Arts Alive San Antonio

Summer means a quieter time for many arts organizations, but there’s still plenty to explore and enjoy.

So, let’s start with visual arts.  Many San Antonians are not even aware of the Ruby City Museum that features works from the vast Linda Pace Foundation. Pace was also the founder of Artpace, a space that’s more familiar to locals since it’s been around for a long time. But the two institutions are different. For one thing, the Ruby City building was built especially for the museum. It’s an art piece in itself and it’s bright red, hence the name. The museum is tucked away from the main lines of traffic on the short Camp St., off S. Flores. The exhibits stay in place for a long time. The current one is featuring the work of Amy Cutler, known for her detailed surreal depictions of women apparently involved in arduous and mysterious tasks. The works are complex and require some time to contemplate. (Ruby City, 150 Camp St 210-227-8400’ www.rubycity.org; free admission)

Artpace changes its shows much more frequently. Two new shows are officially opening this weekend. In what they call Main Space, artist Angela Walley is showing “We Are Quilted Together” to pay homage to women who in the past made clothing and quilts for their families, but also to recognize the fact that we are all “quilts” made of disparate parts put together. The other exhibit will be in the so-called Hudson Showroom where two Artpace alumni will show their work. Not much information was provided about that exhibit. (Opening reception is tonight, 6-8 p.m.; Artpace, 445 N. Main Ave.,210-212-4900, https://artpace.org)

A major exhibit, Actions for the Earth: Art, Care, and Ecology Exhibition, is on view at the Contemporary at Blue Star. It’s a traveling exhibition that “considers kinship, healing and restorative interventions as artistic practices and strategies to foster a deeper consciousness of our interconnectedness with the earth” Eighteen artists are represented. (through Sept.3, Blue Star Contemporary, 116 Blue Star, 78204,
210-227-6960; www.contemporarysa.org)

The Texas Watercolor Society is currently presenting its annual exhibit, the 74^th such event. It’s a juried showcase, juried by Iian Stewart. The organization was founded in 1949, here in San Antonio, by Margaret Pace Wilson and Amy Freeman Lee. (Kelso Art Center, on the campus of the Incarnate Word University, Broadway & Hildebrand; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., through Aug. 11. The art is for sale; free admission)

The small SALA DIAZ Gallery is currently showing the colorful works of the young Black artist, Alethia Jones under the title “Floating Between Chaos and Peace.” (See feature story on this site: https://artsalivesa.com)

Another exhibit we recommend is “Metal to the Pedal” featuring the amazing metal sculptures and recent paintings of Luis “Chispas” Guerrero at Centro Cultural Aztlan. (For more information see story on this site: https://artsalivesa.com

And the San Antonio Museum of Art is getting ready to open “Still Brewing Art,” an exhibit that looks back at the museum’s past as the Lone Star Brewery. The exhibit will feature large format brewery posters and rare pre-Prohibition Lone Star Brewery objects., historic photos, and site plans dating to 1976 that were used during the brewery’s renovation. In addition, the exhibit will explore San Antonio’s history as a brewing city, and the ways in which the San Antonio River is at the heart of that story. This exhibit will open June 30. (SAMA. 200 West Jones Ave.; 210-978-8140; www.samuseum.org; plan your route to SAMA carefully; there are lots of street closures and detours around the area.)

And there’s music!

SA Phil and the various chamber ensembles all close shop in the summer to pursue appearances on various summer festivals – and we assume to rest – but touring stars continue to tour, and all types of live music is playing somewhere in town.

For lovers of classical music there are two concerts left in the Classical Music Institute’s 2023 Series: Student/Faculty Concert, June 23 at 6 p.m.; Edgewood Theater of the Performing Arts; and “Con Molto Inspirazione” featuring the music of Franz Waxman, Joly Broga Santos, Shawn Okpebholo, and Aaron Copeland; June 24 at 7:30 p.m. Alvarez Studio Theater, Tobin Center; all tickets are $15; tickets@tobincenter.org; 210-223-8624.

And here’s a real treat: Opera Under the Stars, a free concert that will feature operatic singers from the Summer Voice Program of Opera San Antonio (OSA) performing with CMI’s musicians. They will perform a collection of Beethoven’s folk songs and excerpts from OSA’s upcoming season. The evening will conclude with the SAGA light show projected on the façade of the San Fernando Cathedral. (June 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Main Plaza, 115 N. Main Ave.; bring folding chairs; for info call 210-673-7270, https://www.operasa.org)

And while we are talking about downtown events, remember Fiesta Noche del Rio, a blast of a dance and music show celebrating flamenco and Mexican folk dancing. (Friday-Saturday at 8:30 p.m., Arneson River Theater on the San Antonio River, 418 La Villita, 210-269-8581; $8-$20; http://fiestanochesa.com/)

More live music in San Antonio: Country superstar Tanya Tucker was a teen sensation back in the 70s, and she’s still going strong. (June 24 at 8 p.m.; John T. Floore’s Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Rd., Helotes; 210-695-8827, www.liveatfloores.com)

Dirty Heads, Yelawolf, and other performers will appear at an outdoor show by the Guadalupe River. (June 23 at 6 p.m.; Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860FM 306, New Braunfels, $35-$115;
830-964-3800, www.whitewaterrocks.com)

“Candlelight,” a Tribute to Adele will probably fill the Josephine Theater with the beloved songs like “Water Under the Bridge,” “Make you feel my love,” and others. (June 23 at 6:30 p.m.; Josephine Theater, 339. W. Josephine St.; tickets $39, at https://feverup.com/m/128390)

The Summer Night City summer series continues with Los De Esta Noche + LA 45 at Legacy Park downtown. Texas Public Radio is hosting the free music series every Thursday night through the end of July. There’s a dog-friendly hour from 5-6 p.m., and the music starts ay 7:30 p.m.; you can get some food from a nearby Barbecue place. (Legacy Park is at 103 West Houston St.)

This is the last weekend to see “Footloose” at the Public Theater. Tickets are selling fast and the Sunday show is sold out; www.thepublicsa.org or call 210-733-7258).

“Hamilton” is still playing at the Majestic Theater through July 2. Times vary, so go to www.majesticempire.com/events/Hamilton to choose the date and time that’s convenient for you. Tickets are $167-$608 through Ticketmaster.

We don’t pay that much attention to film screenings by here’s one Cinema Tuesday that sounds interesting: “Carmen” featuring a Spanish choreographer who is planning a ballet set to the music of Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen.” Searching for a lead dancer he discovers a talented dancer that’s actually named Carmen. As things develop during rehearsals the dancers’ real lives begin to reflect the plot of “Carmen.” (Santikos Galaxy, 2938 NE Loop 410, 78218; June 27 at 7:30 p.m.)

Here’s a book that some may find useful: My Grief is not Like Yours” by Theo Boyd. The author will sign books and talk about grief. (Sat. June 24 at 11 a.m., at the Twig Book Shop, at the Pearl. The author had to come to terms with two deaths in her immediate family. (Twig Book Shop, 306 Pearl Pkwy, Ste. 106, 210-826-6411)

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