By: Gabriel Itzcoatl Luera
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – San Antonio’s west side artists and their art were on display Saturday night, as many came out to the city’s 2nd annual Una Noche de Gloria.
“It’s a great opportunity to come out and see the visual art and artists of the community and for them to showcase their art,” said District 5 Councilman David Medina, Jr.
Una Noche de Gloria was organized by the Contemporary Art and Literature Organization and co-sponsored by City Council District 5.
“It brings the community together. It’s a feeling of empowerment that all these young artists, and artists that are already established, can be vocal through art,” said Deputy Sheriff Sylvia Teran-Espino.
“The idea is that the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is our theatre and all these cars out here are their own galleries,” said Jimmy James Canales, co-organizer of the Pop Yo Trunk exhibit at Una Noche de Gloria.
Pop Yo Trunk was an open-air gallery along Guadalupe Street organized by Canales and Monessa Esquivel. It showcased custom autos from local car club, Texas Pushrods, some with trunks filled with local art for sale.
“The west side doesn’t see stuff like this, and for us to be able to bring a block party into this area and bring people from the west side and showcase their art and people who work in the community, it highlights an area of town that’s underrated ,” said local photographer Mari Hernandez.
“Jesse Trevino is here and I just saw Edmund Hernandez. Those guys are the pillars of Chicano art and have been painting since the sixties, when Chicano art wasn’t well known. The new artists are inspired by those guys and look up to them. They use their colors, their ideas. It’s very positive,” said visual artist Raul Servin.
“If you want to give an artist an award, buy their work,” said Trevino, whose art has been featured in the Smithsonian. CALO director Gabriel Velasquez said that was the driving force behind Una Noche de Gloria. Some artists intend to use the money they raised to give back to their community.
“I’m attempting to kick-start a photography program for local youth,” said Hernandez. Hernandez said she had a goal of $5,000 so she can buy equipment and allow organizations to host her workshop for free.
“I think these kinds of events have a calming effect on the neighborhood,” Deputy Espino said. Servin said it’s the Chicano flavor that makes all the difference.
“This is more of a barrio thing. It’s like having a jamaica. People know the barrio and respect it. I think that’s why we don’t have problems,” Servin said.
“We don’t go past one or two in the morning. This isn’t a party, it’s an art event. We’re just trying to show the community the new art that’s out here,” said Canales.
Photos by Gabriel Itzcoatl Luera.
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