Adriana M Garcia, an award winning artist, muralist, scenic designer was born and raised in the west-side of San Antonio, Texas. She received her BFA From Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied fine arts in Valencia, Spain. Her debut picture book, All Around Us written by Xelena González, (Cinco Puntos Press), was awarded the prestigious 2018 Pura Belpré Honor for Illustration and the 2018 Tomás Rivera Book Award in the picture book category among other children book honors.

Her latest work, featured on the cover this week, can be viewed at the Culture Commons Gallery during Women’s History Month with The Status of Women in San Antonio exhibit. On display are artworks by a diverse group of 15 local women artists who were asked to reflect on the findings outlined in The Status of Women in San Antonio report as a prompt for the creation of new, original works. The various artworks examine issues ranging from domestic violence to equal pay to reminding women to take time for themselves.

“Through this platform, these artists are revealing aspects of culture and behavior that we need to change to improve the health and mental wellbeing for women in San Antonio,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “These artworks help viewers visualize and understand the issues around gender inequality outlined in the report and invite them to take action.”

Culture Commons is a gallery located in the Plaza de Armas Building (behind City Hall at 115 Plaza De Armas) and managed by the Department of Arts & Culture. It consists of a storefront gallery and a 1,500 sq. ft. exhibit hall that features visual art exhibits, performances, invited speakers and workshops.

The exhibit spans a wide range of mediums including paintings, photographic constructions, multimedia works, and fiber art. The artists participating in the exhibit include Kat Cadena, Kallie Cheves, Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Jenelle Esparza, Audrya Flores, Sarah Fox, Adriana M. Garcia, Megan Harrison, Ana Hernandez, Mari Hernandez, Carmen Johnson Alexander, Laura Mijangos-Rapp, Rhys Munro, Karen Robinson and Hiromi Stringer.

“Throughout history, artists have been at the forefront of societal discussions and issues, often influencing positive change with conversations sparked by their work,” said Department of Arts & Culture Interim Executive Director Krystal Jones. “These artworks were designed and developed to be powerful catalysts that address the barriers that research shows women in San Antonio face daily. We hope each person that views this exhibition has an empathetic experience that inspires positive change for our community.”

This exhibit was a collaborative effort between the Department of Arts & Culture and the Metropolitan Health Department’s Violence Prevention Program.

“Metro Health has made violence prevention a priority area as part of our SA Forward Strategic Growth Plan, so this is just one of our commitments to ensuring the safety and well-being of women, in addition to implementing initiatives to increase women’s health, job opportunities and their participation in politics and government so that their voices are heard,” Metro Health Assistant Director Jennifer Herriott said. “This exhibit complements our efforts to elevate the status of women in San Antonio.”

The Status of Women in San Antonio report was developed in 2019 by Rogelio Sáenz, Ph.D. and Lily Casura, MSW, with the University of Texas at San Antonio. The report gives an overview of current gender disparities in San Antonio with a focus on women’s health and well-being, economic opportunities, political participation, and safety.

Poetry Night

Wednesday, May 18, 2022 (6 – 8 p.m.)

A robust line-up of women poets will perform including San Antonio Poet Laurate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson.

 

Artist Panel Discussion

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 (6 – 8 p.m.)

Artists to share in-depth context about their work and process.

Read more about Adriana M. Garcia and other featured artists in this exhibition on page 10.