The 2013 McNay Art Museum Fair was early this year, March 2 and 3.
It was in the high 60s or low 70s everyday and just beautiful.
Ours was the booth between the entrance doors. In particular there
was interest in work by William Baziotes, Peggy Bacon, Franz Kline, Angelo
Pinto, Anne Ryan, Louis Schanker, and Helen A. Strojny. The fair is located
just across the hall from the mid-century American room -- we could practically
see Baziotes’ White Bird of 1950,
from our booth.
 |
| William Baziotes, White Bird, 1950, at the McNay Art Museum |
With a few hours to play tourist we visited the site of the
nineteenth-century Pearl Brewing Company. Currently developed as a multi-use
residential community, the clear standout is the 1894 circular stable, now a
banquet hall. (Of course, I’m also crazy about the Hancock Shaker Village,
Massachusetts, round barn from 1826. However, the Hancock barn was for cows and
was drastically more intricate.)
 |
| Horse Stable, 1894, at the Peal Brewing Site, San Antonio |
On a drive south of San Antonio we visited The Espada Acequia built by Franciscans and Native Americans in 1731. Water from the aqueduct powered a mill at Espada and irrigated surrounding fields (as it continues to do). In accordance with ancient Spanish law excess water was returned to the creek.
It was mountain laurel (sophora secundiflora) season. A tall-growing
scrub related to the pea family, its violet-colored flowers smell like grape
soda. Once identified, it’s found everywhere and is always stunning.
 |
| Mountain Laurel at the McNay Art Museum, 3-3-13 |
At the San Antonio International Airport for our return trip we
encountered the newly installed Suitcase Wheel
by The Art Guys. Made of 75 vintage Samsonite cases, it is sixteen feet across.
In the departure lounge we found rows of seats with cup holders
and windows that were part of Gateways,
Four Directions, by Rolando Briseno, installed in 2010. Naturally, the
McNay window was our favorite.
