Arts Alive San Antonio

Hispanic Heritage Month officially starts today and there are many events planned for this and upcoming weeks to celebrate the Hispanic heritage in San Antonio, including several arts events.  The festivities commemorate Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1810 and the Mexican-American culture.

It all starts with the El Gritto Ceremony and Cultural Program co-hosted by the Mexican Consul in San Antonio and the San Antonio Mexico Friendship Council, in Milam Park.  This will be followed by a number of festive events, such as parade (Sept.17), a charreada (Sept. 18) and a Market Square celebration of food and culture (Sept.17-18).

Arts-related events are the Sept. 24^th Diez y Seis Mariachi Festival at the Arneson River Theater in La Villita, featuring high school bands, and events planned for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. An interesting, and maybe first-of-its-kind symposium will explore the importance of Mexican folkloric dance in the Chicano communities. The Guadalupe Center has long cultivated the folkloric dances of various Mexican regions, presented by the center’s own Guadalupe Dance Company. Co-hosted by Trinity University, the symposium will examine the history of folkloric dance and its impact on the Mexican-American experience through the eyes of dance practitioners. (Oct. 7)

And the afore-mentioned company will present Celebrando Tradiciones, in a live performance accompanied by the resident mariachi band, Mariachi Azteca de America (Oct.8) That’s the one you don’t want to miss! (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 1301 Guadalupe St., 78207; 210-271-3151, www.guadalupeculturalarts.org)

There is also a Spanish-language Book Festival at UNAM, that includes children’s literature, historical panels, literature and culinary arts speakers, and a book fair. You may be able to meet more than 30 Hispanic writers. (Sept.15-17, 10 a.m.; UNAM, 600 Hemisfair Plaza Way, 78205; 210-222-8626; www.unamsa.edu)

Centro Cultural Aztlan is opening the long-awaited exhibit, Las Mujeres Regionales, by Frank W. Harris III, whose paintings are inspired by folk art and textiles from Mexico. He has a personal collection of Mexican regional costumes from every region of Mexico. (Opens Sept 16 at 6-9 p.m.; will be on display through Oct. 19; Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Rd., #103; 78201; 210-432-1896; https://centroaztlan.org)

And there’s great news on the classical music front! The recently formed SA Philharmonic is launching its 2022-23 season this weekend, with a pair of concerts conducted by the German-Japanese-American conductor Ken-David Masur. The concert will include the premiere of a new composition, “Emergent” by San Antonio composer Ethan Wickman. Other works on the program are:  Brahm’s “St. Anthony Variations,” Ravel’s famed “Bolero” and a selection from Prokofiev’s glorious ballet “Romeo and Juliet.”

Masur was the resident conductor of the San Antonio Symphony from 2007 to 2011. In a review in the San Diego Union-Tribune, he is described as “a brilliant and commanding conductor with unmistakable charisma.”  All concerts, including this one, will take place at the orchestra’s new home, the First Baptist Church of San Antonio, which has a sanctuary that seats about 1,000 people. (Sept. 16-17 at 7:30 p.m.; 515 McCullough, 78215; 210-226-0363; to reach SA Phil call 210-201-6006, https://saphil.org; tickets $30-$65; you can also subscribe and pay less per concert.)

Camerata San Antonio is also launching its season, the 20^th season for the respected chamber music ensemble! What we appreciate the most about this group is that they spread the musical performances across the area, allowing people in different parts of the county – and a little beyond – to hear good music live. “From Mozart and Beethoven to tango and music of today, there’s lots of exciting music packed into this season,” says their season announcement. The first upcoming concert, “Postcards” features Richard Strauss’ Piano Quartet, plus works for violin and viola by Kevin Puts, Peter Schickele and Errollyn Wallen. The performers are: Anastasia Parker (violin), Emily Freudigman (viola), Ken Freudigman (cello), and their favorite pianist, Viktor Valkov. The three venues they will perform Sept. 23-25 are First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville (9/23 at 4 p.m.); Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, NW San Antonio near the Bandera-1604 intersection (9/24 at 3 p.m.) and University of the Incarnate Word (9/25/ at 3 p.m. (Tickets $22.85; www.cameratasa.org)

The Tony-winning musical “Hadestown” is currently playing at the Majestic Theater through Sept. 18. The show intertwines two mythic takes – that of Orpheus and Eurydice, with that of Kind Hades and his wife Persephone, “as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.” Both the music and the story were praised by critics in 2019 when the show premiered. (through 9/18, Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston, 78205; tickets start at $40; 210-226-3333; www.majesticempire.com)

The Beach House duo, consisting of vocalist and keyboardist, Victoria LeGrand, and guitarist Alex Scally will be at the Tech Port Arena on Sept. 22. The show is presented by Tobin Entertainment. (Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.; Tech Port Center and Arena, 3331 General Hudnell Drive, 78226; 800–514-3849; tickets $31-$61.)

