Arts Alive San Antonio

There’s a lot going on the visual art scene right now.

We are happy to report that Artpace has just opened one of the strongest exhibits we have seen in a while. It is actually three separate exhibits by the Spring 2023 International Artist-in-Residence participants: – Yuliya Lanina based in Austin; Reynier Levya Novo, from Cuba but living in Houston, and Nohemi Perez from Bogota, Colombia, who was not present at the press preview because she had to return to Bogota. The three were selected by guest curator Gabriela Rangel. Actually, all three artists come from other countries. Lanina was born in Moscow of a Russian father and Ukrainian mother.

Although there’s no explicit common theme, all three touch on the themes of borders and immigration, legal and illegal. The most visually stunning exhibit is Lanina’s Mother/Land, which represents her complex response to the current war being fought by two formerly sisterly Slavic countries, countries that are part of who she is. Two visual parts dominate the exhibit – on the long wall of the gallery, is an animation of images featuring her paintings of people in pain and distress. It is accompanied by an eerie audio/music composition. The second part consists of tall red poppy flower sculptures all over the floor of the gallery. The flowers have eyes, implying witnesses but also a hope of rebirth.

In the adjacent gallery, Novo has a powerful piece of his own. In the middle of the space, he has placed his Sauna Truck,inspired by the recent tragedy that occurred nearby when 50 immigrants suffocated in a hot truck abandoned by the smugglers. Visitors to Artpace can actually enter his Sauna Truckto experience – briefly – what those men who died experienced. It’s a disturbing consideration.

In one of the upstairs galleries, Perez is showing, No Man’s Land, huge images ofmountainous border areas that people brave in desperation to get to a better, safer place. You have to look closely to find the human figures in that menacing landscape. (On view through May 7; Artpace 445 North Main; free; www.artpace.org)

An upcoming conference and art exhibit at the Witte Museum will explore the history of Texas through art, new scholarship and origin stories. The Conference on Texas: Origin Stories will also include the special exhibition Texas Art: Kinship & Culture which will feature historic paintings and new acquisitions from the museum’s art collection. The show will have about 45 works by some of the most iconic artists from a period of three centuries. Among them are Julian Onderdonk and Jose Arpa y Perea, plus new pieces by Nivia Gonzalez and Fidencio Duran. (On display in the Russell Hill Rogers Texas Art Gallery from March 24 through August 13; Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway; 210-357-1900, www.wittemuseum.org)

We also want to remind you of the ongoing exhibits at the McNay Art Museum and the San Antonio Museum of Art: the former has a long title, Womanish: Audacious, Courageous, Willful Art (women’s contemporary art), and the latter, Roman Landscapes, features old, old art, as the title indicates. Two additional exhibits to explore and have fun: Alchemy: Works on Paper San Antonio at the Ruiz-Healy Art (prominent San Antonio contemporary artists), and Redux: Brought Back, Revived at the Prudencia Gallery (the unique art of San Antonio artist, Susan Riley {see story on this sit}).

In addition, Ruby City, has an event in connection with Contemporary Art Month. Artist Nancy Rubins known for her large-scale metal sculptures, including the one that sits in Ruby City’s backyard, will be “celebrated” Saturday in the Sculpture Garden. A performance by Cirque Aria is part of the festivity. No more information is supplied but it’s a good opportunity to visit Ruby City. (March 18, 3-5 p.m.; 150 Camp St., 78204; 210-227-8400. www.eubycity.org)

If you visited some San Antonio parks recently, you have probably seen the “Bloom” Sculptures. They are tall, colorful versions of flowers conceived by San Antonio artist Leticia Huerta. The project is supported by the city’s Department of Art & Culture. Three new Bloom sculptures will be installed at Southside Lions Park, near the park’s hiking trailhead. They depict Turk’s Cap (if you know what that is);
Evening Primrose and Shrubby Boneset flowers. (The sculptures will be dedicated March 20 at 5-6 p.m.; Southside Lions Park, 3100 Hiawatha St., 78210)

Camerata San Antonio members will be joined by their students – who spent spring break rehearsing with the chamber music group – in a special free concert this Sunday. Together, they will perform Mendelssohn’s Octet, which Camerata performs every 10 years. The side-by-side concert is a long-held tradition in classical music education, especially in a chamber music setting. The professional Camerata musicians remember joining their own teachers years ago. Mendelssohn wrote the Octet when he was 16, roughly the age of the students who will be playing his music Sunday. The four students are: Ellie Kennedy (violin); Viviana Peters (violin); Ray Zhang (viola) and Vincent Garcia-Hettinger (cello)
(Match 19 at 2 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap; free)

Fans of the harpsichord will enjoy the harpsichord recital by Nadia Soree, probably the best known harpsichord player in the city. No program information was available. (Sunday, March 19 at 4 p.m.; Christ Lutheran Church of Alamo Heights, 6720 Broadway, 78209; 210-822-3394, www.clcah.org; nbsoree@yahoo.com)

