Thursday, May 8
1. Art opening: Cathy Cunnigham-Little: “Within the Angles of Incidence”
Opening in tandem with Vincent Valdez's exhibition in Artpace's Hudson (Show)Room, local artist Cathy Cunnigham-Little’s Window Works project “Within the Angles of Incidence” transforms from a quiet installation, which is barely noticeable during daylight hours, to an unexpected environment with a vivid presence after dark. Free, 6-9pm Thursday, Artpace, 445 N Main, (210) 212-4900, artpace.org.
2. Contemporary Crash Course: “Language Is A Virus”
In conjunction with the Whitney’s touring exhibition “Robert Indiana: Beyond LOVE,” McNay curator René Paul Barilleaux moderates a panel discussion focusing on artists who fuse “verbal-visual” forms popularized by Indiana. Featured panelists include David Buckingham, Alejandro Diaz and Guillermina Zabala. Free, 6:30-7:30pm Thursday, McNay Art Museum, 6000 N New Braunfels, (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org.
Friday, May 9
3. Art opening: “The Exquisite Rainbow Corpse”
Members of the Gentileschi Aegis Gallery Association (GAGA) present more than 90 works of art based on color chips that correspond to ROYGBIV: the rainbow color sequence of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Free, 5-8pm Friday, Southwest School of Art - Ursuline Campus, 300 Augusta, (210) 224-1848, swschool.org.
4. Art Party: “Bob Kuhn: Drawing on Instinct”
SAMA and KRTU’s collaborative Art Party series continues with a brief gallery talk about the “Bob Kuhn: Drawing on Instinct” exhibition (5:30-6 p.m.), live music by Ulterior Motive and art-themed cocktails for purchase from Lüke. $5-$10, 5:30-8pm Friday, San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W Jones, (210) 978-8100, samuseum.org.
5. Art opening: “The Perez Ojeda Exhibit”
Falcon Art Gallery Texas presents works by Armando, Esther Ojeda and Luz Perez Ojeda at Luis Lopez's La Casa Rosa. Free, 6-10pm Friday, La Casa Rosa Art Studio, 527 E Dewey, (210) 785-0743, luislopezartist.com.
6. Art opening: “Within the Menagerie”
Ceramic artists Undine Brod, Magda Gluszek, Jill Foote-Hutton, Roxanne Jackson, Lindsay Pichaske and Kimberly Rumfelt unite to explore varying themes of animals, monsters and fantastical creatures. Free, 6:30-10pm Friday, Clamp Light Artist Studios & Gallery, 706 Fredericksburg, (210) 854-3507, clamplightstudios.blogspot.com.
7. Una Noche de Queer
Hi-Tones and SAQ Arte Collective host an evening of live music, visual art and performances by FEA, Pink Leche, Alyson Alonzo, DJ Celeste le Sneak, DJ Neto, Odd Macabre, Remix, Laz Huntiez, Nina Donley, typicalzach dexigns, Anel Flores, Las Ofrendas and Zombie Bazaar Belly Dance. $3, 9pm Friday, Hi-Tones, 621 E Dewey, (210) 785-8777, facebook.com.
Saturday, May 10
8. Chupachanga 2: Steamroller of Doom
Back by popular demand, the “biggest, baddest printmaking party this side of the San Antonio River” will close down Chupaderas Street to make room for a steamroller press. More than 25 jumbo prints will be created throughout the event, which also includes live music and local art for sale. Free, 10am-4pm Saturday, San Anto Cultural Arts, 2120 El Paso, (210) 226-7466, sananto.org.
9. Free Family Art Day
As part of the “Passport to Inspiration” Family Art Day series, Inspire Community Fine Art Center invites creative kids on an artistic journey that involves picking a stamp, stamping their “passports” and other travel-inspired art projects. Free, 10am-1pm Saturday, Inspire Community Fine Art Center, 200 Queen Anne Court, (210) 829-5592, inspirefineart.org.
10. Nicolás Leiva Artist Talk
Argentine-born artist Nicolás Leiva speaks in conjunction with his concurrent exhibitions “Infinite Cycle” (at the Southwest School of Art) and “Infinite Cycle Under Fire” (at Ruiz-Healy Art). Free, noon-1pm Saturday, Ruiz-Healy Art, 201 W Olmos, (210) 804-2219, ruizhealyart.com.
