OUR PICK: Ana Fernandez, anafernandez.com
Since the term “artist” encompasses a wide array of disciplines, trying to decide who’s “best” feels futile and unfair (like comparing a glassblower to a performance artist). But what about who creates art that best captures San Antonio? A solid answer to that question is Ana Fernandez — a Corpus Christi native who moved here during high school, earned degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of California at Los Angeles, and officially adopted San Antonio as her hometown in 2009. A local favorite and double threat, Fernandez has won over diehard fans with both the creatively concocted raspas she sells out of her Chamoy City Limits food truck and her moody, slightly mysterious paintings depicting old-school San Antonio homes, storefronts, street scenes and parking lots. With a sold-out 2016 exhibition and a CAMMIE Award already under her belt, Fernandez wowed us (and others) with her recent Contemporary Art Month exhibition “Magic Time Machine” and has plenty more on the horizon, including a September exhibition at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.
Previous Winners
WINNER: Jeremy Carolino, Hop & Vine, 5619 W. Loop 1604 N., Suite 109, (210) 878-4071, hopandvinesa.com
2. Gabriel Cardenas, The Fridge, (210) 473-0916, facebook.com/TheFridgeSA
3. Mark Bliss, Bliss, 926 S. Presa St., (210) 225-2547, foodisbliss.com/chef
2. Lucy Lips, twitter.com/lucylips_drag
3. Amerie Parker, instagram.com/amerieparker
WINNER: Miss Dakota Puggy, instagram.com/missdakotapuggy
2. Raven Red Photography, instagram.com/ravenredphoto
3. Dru photography, instagram.com/dru.photo
WINNER: Magda’s Quality Jewelry & Repair, 8275 FM 78 Ste. #10, Converse, (210) 310-7444
2. Sweet Craft Jewelry, sweetcraftjewelry.com
3. Jimmy Green, Vineyard Shopping Center, 1604 North Loop 1604 W., (210) 492-0022, jgreenjewelers.com
WINNER: Tommy Lee Jones
2. Jesse Borrego, twitter.com/thejesseborrego
3. Larry Garza, twitter.com/larrygarzacomic
WINNER: Anel Flores, anelflores.com
2. Jan Jarboe Russell, janjarboerussell.com
3. John Phillipo Santos, johnphillipsantos.com
2. Rey Lopez, twitter.com/ReyMines
3. The Batman of San Antonio, facebook.com/thebatmanofsanantonio
WINNER: Javier Gil, youtube.com/javiergil1910
2. Laura Varela, twitter.com/varelafilm
3. Bryan Ortiz, youtube.com/filmclassicsprod
2. Naomi Shihab Nye
3. Polly Anna Rocha, twitter.com/pollylabruja
WINNER: Jeanelle Stauffer, 827 E. Rector St., facebook.com/focalmassageandrecovery
2. Robert Baldwin, 8842 Broadway, (210) 336-8868, baldwinmassagetherapy.com
3. Laura Valdez, facebook.com/lauravaldezlmt
