"The Museo Alameda- San Antonio, Texas"
Written by Timothy McVain
September 21, 2011
(clicking on any of the pictures will open them in another window which you can zoom in and see the actual size/higher quality versions.)
Like any great explorer, I needed energy before my day in the heart of Texas, downtown San Antonio, so I got a salted caramel mocha and set out on my journey. Unsure of what the day would bring, at the very least I knew I’d see some beautiful artwork at the Museo de Alameda the first Smithsonian sponsored museum outside of Washington, D.C.
The walk from the parking lot above Market Square to the museum was an eyeful in itself; tiny shops sat beneath the tree lined, open air market and colorful paper cut outs "papel picado" were hung from strings overhead.
I’d never seen buildings painted with such bright colors; their blue walls accented by bright orange and yellows. The market was nearly empty except for a handful of tourist couples and families. The peaceful sound of rushing traffic on the freeway next to the parking garage echoed between the buildings and was reminiscent of a lively stream. Finally reaching my destination, the museum, I admired the outdoor art and the large horse sculpture standing guard at its side entry steps. A very kind middle aged Latina woman greeted me as I walked into the lobby and upon telling her it was my first time she got very excited and a sparkle lit up her eyes. She handed me a sticker and a map after I paid and told me to enjoy myself on the first level, but not to go up to the second floor until 1:30.
I remember visiting museums as a child back in California and always feeling bored and too lazy to read the explanations posted on the walls or on plaques next to artifacts or pieces of art; but I’ve changed since then. I couldn’t stop myself from reading every single word! So intrigued by the adversities, hope, and imagination of revolutionary Latinos during the Mexican Revolution I was amazed at how little I knew about this part of history and wondered how much more I do not know, and how much more there is to know; my curiosity was definitely aroused by the colorful paintings and handwritten notes to lovers preserved for over a hundred years. The paintings and preserved original sketches from Diego Rivera were by far my favorite; something about his style really grabs my attention.
Walking through the rest of the gallery I was feeling anxious to see the beautiful things waiting for me upstairs. To distract my anxious feet, I watched a very well done video about the Mexican Revolution inside of a small version of the Aztec Theatre. The Mestizo people really intrigue me. They have DNA from all over the world; most commonly Native American, European, and African. There was a part of the movie where veterans from many wars spoke about their heritage and it made me want to talk to them, ask them questions that they did not answer in the video; needless to say, the video didn’t really help my anxious feet. I now wanted to jump up and go home to search online about the revolution, these people, and their culture. I left the movie room and checked back at the front desk if the second floor was open yet. The kind woman was going to lunch and said that it would be ready soon. Meanwhile, she came and sat with me at a tall table with bar stools and gave me handouts about tours of San Antonio, following the footsteps of original settlers, etc. She then left and came back with a historian, leader, and coordinator of many of the events at the museum, to meet and invite me to the tours and classes they offered. A woman came over and suddenly they all started talking loudly in Spanish and it was at that moment I wished I had paid more attention in school and could remember more from my three or four years in Spanish class.
The second floor was opened and it really was amazing to see wooden furniture carved with characters that reminded me of the Mayans, huge paintings covering the walls, statues sleeping behind thick glass, and a woman made of Onyx sitting, watching me as I walked around the gallery. I left through the lobby and waved goodbye to the kind woman and told her I’d see her again, thanking her for her help, kindness, and attention; one good thing about having random weekdays off is that a lot of the museums and places downtown are not so crowded!
From the museum I walked over to the Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital for which Valero was raising money through the month of September. The "Spirit of Life" mural by Jesse Trevino on one of the main walls of the hospital is truly breathtaking; its height and detail astonishing especially when viewed from the beautiful Milam Park and gazebo.
From the park I walked to Main Plaza which rests under the shadow of the historic San Fernando Cathedral and the oldest, largest, and longest working courthouse in Texas. My goal was to walk from the plaza to Sunset Station where I have been on different journeys in years past, but I forgot to walk there because of the beauty of the courthouse and cathedral. Instead, I drove to the station and parked for only fifty cents. =) It is sad that such a historic train station has been turned into a private restaurant and most of the area is off limits to the public. Thankfully though, I was able to capture a few photographs from the outside. It was truly one of the greatest exploration days that I’ve had here in San Antonio in the year and a few weeks that I’ve lived here.
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