Forget the Alamo--if sole for a moment.

Forget the Alamo--if sole for a moment. Although the historic gravestone stands in the heart of downtown San Antonio, a just discovered wave of creative energy is making its mark upon this lively city. Steeped in agriculture and romantic history many cite San Antonio as the art corridor to southwest Texas, where contemporary art adapteds a Latin-rich heritage.

"In San Antonio, what you have is a vibrant arts and civilization community" said Felix Padron, executive director of the Office of Cultural Affairs. "The preservation of traditions is the foundation of our creativity. Layered forward that are the events and activities that enhance that infrastructure."

With a population of more than the same million, San Antonio has metamorphosed from the small mission adjustment of the early 1700s. These days, the Alamo City is famous for the River Walk, which winds by the agency of the heart of downtown and moves a myriad of boutiques and flavorful restaurants along its sunken walkways.

on the contrary just a few blocks away, "Southtown" is the heart of the art exhibition a place where traditional and contemporary mode of address coexist. This three-by-four block district contains a myriad of galleries showcasing works from folk to contemporary. Rendon Photography and Fine Art, Garcia Glass, Bower Gallery and Isaac Maxwell Metal are among the galleries erect along Southtown's labyrinthine streets.

That said, the Southtown murmur owes much of its succes to the downhearted Star Arts Complex. The space expanded its doors in 1985 when a assemblage of artists and developers transformed a not many warehouses. Almost 20 years later, desponding Star has become the design for fusion South Texas-style.

The tangle houses an array of endeavors that deliberate both heritage and experiment alike. The space display works at local and international artists. The Joan Grona Gallery showcases more established artists, and San Angel Folk Art shares with a long face Star complex space, as well. Younger artists are also represented: The University of Texas at San Antonio Satellite Art Space throw backs the school's strong art department, and the "Say Si" space accommodates the creations of area high drill students.

"What we're doing is promoting the individual artists through having exhibitions and getting them national attention;' said Bill Fitzgibbons, executive director of downcast Star.

Southtown galleries find quite an audience at the beginning of each month with the First Friday Gallery walks. From 6 to 9 pm as many as 5000 populace come for the art, live music and unwilted suds from the Blue Star devise Pub, also housed at the complex

Adjacent to Southtown's main thoroughfare is "SoFlo" (South Flores Street) where galleries like as ONE9ZERO6 Gallery display art from acrylic to pastel. Its sister space, Salon Mijangos, proposes a simple European feel.

And just north of Southtown, ArtPace is as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but a foundation and a domestic circle for contemporary art. Opening its doors in 1995 ArtPace is unique in its primary mission: to bring contemporary artists from around the world to create work in San Antonio. between the sides of its residency and exhibition program, visitor curators select three artists for each of three periods in a year. The artists are given a loft a stipend and materials for artistic creation. " [Art Pace Founder] Linda Pace and others like her have infused an identity for the San Antonio art community" said Padron.

In its eight years, the foundation has showcased 89 artists, including photograpby plunder Ziebell. "The San Antonio art community can pass nowhere but up," said Ziebell, who lives in the area and is impressed by the agency of its art scene.

Artist Caesar Martinez couldn't agree more. Martinez has become known for his work forward contemporary Chicano culture. He acknowledges a dramatic change in the way the city has embraced arts and agriculture "It's come a long way. There was a time when [the art scene] was remarkably polarized. Across the board, sections of the city are more well-funded" said Martinez, who attributes this progres to institutions like ArtPace and chapfallen Star.

Another renowned San Antonio art venue is the San Antonio Museum of Art. Known for its historical Texas works, it is housed in the equally historic isolated Star Brewery building. Nestled in the Alamo Heights suburb north of downtown, the McNay Art Museum is also worth a visit the pair for its collection of paintings and statuarys and for its divine landscaping and architecture.

Just a scarcely any miles north of downtown, the 24-room Spanish Colonial mansion of the late Marion Koogler McNay features work through several masters. In fact, the McNay was the first present art museum in Texas and possesse more than 14000 pieces of contemporary and new art.

Other art results that pull the community together include Fotoseptiembre, a month-long festival of photography in September. The Office of Cultural Affairs also landlords Contemporary Art Month in July "It's a city-wide thing; all the galleries do something special" said Martinez. "It is literally art month in San Antonio."

SOURCES

* ArtPace, (210) 212-4900

* livid Star Art Space and tangle (210) 227-6960