Ruby City, Concerts, Fiber Art and More
News Roundup
The biggest event this weekend is surely the opening of Ruby City, the brand-new museum just south of downtown conceived by the late artist/philanthropist Linda Pace and built by the Linda Pace Foundation. The $16 million building – which is red as the name implies – was designed by the respected British architect David Adjaye who met with Pace to discuss the dream she had about such a building. She drew a picture of her dream museum for him. Though the new structure doesn’t look like the castle-like drawing, it is the architect’s contemporary reinterpretation of Pace’s vision.
Ruby City is part of a campus on Camp St. which also includes a gallery called simply Studio and Chris Park, a small but charming green space Pace created in memory of her son. Altogether, they are an incredible and lasting gift to San Antonio. The new exhibition building will house Pace’s huge art collection. The official opening is scheduled for this Sunday, Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. but there will be plenty of time to see the inaugural exhibit, which will stay on view for a couple of years. Admission is free. (more about Ruby City in later articles.)
Ruby City may dominate the news, but there are many other interesting arts events around town. The most visible one will be the annual Chalk It Up on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organized by Artpace (another institution created by Pace), this is an opportunity for artists from all walks of life to come out and play with chalk and draw murals all over Main and Houston streets. Young and old can have fun and the cooler weather should make it all more enjoyable. The 2019 theme is Sustainability. Food trucks will be parked nearby and live music by San Antonio bands will entertain. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, maybe you can stroll around and admire other people’s work, including the murals created by professional artists. (artpace.org)
Staying with the visual arts, here’s an exhibit that you may find interesting: Threads of Magic, the Fiber Artists of San Antonio’s 45th annual juried exhibition, opening Friday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m., at the Semmes Gallery, Kelso Art Building, on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word (4301 Broadway). Fiber artists produce fascinating things these days and they are growing in numbers. The show closes Nov. 15. Regular viewing hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Speaking of fiber artists, don’t miss the current exhibition at the San Antonio Art League Museum (130 King William St.) where artist-of-the-year Jane Dunnewold is showing her distinctive, beautiful work. Admission is free. (See News & Commentary on this site for article on the exhibit.)
And then there are concerts!
The acclaimed Camerata San Antonio is presenting Prism, a program tailored for the skills of a string trio consisting of violinist Anastasia Parker, violist Emily Freudigman and cellist Ken Freudigman. The three will sweep over 200 years of history in a couple of hours, from Mozart to Penderecki, with Jean Francaix in between but in reverse historical order. The concert starts with Krzysztof Penderecki’s String Trio and ends with Mozart’s Divertimento in E-flat Major, K.563, the composer’s only completed string trio which has been called “one of his noblest works.” Camerata usually plays three concerts, one in Boerne (Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 205 E. James St.), one in Kerrville (Oct. 12, 3 p.m., Rodman Steele Recital Hall, Schreiner University, 2100 Memorial Blvd.) and the last in San Antonio, (Oct. 13, 3 p.m.; UIW Concert Hall, 4301 Broadway.)
Another chamber ensemble with a growing reputation, Agarita Chamber Players, will have a single concert titled, San Antonians Through a Musical Lens. For this effort, the group has joined forces with photographer and videographer Natalia Sun, promising to “shed light on local individuals in a narrative style, visual-musical journey.” Along the way, the talented quartet will play compositions by Fauré, Prokofiev, Tansman, Poulenc and John Williams. It sounds intriguing. (Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m., McAllister Auditorium, 1300 San Pedro Ave.) It’s free and there’s a reception afterwards.
And if you like poetry…
Gemini Ink’s Poetry at the Park: Monarch Migration promises fresh air, natural beauty and hopefully engaging poetry. It takes place Oct.12, starting at 10 a.m. at the Crownridge Canyon Wilderness Area, 7222 Luskey Blvd., 78256. You will learn about the monarch butterflies’ migrations, enjoy a short hike and listen to “experimental poet” and songwriter Amalia Ortiz read poems and sing. A small donation is expected. The Gemini Ink contact person is pstockwell@geminiink.org. Families are welcome.