Shopping

San Antonio has been a shopping destination since its founding as a Spanish outpost. Along with the missionaries, soldiers, and colonists came the traders and merchants, determined to sell their products for the best price. During the Civil War, San Antonio became a center of commerce with Mexico, a distinction it still enjoys. El Mercado on Produce Row is the largest Mexican market north of the border and has operated on the same site for more than 100 years. Although the “chili queens” no longer sell their wares from rudimentary carts in Haymarket Square and Military Plaza, you can still eat a good meal there when you are tired from shopping. Much of San Antonio’s shopping now takes place in that modern marketplace, the mall, and the city has a great many from which to choose, in all parts of town. But it’s not all modern glitz. Strip shopping centers and mom-­and-­pop establishments make up a large percentage of San Antonio retail space. A little dated, these may not be the hippest places to shop, but they are comfortable and somehow reassuring, just like the city itself.

Shopping - The Arts

The San Antonio arts scene is vibrant and varied. The cultural diversity that makes this city special is reflected in its creative community, which includes Latino artists, Southwestern artists, and representatives from many other genres, who work in both the performing and visual arts in a variety of media.

San Antonio is a patchwork of artistic areas, from the commercial district to the King William Historic District. One aspect that has attracted many artists to the city is its attitude toward art. “It offers a ‘big sky’ attitude where anything is possible,” says Alexander Gray, a native New York art administrator and former member of the staff of ArtPace, a San Antonio gallery. “Artists support each other and welcome new people to the community. They turn their homes into galleries and invite the public inside to enjoy and learn from their work.”

Blue Star Arts Complex, San Antonio’s art space, also brings international talent to a South Texas venue. According to Executive Director Bill Fitzgibbons, “Since 1985, artists and advocates for contemporary art have used the Blue Star Art Space to spearhead trends in San Antonio.” For those who seek to learn more about art and its creation, the Southwest School of Art provides instruction in a variety of media. Every year, 2,400 adults and 1,600 children take part in classes taught by local and international artists. An additional 10,000 children are taught in special programs in schools, shelters, and community centers. Paula Owen, director of the school, notes that “San Antonio is a fantastic place for artists. There is a new interest in regionalism, and San Antonio is a city that catches the imagination. It is different and spirited and it feels as if something is about to happen. Artists feel that energy and welcome the opportunity to learn, exhibit, and interact.”

Overview

The city’s appreciation for art is reflected in many of San Antonio’s public buildings. For example, the renovation of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center included the installation of 16 pieces of public art. Mexican artist Juan O’Gorman created the mosaic mural at the Lila Cockrell Theater for the Performing Arts at the convention center; it tells the story of the region from the days before the conquest to the present day.

At other points in the city, public art also makes an appearance. At the trolley transit center, tile medallions have been designed by quilt artist Ann Adams. The artist also created the mosaic mandala in the sidewalk along the River Walk. At the airport, local artist Bill Fitzgibbons has crafted a gateway of airplane wings and tail sections that links the parking garage and Terminal Two. San Antonio also has many nonprofit organizations that educate the citizens of the city about the joys of the performing and visual arts. Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (210-271-3151; www.guadalupeculturalarts.org), located at 1300 Guadalupe St., was founded in 1980. The largest organization of its kind in the US, it aims to promote the arts and culture of the Native American, Latino, and Chicano peoples. Arts San Antonio! (210-226-2891; www.artssanantonio.com) sponsors performances for the children of the city in an effort to help them develop an appreciation of art. Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1992, Arts San Antonio! tries to make the performing arts an accessible avenue of entertainment for everyone in the community.