Culturally Speaking

By Cornelia Seckel
ART TIMES online April 2012

Everett Raymond Kinstler and Tony Bennett at the Norman Rockwell Museum

Everett Raymond Kinstler with Tony Bennett at the opening event of Kinstler's exhibition "Pulps to Portraits" at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA. The exhibit will be on view thru May 28, 2012. nrm.org

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero, The Alamo was established in 1718 as the city’s first mission.
The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission. Among the 189 Texan heroes were Jim Bowie, David Crockett and the commander William B. Travis.
People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Remember the Alamo

One of the Exhibition spaces at Artspace, San Antonio, Texas

Artpace was founded by artist, collector, and businesswoman Linda Pace (1945-2007) to serve as a laboratory of dreams, providing artists from all over the world with an environment that would encourage experimentation and growth. Housed in an 18,000 square foot facility, it is a residency program as well as a site of exchange and serves as an advocate for contemporary art and a catalyst for production, doing this primarily through its International Artist-in-Residence program which annually invites nine artists to live and work in San Antonio for two months to conceive and create pivotal art projects. For each residency a guest curator invites three artists-one from Texas, one from elsewhere in the United States, and one from abroad-to live and work in the Artpace studios. The residency results in an eight-week exhibition, accompanied by a full-color brochure, which are shared with the San Antonio public and the broader art world. In addition to these nine annual residency exhibitions, Artpace presents four exhibitions each year in its Hudson (Show) Room with more than 20,000 children and families visiting. There is an extensive archive on all artists that have been in residence. artpace.org

Clogged Caps International Aerosol Arts Festival

This three-day event (also held in other cities in the world) which is usually held in early spring had over 60 participants from across the country. This is not a competition but a showing of talent and there were 8 different venues where painting took place. Numerous sponsors lent support with paint and food. There was lots of Hip Hop as Clogged Caps is one of the biggest Hip Hop festivals in Texas.

Franco Mondini-Ruiz

Franco was a successful lawyer for 10 years before he began his life as a painter and collage sculptor. His work and house is his work: the contents, the arrangement, the lighting etc. The work he shows is not only his own but the work of outsider artists from San Antonio. His vision is to promote the indigenous artists of San Antonio and specifically the artist of Mexican decent. He often has unique ways of showing his work and has shows at upscale department stores, has a one-day event at his home where he sells work and entertains. see Website

River Walk in San Antonio Texas

Cornelia Seckel along the River Walk in San Antonio Texas

River Walk is a public park where over 20 events take place every year. 20 feet below street level and steps from The Alamo, is the Paseo del Rio, better known as the River Walk. Designed in1939 by Robert H.H. Hugman, this pathway along the San Antonio River now features towering cypresses, flagstone paths, unique footbridges and is lined with prominent hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs and more. The San Antonio River Walk has had so much success that an improvement project to lengthen the walk to 15 miles, stretching to the four preserved 18th Century Spanish colonial missions to the south and the museums to the north is in construction and will be completed in 2013. In addition to increasing recreation opportunities on the river (including hiking, biking, paddling and more) this project reintroduces native plants, enhances aquatic habitat, and connects cultural and historical features of the river. For more about the River Walk

Paella Challenge, San Antonio, Texas

3rd Annual Corona Paella Challenge hosted by
Chef Johnny Hernandez is a benefit for the Culinary Institute of America San Antonio and Educational Foundation of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The CIA opened the San Antonio campus in the historic Pearl Brewery complex just two miles north of downtown, The goal of this campus is to bring the cuisines of Latin America to their rightful place on the world stage.
9 Celebrity chefs and high school teams go head-to-head to create the most impressive paella imaginable on the grounds of The Pearl Brewery (former brewery of Pearl Beer est. 1881 in San Antonio and remained a brewery until 2006). Live entertainment, wines from Spain, and sangria added to this very festive and delicious event. Entrance ticket gave unlimited plates of the paella, beer and wines.
Competing Chefs included Dale Miller from Sperry's Restaurant in Saratoga Springs, NY. For a complete list and more about the competition: www.paellachallenge.com