The City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture announced today that a mural that previously was housed in the heart of downtown has found a new home at the Pre-K 4 SA – West Education Center at 1235 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy. Interwoven, by San Antonio Artist Jennifer Khoshbin, will now permanently greet students and caregivers as they arrive to the campus.
“It is an honor to have Interwoven installed at the Pre-K 4 SA West Education Center,” Pre-K 4 SA CEO Sarah Baray said. “At Pre-K 4 SA, we integrate arts and civic engagement into our curriculum. The meaning behind this work of art reiterates to our children that whether they were born in San Antonio or came here from another place, they are important members of our community. It reminds us to embrace the tapestry of cultures that make San Antonio a vibrant city.”
The mural depicts five refugee and immigrant women from Afghanistan, Turkey, Honduras, Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti and are envisioned as working as seamstresses who now reside in San Antonio. The colorful portraits highlight the culture of each woman through her clothing style and patterns, while the new tree growth mirrors her new life in San Antonio. In addition to the mural, Khoshbin collaborated with seamstresses to create a series of nylon flags featuring an expression of their culture through textile art.
“When I created this, it was my goal to express support and fellowship to the different cultures that are now part of the larger San Antonio community, especially those that might not have a powerful presence or voice in the community,” said Khoshbin. “Now that Interwoven is part of an education center, I hope it inspires these young students to ask questions about the world around them and celebrate the different cultures that create the fabric of our city.”
The mural was originally temporarily installed in December 2018 at the Houston St. Garage as part of Tricentennial celebrations. It was de-installed in August of 2020 as that space is allotted for rotating artworks.
“Taking Interwoven out of storage and permanently installing it onto the façade of Pre-K for SA was a delight for our Public Art Team,” said Interim Executive Director Krystal Jones. “We hope this mural will help guide these young learners and the community to open the heart and mind to possibilities and fuel the imagination.”
For more information about the Interwoven public art installation and to find out about arts and culture programs and events, visit www.SanAntonio.gov/Arts and follow the Department of Arts & Culture on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @GetCreativeSA, #getcreativesa.
