Arts Alive San Antonio

There are many interesting art exhibitions around San Antonio, but the annual juried exhibit at the San Antonio Art League and Museum is unique in a number of ways. First, it’s an entirely Texas-based art show. Each year, Texas artists are invited to submit work for the show and a juror is hired to select the winners who receive monetary awards, including the prestigious Onderdonk Purchase Prize Award of $3000, established in honor of Julian Onderdonk, a San Antonio native who studied under William Marrott Chase. The work selected is purchased for SAALM’ permanent collection, which currently has more than 600works in that collection.

The 2024 juror was Heather K. Lunsford, who is the Director and Curator of the Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery at Oklahoma City University. She is also an artist herself, who has a painting in the permanent collection of that university, and two other works in the collection of the University Health System of San Antonio. Artists in the 94^th exhibit hail from all over Texas, including Houston, Austin, San Marcos, Corpus City, San Antonio and places in-between.  The exhibition accepted 61 artworks from more than 500 submitted in various media and genres. Fourteen exhibited works were given awards sponsored by SAALM members, patrons, supporters and corporations

Instead of interviewing the curator and organizers, we decided to show you the art. All the artwork is for sale. (SAALM, 130 King William St., 78204; closed Sunday-Monday; open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.; 210-223-1140; www.saalm.org.; The exhibit closes June 7)

Tony Armadillo: “Deported to Danger and Nobody Gives a Damn”
Oil on canvas, chains to hoist frame.