Canadian crooner, Michael Bublé, will be stopping in San Antonio Saturday to charm huge crowds at the AT&T Center. (Sept. 17 at 8 p.m.; AT&T center; tickets are $49-$574; 210-444-5000, www.attcenter.com)

For San Antonio theater shows, please see last week’s NEWS ROUNDUP. All the shows described in that ROUNDUP are still playing, with various discounts offered by just about every company.

Now, here’s an unusual event: The Wild & Scenic Film Festival, which is a fundraiser for the San Antonio River Foundation. We all know how precious our river is, don’t we!? This fest will show environmental and adventure films that illustrate the Earth’s beauty, the challenges facing the planet, and the work communities are doing to protect the environment. (Sept. 16 at 6:30-9:30 p.m.’ Confluence Park, 310W. Mitchell, 78210, 210-224-2694; tickets $25-$50; https://sariverfound.org/confluence-park/

Speaking of film festivals, The URBAN-15 Group will host its annual Manhattan Short Film Festival from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1. The in-person screenings will be held at the organization’s studios. This is URBAN-15’s 20^th year of participation in Manhattan Shorts. The event is a celebration of short films that was established in 1988 on the streets of New York City. It has since transformed into a world-wide “phenomenon”. Nine shorts will be screened in more than 500 cinemas simultaneously during the week of Sept. 23 to Oct. 1. (For more info go to events@urban15.org or call 210-736-1500)

Bihl Haus Arts is opening a new exhibit, “The Art of Allowing” featuring the work of Jill Weing and the Forward Arts! students who are all military veterans. Nature is the central theme of the exhibit, reflecting the teaching artist’s love of the outdoors. “It’s been proven that nature heals,” stated Ewing, a master naturalist. She and her students produced drawings and paintings of birds to illustrate the theme of nature and freedom. (Opens Sept. 17 with a reception at 5:30 p.m., and stays on view until Oct. 14; 2803 Fredericksburg Rd., 210-383-9723, www.bihlhausarts.org)

Another exciting opening is scheduled for the same day across town at the Art Gallery Prudencia. Titled “Vibrant colors,” the show features the work of Soon Y Warren. (Opening reception Sept 17, 2-4 p.m.; artist’s demonstration at 3 p.m.; closes Oct. 22; 2516 N. Main Ave.; 210-422-8681; www.prudenciagallery.com)

Another teacher, Linda Simone, and her two students, Laura Lopez and Lori Gomez, will be showing their watercolor paintings at the Kapej Gallery & Café downtown. The opening reception is also on Saturday, 2-4 p.m. It’s a busy afternoon! (415 Camden St., 78215, 210-838-8681)

Say Si, an educational art program for youth, will be hosting its annual Fall Student Showcase on Friday, Sept. 16. The title: “Natural Disharmony.” The show includes a wide range of media. (Sept. 16 from 6 to 9 p.m.; in addition, the Say Si Theater Company will also be performing. (1310 South Brazos St., 78207; www.saysi.org)

An exhibit at the Witte Museum ties in with the San Antonio River concerns that we mentioned above. The winners of the San Antonio River Authority annual photography contest called “River Clicks” are currently on view at the museum. The photos capture the many aspects of the river. (Through Oct. 30; included in the price of museum admission. The Witte has lined up a series of interesting exhibits that we’ll tell you about as they open. (Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway; 210-357-1900, www.wittemuseum.org)

And here’s an exhibit that’s amusing and useful. Local architects and engineers joined forces to build large installations using only food cans. Yes, you read it correctly!  The idea is to raise awareness of hunger and benefit the Food Bank. But the structures are amazing and imaginative. Kids would love them. To see them, visit North Star Mall. One sculpture/installation won a prize for using the most cans and for original design. See photo. (On view through Sept. 34^th. (North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro Ave.)