11. Art opening: “Unveiling Texas”
J. R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art presents Texas, Southwest and Mexican landscapes by “generational Texpatriots” Jose Vives-Atsara (1919-2004) and Russell Stephenson. Free, 4-8pm Saturday, JR Mooney Galleries of Fine Art, 305 S Main, Ste 400, Boerne, (830) 816-5106, jrmooneygalleries.com.
12. Art opening: Jack Robbins: "Nature World"
The "atelier, research institute, think tank and cultural repository" known as Epitome Institute unveils "Nature World," visual artist Jack Robbins' creative investigation into the mysteries of natue. The viewer is left to discern the original and comprehend the meaning. At the opening reception: a "soundscape" courtesy of William Basinki. Free, 6-10pm Saturday, Epitome Institute, 222 Roosevelt, (210) 535-0918, epitomeinstitute.com.
13. Art opening: "From Time to Time"
Gallista Gallery's latest "Segundo Sabado celebration includes new work by visual artist Jose Cosme, a fashion show by designer Jane Valdez, poetry at the roundtable, a silent auction and music by DJ Orlando. Free, 6-9:30pm Saturday, Gallista Gallery, 1913 S Flores, (210) 212-8606, gallistagallery.com.
14. Closing reception: Pink Leche & Wabi Sabi
Lady Base Gallery offers art scenesters one last chance to experience this exhibition pairing "queer Xican@ feminist electro performance artist" Pink Leche (aka Eric Cavazos) and "Wabi Sabi"—an installation of "found and lost" jewelry collected by hairstylist and makeup artist Angie Riojas. Free, 6:30-10pm Saturday, Lady Base Gallery (inside Gallista Gallery), 1913 S Flores, ladybase210.wordpress.com.
15. Dreamland Collective: “Summer Showcase”
Recently established record label/production company Dreamland Collective presents a multimedia showcase featuring Femina X, Aliens WITH Halos, Adrian Garcia, Laura Varela, P.E.A.C.E. Intiative, the M.U.S.I.C. Project and Avexpression. $3, 6:30-11pm Saturday, High Wire Arts, 326 W Josephine, (210) 320-5702, highwirearts.com.
16. Art opening: “From Nature”
Diana Lyn Roberts curates new works by fiber artist Paula Gron, sculptor Greg Reuter and textile/watercolor artist Ann Matlock. Free, 5-8pm Saturday, Gallery Nord, 2009 NW Military, (210) 348-0088, gallerynord.com.
17. Closing talk: “Untitled (Public Display)”
Mexico City/Austin-based curator Leslie Moody Castro joins local contemporary artists Christie Blizard and Mark Menjivar for a community potluck and informal talk exploring the outcome of their CAM Perennial exhibition. Free, 6-8pm Saturday, Museo Guadalupe, 723 S Brazos, (210) 271-3151, guadalupeculturalarts.org.
18. Art opening: “in|digest”
Grindstone hosts an MFA thesis exhibition by UTSA graduate Natalie Steele. Free, 7-10pm Saturday, Grindstone Gallery and Studios, 111 Lone Star, facebook.com/Grindstone111.
19. Curtain Call: "Thomas Sully: Painted Performance"
The American Romantic painter Thomas Sully (1783–1872) had a lifelong connection to and love for the theater, associations that were critical components of his artistic imagination. Throughout his career, Sully continued to paint leading actors of the day—both in and out of character. SAMA bids farewell to the touring exhibition "Thomas Sully: Painted Performance" with an eclectic evening at the museum that includes a curator-led gallery talk (7 p.m.), Tony Gustafson's presentation "A Darker View: Fairy Tales Presented Unvarnished," which covers both the Charles Perrault version of Little Red Riding Hood (9 p.m.) and the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella (10 p.m.), plus book- and portrait-making, live music, a cash bar and food available for purchase from Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. $5-$15, 7-11pm Saturday, San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W Jones, (210) 978-8100, samuseum.org.
Sunday, May 11
20. “Performance: Mother America”
In blending image and text, artist Robert Indiana often quoted American writers Hart Crane, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and William Carlos Williams. Gemini Ink collaborators Jim La Villa-Havelin, Bill Lewis, Natalia Trevino, Laura Van Prooyen and Sheila Black explore crossovers between painting and poetry with a reading celebrating Indiana, American literature and mothers. A light reception with take-home flowers for moms follows. $10-$15, 2pm Sunday, McNay Art Museum, 6000 N New Braunfels, (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org.
P.S. This stand-alone blog post was inspired by the surprising number of unique art-related events happening in and around San Antonio this weekend and should not be expected to recur on a regular basis.
