhibit that ponders the often abstract beauty of nature, its underlying structures and elegance…” (Opening reception March 9, 5-8 p.m., MBAW Art Gallery and offices at 23705 IH-10 Frontage Rd., Suite 101; free and open to the public; ticket registration required at www.mbaw.org/art)
Clamp Light Studios & Gallery is presenting “Human-Centric,” people-centered work by Clamp Light’s newest resident artist Tim Olson. Olson is a mixed media artist who grew up on a farm outside of the city of Zumbrota, Minnesota. He reports that the farm was full of abandoned tools and equipment, sheds, etc. that helped inspire his curiosity about things. His work focuses on collages and assemblages of found objects. (Exhibit opens March 8 with an opening reception starting at 6 p.m., closes April 6; 1704 Blanco Rd., ste.104; clamlightstudios@gmail.com)
At Centro Cultural Aztlan, you can see the 15th annual “Las Mujeres de Aztlan” Exhibition titled: “Las Mujeres de Aztlan: Persistent and Resilient.” Artists include Lead Artist, Kathleen Baker Pittman, and a longish list of other talented women, including Santa Barraza, Kim Bishop, Magdalena Chellet, Rose Harms, Barbara Felix, Robin Gara, Sara Drescher, Adriana Netro, Terry Ybanez, and others. (Opening reception, March 8, 6-9 p.m.; live music by singer/songwriter, Ariel Corinne; free; on view through March 28; 1800 Fredericksburg Rd., Suite 103, 78201; 210-432-1896; www.centroaztlan.org)
And there’s this: “Upward Mobility” a splendid, glittering, unique exhibition of glass art at the McNay Art Museum. It’s like no other you have seen at that museum, or probably anywhere else. In the first gallery you’ll see some beautiful, glass vase-type sculptures that could adorn a palace room, but what will take your breath away is what awaits in the next long gallery. There, you’ll find a 20-foot-long table set for a “royal repast.” You can’t even take it all in at first. Too much shine, glitz and so many objects. Most objects, including “food Items” in plates are made out of glass. This is a production of the De La Torre Brothers, California-based, Mexican-born artists who created all that scintillating stuff. The word “excess” comes to mind. And that was the idea. The pursuit of wealth is excessive, the installation says, or rather screams. Consumerism has overtaken the world. The artists do not offer an answer, just a warning: Are we at the Tipping Point? And that “warning” is fun to look at and explore but also meant to be taken seriously. (Opens March 1. On view through Sept. 1, 2024; McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels, 78209; 210-824-5368, www.mcnayart.org)
What can be enjoyable without existential worries are some dance events coming up.
One of the best, if not the best, modern dance company, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, will perform at the Tobin next Tuesday. (March 5 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets $31.60 – $96.50; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; 210-223-8624’ tickets@tobincenter.org)
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Dance Company will present its annual “Celebrando Tradiciones,” a show of Mexican traditional dances. Mariachi Azteca de America will provide the musical accompaniment. Both ensembles are pros at what they do. (March 8 at 8 p.m.; McAllister Auditorium at San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., 78212) For a sample of what they do click here, https://youtu.be/o9iWiLTlaaA. Call 210-271-3151; tickets are $15-$30; www.guadalupeculturalarts.org
URBAN 15 has issued an Open Call and two opportunities for community members to join in what they do: The first is a class series in its studio, and the second is a workshop series at Berta Almaguer Dance Studio and Community Center, located at 138 S. Josephine. Dance classes will be held in March; percussion classes will be in April. (To contact URBAN-15 call 210-736-1500; www.Urban15,org)
The Ballet Conservatory of South Texas will present “Giselle”- The Second Act, plus contemporary selections with original choreography by Kellie St. Pierre for the opening of its 2024 performance season.
(March 2 at 4 p.m.; McAllister Auditorium, 1300 San Pedro, 78212; tickets $30 general admission.;
210-820-3400; tickets@balletconservatory.org)
The Olmos Ensemble celebrates International Women’s Day (March 8) with a concert featuring works by 19th and 20th century women composers including Florence Price and Clara Shuman. Pianist Janice Carissa will join the ensemble for the first time. (March 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Shepherd King Lutheran Church, 303 West Ramsey Rd., 78216; 210-344-5881; free but donations accepted. To  the Olmos call 210-269-1925; www.olmosensemble.com
More great chamber music: The Jupiter String Quartet will be presented by the San Antonio Chamber Music Society. Now enjoying its 21st year together, the ensemble has firmly established itself as an important voice on the chamber music scene. The group received a number of top chamber music awards. They have performed in Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center in New York, as well as Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes, and other famous concert venues. (March 3 at 3:15 p.m.; Trinity Baptist Church, 319 E. Mulberry Ave., 78212; $25; 210-408-1558; https://www.sacms.org)
Also on Sunday, The Heart of Texas Concert Band, will play a program of audience favorites: Potpourri.
(March 3at 3 p.m.; Thiry Auditorium, Our Lady of the Lake University; 411 SW 24th St., 78207; suggested donation: $10. No ticket necessary. The band is part of Alamo City Arts, 210-369-8311, cory.mcrae@acpaainc.org or contact Sudie@alamocityarts.org)
Six Pack is a concert presented by the Classical Music Institute, a resident company at the Tonin Center. CMI string members will be accompanied by guest pianist, Daniel Anastasio, of the AGARITA fame, in a program featuring “masterpieces by rarely heard composers, such as Olli Mustonen, Jean Francaix and Sergei Lyapunov. There will be a pre-concert discussion. (March 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Alvares Studio Theater at the Tobin Center; tickets are $15-$45; to reach CMI call 210-363-3884, info@cmi-sa.org
Opera San Antonio has announced a masterclass with opera tenor Lawrence Brownlee, for local OSA artists. It will take place March 5, at 7-9 p.m.; Tuesday Musical Club House and Performance Hall, 3755 St. Mary’s, 78212; open to the public. He will help featured local singers as they refine the repertoire for upcoming performances.
On the theater front: “Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley. This is a production of 100A Productions, a Tobin’s own theater production company. The play is directed by Marisela Barrera. (March 7 to March 17, in the Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater. See schedule of performances on the Tobin’s site. Tickets start at $35; on sale at the box office, 100 Auditorium Circle; in person or via phone: 210-223-8624)
The Wonder Theater is opening “Kinky Boots” next week. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, at 3 p.m., March 8-30; you can call box office at 210-267-8388 or write to info@woodlawntheatre.org.