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In 1926, the Art League and several other organizations founded the Witte Memorial Museum and took up residence in the museum building with gallery space (expanded substantially by the museum over the years)for a continuing series of exhibitions and programs.
The 1,600-member league has its detractors; but as one league member told me concerning the organization: "Some people may think we're just a bunch of old women running around in white tennis shoes trying to be art experts, but whatever you think of us, you have to admit that art in San Antonio would not be what it is today if it hadn't been for the dedication of league members." And it is certainly true that the Art League has exercised unparalleled influence upon art in San Antonio.
A second influential force on art in San Antonio in recent years has been the River Art Group.
Begun in 1947 by a small group of artists, the River Art Group is best known for its annual sponsorship of the River Art Show each fall. On a given weekend in November, the 600-plus members of the Group display their works on the river; and thousands of people come from miles around to walk in the sun, admire works of art, and, hopefully, go home with a prize purchase.
The River Art Group also runs a small art gallery for members in the Old Florian House in La Villita. There is no admission, and it is open six days a week from 10 to 5 and on Sunday from 1 to 5. 
A third well-known art group in San Antonio is the Texas Watercolor Society. Founded in 1949 to "encourage creative statements in the medium of watercolor," the society sponsors each February an annual exhibition for watercolor paintings. This exhibition has grown in national prominence through the years, and today is considered one of the top four juried watercolor exhibitions in the United States. Held in the Witte Museum in past years, the exhibit was moved this year to new quarters in the auditorium of the University of Texas Medical School.
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[[Image of River Art Group]]
River Art Group. "Nearly every important artist in San Antonio has exhibited in the River Art Show (pictured above_ at one time or another," brags a River Art Group official. And the statement is undoubtedly true. Each fall, artists from miles around flock to the banks of the San Antonio River to participate in one of the most picturesque art shows anywhere. In fact, last year, numerous groups of hippies, attracted by the thousands of spectators with lots of cash, joined the show with exhibits of hand-made clothes and other questionable works of art. "Fortunately," says one observer, "none of them tried to skinny-dip in he river."

[[image of Southwest Craft Center]]
Southwest Craft Center. The Saturday Morning Discovery Program sponsored by the Southwest Craft Center (see main article) is a boon to youngsters and craft teachers alike. "I wouldn't miss this for anything," says one of the young instructors, "even if it does eliminate sleeping on Saturday morning." Another teacher, Dominic Greco (above), an officer at Lackland Air Force Base, echoes the same idea: "This is mental and physical therapy-for me." And of course, the kids are elated by the opportunity to weave a rug or make a batik. As one boy said: "You get to do what you didn't know how to do before."

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