Arts Alive San Antonio

September is FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA Month in San Antonio and this year many galleries and presenters decided to have physical 3-D exhibitions, which will be open for weeks, the way things were always done before the pandemic upended our ways of living and experiencing art. But the fest continues to have a strong online presence as well. The online part features the special selections made by founder Michel Mehl and his team, including work by artists who were invited to take part in the 2021 event, and those who were chosen by the organizers based on their submitted work. Only two artists are in the invited group, Taiwanese photographer Yang Shun-Fa, and Japanese artist Mami Kiyoshi. The work of all these artists is impressive, concept-driven and affecting, while also exploring the possibilities of their chosen art form. (To learn more about the 2021 FOTOSEPTIEMBRE, read our article from Sept. 1, 2021 on this site.)

Last week, we promised to tell you more about the Texas Biennial: A New Landscape, A Possible Horizon, presented by Austin-based Big Medium and co-curated by Ryan N. Dennis and Evan Garza. For the first time in its history the project is distributed across several venues, four of which are in San Antonio. Last week we highlighted the Ruby City part. But both the McNayand the San Antonio Museum of Art also serve as hosts for parts of the big show. The artists showcased at SAMA are: Adrian Armstrong, Gregory Michael Carter, Colby Deal, Abhidnya Ghuge, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Tomashi Jackson, Virginia Jaramillo, Jasmine Zelaya, Rick Lowe, and San Antonians Vincent Valdez and Jose Villalobos.  Some pieces are exhibited in the museum’s Great Hall, while others are in the Contemporary II Gallery.  (SAMA, 200 W. Jones Ave., 210-978-8140; www.samuseum.org)

The Witte Museum is reminding San Antonians that the next few days offer the last chance to explore its special exhibition, “Extreme Creatures: Life at the Limits,” which will close Sept. 6^th. But another, though different, exhibit, “Orale! The Magical Art of Oaxaca” has just opened. It focuses on the work of contemporary artists who are preserving ancestral traditions while exploring the impact of contemporary influences, including the impact of COVID-19 on their communities. The woodcarvers, weavers and potters represented here “reflect the centuries of economic, societal and cultural changes” that the state of Oaxaca has experienced in the course of its history. The items in the show have been chosen by Oaxacan art aficionado William Scanlan. The Witte will host a speaker’s panel Sept. 29^th and 30^th with Oaxacan artist Efrain Fuentes. (Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway; 210-357-1900; www.wittemuseum.org)

The Briscoe Museum has invited John Wayne’s daughter, Aissa Wayne, to visit the museum and chat with visitors this Saturday, Sept. 4. She will share memories of growing up with her legendary father with guest curator Andrew Patrick Nelson, before leading the visitors on a tour of the exhibit “Still in the Saddle” featuring Western movie posters, and including a few pieces of costuming her dad wore in a movie. (Conversation at 2 p.m., tour follows; Briscoe Museum, 210 W. Market St.; free with museum admission; www.briscoemuseum.org)

The Classic Theater of San Antonio is still without a new artistic leader, but the show must go on, right!? Before moving to Minneapolis a few months ago, former artistic director, Kelly Roush, had already chosen the 2021-22 season, and now the first show, “As you like it” is ready to go. Directed by Nick Lawson, the Shakespeare comedy will be performed “in the rough” at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.  It’s great venue, almost shaped like a theater auditorium, and a good place for social distancing. (Opens Sept. 9; performances continue Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays through Sept 26; 555 Funston Place, 782009; tickets $24-$39; www.classictheatre.org or call 210-589-8450; email ruben@ClassicTheatre.org; bring your own chairs.)

If you live in San Antonio, you probably know that our Spanish Missions have been designated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site – a wonderful development that certainly enhances San Antonio’s standing in the world. That led to the creation of a World Heritage Office and the incongruously named World Heritage Festival. The latter has little to do with “world’s heritage” and everything to do with our local festivities. Still, the event helps raise funds to preserve and promote the missions, so that’s good. This year’s fest is scheduled for Sept. 8-12. Sept 8 is the Solidarity Day for the Organization of World Heritage Cities throughout the world.

A bunch of events are planned, starting with the virtual event Mathildenhohe Darmstadt Outdoor Exhibit, a collaborative effort of San Antonio and the German city of Darmstadt. It’s an exhibition of photos of a historic area of Darmstadt, which was also designated as a World Heritage Site. (Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave., free and open to the public; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through 9/12.)

A virtual mural tour of the Missions area will also be available. In addition, short films made by artists from both cities will be shown Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Marquee Plaza. Fun events at Mission San Jose and a real tour of the missions are scheduled for Sept.10-11. (To see all offerings go to https://www.worldheritagefestival.org)

The most unusual musical event this weekend is the Four Harpsichord Concert at the San Antonio Museum of Art. If you are not sure what a harpsichord is, take a look at our picture. The instrument was used during the Baroque era and can be describe as a piano predecessor. To see – and hear – four of these playing together, take advantage of the unique opportunity SAMA is making possible. San Antonio composer, Nathan Felix, wrote a new original composition for four harpsichords, that will be performed live, Friday, Sept 3, in the Grand Hall of the museum. All the harpsichords were made in San Antonio by master craftsman Gerald Self who builds new historically accurate instruments.  The four players are: Ed  Knockel, Daniel Anastasio, Wes Freeland and Samuel Gaskin. (7:30 p.m.; virtual concert; to register go  https://www.samuseum.org/events/event/in-person-musical-performance-the-four-harpsichord-concert-with-nathan-felix/)

Also Friday, the three identical sisters from Kenya, known as the Moipei Triplets, will have a concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church at noon. Their voices are in perfect harmony as they sing a mostly American repertoire of songs. Audiences love them. (502 E. Nueva St.; free; the church is restarting its Friday music series with this concert)

At Jazz TX, you can enjoy the sounds of the Dirty River Jazz Band, Saturday at 7 p.m., and the Adrian Ruiz Quintet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7. On the 8^th , it’s Salsa Night. (https://jazztx.com)

If you don’t mind huge crowds, then put Harry Styles’ show on your calendar. The British star and member of One Direction, has won top accolades and awards in his native country, as well a Grammy and an American Music Award. He will be at the AT&T Center on Sept. 9 with his Love on Tour tour. Special guest: Jenny Lewis. (8 p.m., Sept. 9; www.attcenter.com/events)

For poetry lovers – and everyone else, for that matter – the Carver Community Cultural Center is presenting two Texas poet laureates together on the same night. They are: San Antonio PL, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson and Houston’s PL “Outspoken” Bean.  Both are San Antonio natives and they have been friends for 25 years. They will be joined on stage by vocalist Nigel Pierce and Nick Blevins, and a live band. (free, 7p.m. Sept. 3; 226 N, Hackberry; register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pass-the-mic-texas-poet-laureate-showcase-tickets-166306680759)

And speaking of the Carver, the cultural center is still seeking San Antonio artists and community members who will like to contribute to the new, original production “Eleven Reflections: San Antonio,” slated to open in early November. This production will focus on how these individuals were affected by the events of 9/11 and on their thoughts about the impact of 9/11 on our society. Actors for the show are also needed.

The Luminaria organization has announced that the 2021 outdoor festival of contemporary arts will take place live and in-person, on Nov. 13 of this year, from 6 p.m. to midnight. Fifty artists from across Texas will participate. Initiated as a light fest, Luminaria is now a multidisciplinary event open to artists of all genres, including music, film, dance, digital arts, poetry, fashion, and, yes, lasers, lights and large art installations. As in previous years, it will take place in Hemisfair Park and at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.