Arts Alive San Antonio

NEWS ROUNDUP, Jan. 13, 2022

Even though DreamWeek has been a part of San Antonio life for ten years, many San Antonians have never heard of it, and if they did hear about it, are not sure what it is. So, let’s try to explain. Founded by Nigerian-born Shokare “Sho” Nakpodia, DreamWeek – which often lasts more than a week – is a series of organized events that facilitate gathering and discussions on a range of topics relating to improving civic life and discourse about inclusion, diversity, and how to bring about positive change. This year’s overall theme is “Our Future.”

Multiple events, with a range of topical subjects, are scheduled across the city, but since we are an arts publication, we’ll focus on arts events scheduled for the next few days. Some of these events were already on the schedule of the presenting organizations but are also included in DreamWeek’s listings.

Friday, Jan. 14:  7:30 a.m. DreamWeek 2022 Opening Ceremony; Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe Museum, 210 W. Market St./ 7-11 p.m. “Jazz in San Antonio: The Keyhole, A Retrospective,” Dakota East Side Ice House, 433 S. Hackberry.

Saturday, Jan. 15: 9 a.m. -5 p.m, “Uniquely Us,” DoSeum, 2800 Broadway St./ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., “SANKOFA, A Fabric Art Story Telling,” presented by the African-American Quilt Circle; Carver Library, 335 E. Commerce St. / “Urban Art Soul – MLK Arts,” an arts festival celebrating the life & legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; East San Antonio Space, 2714 Martin Luther King, Jr. / 11 a.m.-10 p.m., XPRESS URSELF, an interactive arts festival; Brick at Blue Star, 108 Blue Star, #1773 / Noon-2 p.m., “MELANIN IS COOL, a multigenerational exploration of Colorism,” described as an in-person and online visual art event “for people who want to learn more about discrimination based on color.”; Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta St. / 7-11 p.m. “Jazz in San Antonio: The Keyhole, A Retrospective; Dakota East Side Ice House, 433 S. Hackberry.

Sunday, Jan. 16: 7-9 p.m., KARA NICHOLE GOSPEL & COMEDY Concert, featuring gospel music and Christian humor; Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry. / 7-9 p.m., “GIVING VOICE TO THE DREAM,” a poetry open mic with special guests; Dakota East Side Ice House, 443 S. Hackberry. / 7-9 p.m. “The Ghost and the Wall,” the Joshua Radin’s tour stops in San Antonio; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle.

Most of these events are free but some charge admission.

And there are events that are not incorporated into DreamWeek.

The Overtime Theater is premiering a brand new, original play by San Antonio playwright Joseph. E Green, titled “Einstein’s Wrong About Everything.” Just from the title, you know it’s a comedy, and according to its director it’s a great “romp.” (See article from Jan. 12 on this site) (Jan. 14-Feb. 5, 2022; Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m.; Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera RD, Ste. 205, 78238, 210-557-7562; tickets $12-$18 at box office or online https://theovertimetheater.org)

If you live in the Hill Country and love beautiful chamber music, this one is for you: the Agarita Chamber Players will perform an in-person concert at the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church this Sunday, Jan. 16. The event is presented by the Fredericksburg Music Club. As for the program, the scant press release only mentioned two composers – Schubert and Harbisson. The quartet will be joined by violinist Samantha Bennett. (1800 N. Llano (hwy. 16 N), Fredericksburg; free and open to the public.)

 Gruene Hall, in New Braunfels, is hosting the appealing duo, Jamestown Revival, from Magnolia, TX. Duo members, Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance, will be joined by Robert Ellis for the occasion. They sing about ordinary life in the Country/Americana genre. (Jan. 14 at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.; only VIP seats left; www.gruenehall.com; 830-606-1281)

Tribute bands are all the rage currently and one of those, The Iron Maidens, will be at the Sam’s Burger Joint Friday. The all-female group performs the repertoire of the British heavy metal rockers known as – duh! – Iron Maiden. According to reports, the women do a great job. (Jan. 14, 8 p.m.; Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., 21; tickets $25-$150; 210-223-2830, www.samsburgerjoiny.com)

And we would like to introduce you to a less known comedy club in town, The Blind Tiger Comedy Club.  On the agenda for Friday, Jan. 14: Swell Time Comedy Showcase hosted by Christopher Breakell. Next Friday, Jan. 21: A night of Irish Comedy & Storytelling with Dave Nihill. We can’t wait to see that one!
(Swell Time, Jan. 14, 10-11:30 p.m.; Blind Tiger Comedy Club, 902 NE Loop 410, 78209, 210-b28-1470; $5)

And now for something different. The Witte Museum has joined forces with University Health and other health organizations in organizing the Witte 5K & Dino Dash: Microbe Mania Edition, that will take place Saturday, Jan. 15. It’s all about health but all participants will receive free admission to the Witte on that day. There will be recipes and puppies, rock climbing and a giant inflatable heart. We wouldn’t really include such an event under usual circumstances but this event sort of ties in with the extraordinary exhibit, “The Secret World Inside You” currently at the museum. Probably produced by a team of scientists, technicians, artists and artisans, this exhibit depicts in 3-D the human microbiome, showing you what is going inside your body where bacteria, viruses and other microbes roam unseen. To sign up for the 5K dash, go to https://www.wittemuseum.org/event/witte-5k-dino-dash.

Here’s good news of a different kind!  Seven San Antonio arts organizations have received funding from the The National Endowment of the Arts, amounting to $145,000 in total. The seven lucky ones are Artpace, SAY SI, Musical Bridges Around the World, Luminaria, National Association of Latino Arts & Culture, Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. The amounts range from $10,000 to $55,000. Congratulation to all!

The San Antonio Art League and Museum announced the opening of “Water Media from Our Permanent Collection” exhibit, which was supposed to have an opening reception on Sunday. The reception has been nixed due to COVID/Omicron, but the exhibit is up, and includes a number of well-known San Antonio artists, such as Danville Chadbourne, Carl Embry, Amy Freeman Lee, Linda Hammond, Henry Rayburn, and others. (Check the museum’s site before going, www.saalm.org)

Gemini Ink, San Antonio’s writing arts center, has announced a new member of the staff – Tori Pool – who will serve as the public class coordinator for the nonprofit organization. A former educator, Pool is presently making a name for herself as a standup comedian, often performing at the Blind Tiger Comedy Club, we introduced you to, above.  She is also working on her M.A. in education and literacy at UTSA.

San Antonio poet, Amalia Ortiz, who won the Precious Words Prize at the poetry reading during the 2021 Poetry Month event at URBAN-15, is taking part in the Tucson Fringe Festival at this time. Friday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. you can watch her perform her own Cancion Cannibal Cabaret which URBAN-15 will broadcast at 7 p.m. (events@urban15.org).

We will close with information about Full STEAM Ahead, a new education series at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. According to the press release all are invited to learn about the American West by engaging in hands-on experiences. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, which pretty much covers the range of skills. From transportation, weather, animals, astronomy, etc., each program explores an aspect of life in the West.  The program starts this Saturday, Jan. 15. By the end, visitors will have their own Wild West little towns built with cardboard and other materials. (Included with admission; Briscoe Museum, 210 W. Market; 210-299-4499, www.briscoemuseum.org)