 HOLIDAY SEASON
BRIMS WITH ART
AND CULTURE
Exhibitions,
theater
and
musical
performances
lead the way
By SHANNON HUNTINGTON STANDLEY
As the year comes to an end and
family celebrations begin, from the stage
to the gallery the holiday season boasts a
wide breadth of world-class art and culture
in the Alamo City.
Housed in the historic original Lone Star
Brewery, the San Antonio Museum of Art
presents Volkskunst: German-American
Folk Art from Pennsylvania and Texas, on
view through Jan. 18. It features a wide
range of works in various media by industrious
people who sought new opportunities
in a new country from the 18th to the
20th century.
See the possessions they valued most
and the bond of German heritage that
united them. Skilled artisans, tradesmen,
farmers and religious leaders were
among those who sought new opportunities
in these largely rural,agrarian areas.
While at the museum, don’t miss
Chocolate: A Photography Exhibition, on
view through Jan. 11, for a tasteful look at
the work of four conceptual artists who
use chocolate as a source material for
making photographs. Frédéric Lebain,
Priscilla Monge, Vik Muniz and Chuck
Ramirez have different ways of using
chocolate in their work.
 As this time of year brings gray skies, step into bountiful spring landscapes at the Witte Museum.
Bluebonnets and Beyond: Julian Onderdonk, American
Impressionist, features 93 works from this Texas-born impressionist
and is on view through Jan. 11. Using plein air technique — the art of drawing outdoors — Onderdonk made
paintings containing visible brush strokes, natural light and
open compositions and settings to depict his own experiences
and perceptions of the world around him. The exhibition
includes the Witte Museum’s own Dawn in the Hills,which
was Onderdonk’s last painting before his death in 1922.
The exhibition features a Witte-exclusive complementary
exhibit, The Onderdonks: A Legacy of Texas Art, which includes
paintings, sketches and photographs by Julian’s father, Robert
Onderdonk, and his sister, Eleanor Onderdonk.
The McNay Art Museum is surveying the last two decades
of the four-decade career of Joseph Marioni, a New Yorkbased
painter, who explores color and light in minimalist
abstract paintings of often heroic proportions through
ARTMATTERS 13: Joseph Marioni: Liquid Light, on view through
Jan. 18. Featuring 18 lush, nearly monochromatic and
light-filled paintings, the exhibition is drawn primarily from
the artist’s personal collection and installed according to
his design.
While passing through the grounds to see ARTMATTERS 13, visitors
will be moved by the kinetic sculptures of George Rickey.
On view through Jan. 11, George Rickey Kinetic Sculpture: A
Retrospective features 50 kinetic sculptures installed both within
and outside of the new Jane and Arthur Stieren Center for Exhibitions. Drawn from public and private collections, the sculptures
demonstrate Rickey’s expressive use of movement and the
relationship of his work with the natural world.
Twinkling lights, music and Christmas trees adorned with
historic images of San Antonio are gracing the grounds of
UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures this holiday season. Drawn
from the museum’s extensive photo collection,many of these
images have been converted into greeting cards and
decorations available for purchase in the newly remodeled
museum store.
Inside, ITC presents Fighting For Democracy: Who is the "we"
in "We the People"? On view through Jan. 18, this exhibit examines
the personal experiences of seven ethnically diverse
Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II.
Chronicling their lives and examining the concept of democracy
and its relation to minorities, the stories of these individuals
inspire visitors to think critically about the challenges of freedom,
the lessons of history and the ongoing struggle to live
democratically in a diverse American society.
 Delve into the culture of Mexico at the Museo Alameda
through Myths, Mortals and Immortality: Works from Museo
Soumaya de Mexico. On view through Jan. 6, this exhibit provides
an insight into the society, visions and traditions of one of
our closest and most important neighbors.
The San Antonio Symphony begins November with Doc
Severinsen and El Ritmo de la Vida opening the Fidelity
Investments Pops Series on Nov. 1 and 2 at the Majestic Theatre.
On Nov. 7 and 8, guest violinist Scott Yoo will be playing the violin
as well as conducting Beethoven's Pastorale and Copland's
Appalachian Spring. Be transported to a peaceful place where
the riches of nature and the bold American pioneer spirit will
sweep over you.
Of course, the holiday season would not be complete without
The Nutcracker. The San Antonio Symphony partners with
Arts San Antonio and Ballet San Antonio Dec. 5-14 to bring
Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker to the Lila Cockrell Theater. Join
the Nutcracker prince as he takes Clara through the ethereal
Land of the Snow to the magical Kingdom of the Sweets,where
they will tell their tale to the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The holiday season line-up at the Majestic Theatre is topnotch.
The must-see Tuna Does Vegas graces the stage Nov. 11-
16. Blind Boys of Alabama and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
will perform Nov. 22, and the always-beloved Cats closes the
year’s schedule on Dec. 23 and Dec. 25-28.
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