Arts Alive San Antonio

By BERIT MASON, Contributing Writer

On a night of deadly snowstorms on the American east coast, San Antonio art lovers braved rainy temperatures in the low 40s to see the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival. Touted as a “magical night of art,” Luminaria has found its niche in our culture.  

         

            A simple map explained the many works, from stand-up comedy to abstract art to digital projections and installations that wound their way around from a performance stage on the Riverwalk, to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, down past the Veterans Memorial Park, ending at Travis Park.

            Travis Park was included because of its skating rink which had plenty of visitors skating, sliding and falling, giving the art show a real holiday feel. Despite the weather, this was an easy festival to enjoy. And spanning just a few blocks gave it a cozy intimacy. Couples and families with bundled up babies in strollers moseyed about, taking it all in. The cold weather kept crowds light, and the experience pleasant and peaceful. No lines for a glass of wine or something to eat.

            The work of 200 artists was showcased, from light installations and painting to dance, theater, poetry and music. There was even a fashion show.  One odd piece was a large, steel industrial box sitting in the middle of the road screaming discordant sounds while flooded in shifting lights, best appreciated by the very young or the very avant-garde. Some outdoor video projections came with an adults-only warning, but no one seemed to notice or care.

            Large stand-alone sculptures from Wanderlust Iron Works Studio were lit up in gorgeous jewel tones in front of the Tobin Center. On the expansive, brightly lit Riverwalk Plaza Stage comedians hit their punch lines while dancers in parkas and boots performed.
            Around the corner was a disc jockey and his light show, Brainwavve, enjoyable if industrial music from a Berlin nightclub was your thing. You could also watch painters practicing their craft live for people to observe, and flamenco dancers stomping passionately to traditional music.

            You could escape the cold for a bit by visiting the art gallery inside the Radius Center where a number of San Antonio artists were displaying their work.

            Volunteers handed out maps with rundowns of the exhibits. But it might be helpful to place a placard with a number on it next to the exhibit. That way guests can more easily identify them on the map, along with their descriptions.

            As anyone knows, some abstract art could do with a little explaining.

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            Merriam Webster defines “luminaria” as “a traditional Mexican Christmas lantern originally consisting of a candle set in sand inside a paper bag.” The San Antonio Luminaria is a non-profit organization that supports the arts through grants and “placemaking” programs. Festival works are chosen by a select committee of fellow artists, and the fest is sponsored by arts organizations, artists and volunteers, funded by private and public donations.

            The festival was the brain child of former San Antonio mayor, Phil Hardberger who was inspired by La Nuit Blanche in Paris and other similar European light displays. The first Luminaria Festival took place in 2008 in Hemisfair Park.
             Find the list of featured artists at https://luminariasa.org