Thousands flocked to downtown San Antonio as darkness fell to greet a variety of faces – those inscribed on canvases and those performing for the audience at Hemisfair.
More than 200 Texans exhibited their creations, ranging from painting and sculpture to cinema and poetry, as part of the 2021 Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival.
“You want to support locals (artists) and help your community as much as you can, so I feel like this is great,” said participant Felicia Fly, who has helped create for former Luminarias.
While the artists all shared a homeland, they rarely overlapped in terms of creative expression, their portfolios were different in terms of both medium and style.
Masked models were part of the Plastic Humanity exhibition at Hemisfair.
Robin Jerstad / ContributorFaces consisting of everything from charcoal to clothes smiled alternately, frowned, scowled and stared from mounted canvases Saturday night in Hemisfair Park.
Elsewhere, a man read a passionate word-word poem about tacos. “Kilantroen and I still get confused when they make me choose between all the pastor and carne asada,” he said as projectors beamed images and short films onto the walls of the Convention Center.
One such film, an animated production starring a number of human-animal hybrids, caught the attention of frequent Luminaria contestant Jon Spears. A yellow-brown wolf wearing red stiletto heels trotted from one side of the screen to the other; flowers, the center of which had been replaced by blue, twinkling human eyes, swayed back and forth. Spears saw it twice in a row.
“I really like this one,” he said of the film, describing the artist’s vision as “interesting” and “elaborate” and wondering how it was put together.
Modulating light towers fill part of Hemisfair Park during the annual Luminaria event on Saturday, November 13, 2021. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 eruption.
Robin Jerstad / ContributorIn 2008, then-Mayor Phil Hardberger hosted the first annual Luminaria to raise San Antonio’s artistic profile. Since then, it has grown to be the most prominent event of its kind in South Texas, according to a press release.
The annual art festival was put on hold last year due to the pandemic. Although Luminaria returned this year, it was shortened to just one night instead of the traditional two-day event.
The event is free, which participant Claude Stickler appreciated. “I like that it’s just open to people,” he said. “It’s like one big exhibition for people to showcase their art.”
This year, the organizers also celebrated National Native American Heritage Month. Opening ceremonies began with a blessing from the elders with Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, a coalition of affiliated Coahuiltecan Native American tribes.
Visitors check out modulating light towers Saturday night during this year’s Luminaria in Hemisfair Park.
Robin Jerstad / ContributorOne of the featured artists was Gabriel “Gabe” Garcia, a 38-year-old San Antonio native who said he has exhibited his work since he was 17 or 18 years old.
Garcia described his contribution to Luminaria 2021 as looking like “a covered monument that is being repaired so that everything is draped in white, but then there are pictures projected on it.” He said his audience was “by far” the largest he had ever had, offering a myriad of opportunities for feedback.
“It’s been really interesting to see … how (people) get involved in my work. I like to sit back and just observe people looking at my art – be a fly on the wall and listen to their comments and things, “he said.
caroline.tien@hearst.com