The San Antonio Brass Band presents “Hymns and Folksongs” featuring: Ravenswood by William Rimmer; A Mooreside Suite by Gustav Holst; Hymn of the Highlands by Philip Spark, and three folksong settings, among other numbers. (Sunday, March 19 at 6 p.m.; the UTSA Recital Hall, one UTSA Circle, 78249; 210-458-4011; www.music.utsa.edu)

And here’s something different: YAMATO: the Drummers of Japan.  A dozen players start by hitting Japanese taiko drums made from a large 400-year-old tree. The drummers move their whole bodies “to strike the drum with everything in their souls” creating a powerful surge of energy. We remember seeing a group of Japanese drummers years ago and it was a powerful experience. (March 19 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets at tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)

Also at the Tobin this weekend, is The Thorn, a production that tells the epic story of God’s love for the world and the spiritual battle for all humanity. Often described as cirque meets the passion of Jesus, The Thorn combines dance, martial arts, aerial acrobatics and “emotionally powerful performances.”  It has been around for 25 years. (March 17 at 7 p.m., Tobin Center; see ticket info above.)

Zach Williams’ A Hundred Highways Tour, is stopping at the Majestic Theater this Saturday. He appears backed by a 10-piece band, and with a special guest, Blessing Offor. (March 18 at 7 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston St., 78205; tickets start at $18 at box office 210-226-3333 or through Ticketmaster.)

On March 23, for one night only, you get a chance to see the ballet Cinderella, performed by a cast of 40 professional ballet dancers. We say: Go for It! It looks like it’s going to be a grand production, performed, of course, to the familiar Sergei Prokofiev’s score.  This version is choreographed by Marina Kessler. Those who recently saw Ballet San Antonio’s production may want to compare the two versions. (March 23 at 7 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston St., tickets are $45-$125, via Ticketmaster; to reach the Majestic, call 210-226-3333.)

The British band, The Zombies, will stop in the Alamo City after performing at Austin’s SXSW fest. Catch them at the Aztec Theater Saturday. (March 18 at 8 p.m.; Aztec Theater, 104 N. St. Mary’s St.; tickets are $39-$79 via www.livenation.com, or call 1 (800) 653-8000).

A new smooth jazz music series, presented by Foster Perry Travel will start with Chris Walker, singer, composer and producer, who is set to perform Saturday at the Buena Vista Theater downtown. (March 18 at 7 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m.; 501 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd., 78207; 210-458-3288; tickets are $60-$75 at www.buenasvistalive.showare.com)

The Heart of Texas Country Music Festival will once again bring together country music artists and their fans in a small-town atmosphere in Brady, Texas, from March 23 to April 1. Twenty-two shows will be presented at three venues in and around Brady. Tickets are now on sale. Some events are free. For tickets go to www.heartoftexascountry.com. More about this fest next week.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature a lot of music. The downtown fest includes a parade, the river will be dyed green and a lot of Irish music will be heard from the floats. To find out more go to www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com. The Tobin Center will have its own Pachanga de San Patricio, featuring a FolkPunkRock festival “exploring traditional music from new perspectives. The pachanga will also include dancers presenting examples of the 6:8 rhythm found almost exclusively in three dance traditions: the Veracruz Huapango, the Irish jig and western Africa’s wawa-nko, or snake dance. Food and drinks will match the cultural influences involved. Among the performing groups will be Pinata Protest,, Los San Patricio, Inishfree Irish Dancers, Angelika Ruiz, and others. (March 18, 3-8 p.m.; Will Naylor Smith Riverwalk Plaza at the Tobin.)

We recently discovered that there’s another children’s theater in San Antonio. It’s called Impact Youth Theater, a non-profit for youth of all “backgrounds and needs,” founded by two friends and former teachers, Crystal Gulley and Cindy David. They turned their dream of creating their own company for youth into reality in 2019.  The upcoming spring production is Peter Pan Jr., based on the well-known classic tale, and featuring a score by Morris Charlap and Julie Styne, with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden. Peter Pan is a classic that remains a favorite of children and families. The show is adapted for young performers. Show dates are June 8, 9 and 10. For more info visit www.cciimpactyouththeatre.com/springproduction2023

The Art of Four: Community Paint Day is March 18. From 1-3 p.m. Visitors of all ages are welcome to make a mark on two new additions of public art coming to the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, downtown.  This longitudinal park is a joint project of Bexar County, the San Antonio River Authority and the City of San Antonio. But not that many people visit to enjoy the park. This event aims to reconnect residents with a place of great historical significance. You will get a chance to meet some of the artists who created the art along the shores of the creek and they may help you in creating your artistic contribution. (Gather at the Mosaic Multiplex, with free parking at the same location (Mosaic Multiplex, 146 N WW White Rd., 78219.)