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Trevino, Jose Luis Rivera, Felipe Reyes, Alberto Mijangos, Jesse Amado and Rolando Briseño.

The cooperative artists' gallery, Art Cellar, works tirelessly to focus on local artists, and features its entry "Quattrocentro 1991," with work by Ted Abercrombie Jr., Pat Kupeli, Mahala Marshall-Rood, Bernice Williams and Tony Zuniga. It also opens Tuesday.

Milagros Art Gallery turns to Mexican art, in keeping the city's four-month long focus on Mexico and the "Splendors" blockbuster with its own "Contemporary Work From Oaxaca," featuring work by Adrians Alanis, Maria Elena Hernandez Huerta, Felipe Morales and Amulfo Mendoza.

Along the same line, the downtown Jansen-Pérez Gallery will have graphic works by the renowned muralist David Alfaro Siquieros, as well as new works by local painters Mel Casas and Cesar Martinez. Both shows open July 11.

Once of the biggest and most eclectic exhibits, the three-day-only Blue Star Loft Complex organized by artist Diane Mazur, is actually a series of open studios and renovated spaces where more than 60 artists will show their works. A fund-raising preview party is set for July 11, with free public viewing available July 12-13.

It is a cooperative venture made possible by the innovative action of the developers of the entire Blue Star Complex, Bernard and James Lifshutz.

Currently under renovation for loft-like living and studio space, several of the buildings at the King William-area site will be finished out by carpenters so that art works can be placed in them. It may be rustic but will be inclusive even if unexpected construction snafus play havoc with plans and schedules.

"I originally contacted artists who already had studios in the complex about opening their studios simultaneously during the Blue Star Art Space openings" Mazur said, "and then Jeffrey Moore (Blue Star director) asked James (Lifshutz) if we could have additional space to show work."

"I thought it would be a great way to help James show off his project," explained Moore. "He's been a very generous landlord to Blue Star and making this complex into a lively magnet for the arts and artists is, after all, what this project is all about. So James agreed to let us use these newly renovated lofts and studios temporarily.

Mazur relied on her contacts with other artists and then some: "I contacted people at the universities and colleges, at the Carver and the Guadalupe, people all over the city to help me reach as many artists as possible. I had two weeks to fill 30,000 square feet of exhibition space; I even have a waiting list.

"And yet I really couldn't promise anything because we won't know exactly how much space is available until later. It's really been an adventure - and there have been such positive responses

[[image - painting]]
"LOS COMPADRES": Tony Ortega's work can be seen at DagenBela Galeria in the exhibit, "Tres Entre Nosotros," which also includes art by Mary Louise Lopez and Celina Hinojosa."

change involved in the availability of space."

It is this wide accessibility to exposure and open, cooperative attitude that best exemplifies the spirit of Contemporary Art Month. Come one, come all...and may the best achieve attention, recognition and acclaim.

In one sense, the celebration seems to have come full circle and moved into a new phase. For the first time since its inception in 1986, the Blue Star Art Space, precursor to Contemporary Art Month and considered to be the centerpiece of the monthlong celebration, is not mounting a group show. Curator Dave Hickey has chosen to give a one-person show to artist Henry Stein for "Blue Star 6."

Some artists consider such an action heresy for the institution that was originally conceived as a space open to the widest diversity of expression, the most accessible of all possible exhibition spaces in the city. After all, didn't "Blue Star I" originate as inclusive rather than exclusive, a protest to narrow, often unacknowledged partisan elitist, sexist and/or racist decisions about who and what would be shown at our major institutions? 

Past debates in the community about "quality" and "standards" notwithstanding, are we back to the "good ole boy" system of White, Anglo male curators showcasing White, Anglo male artists in "important" exhibitions? Is Blue Star no longer the centerpiece of Contemporary Art Month? 

"Blue Star is not even the first show to open Contemporary Art Month any more," noted director Moore, "and our curator didn't see the show as 'the best of the best' in San Antonio, as it was originally thought to be ... every year there have been better shows than outs throughout the city.

"A citywide celebration is what we created - and it's been that way for several years now. Contemporary Art Month is changing: two major institutions didn't co-sponsor

[[image: "MURAL: Muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros' "Jesusito Seráun Santo (Jesusito Will be a Saint)" will be at the Jansen-Perez Gallery."]]

fore. He wanted to jump start that artist's career with a one-person show."

According to Moore, his board of directors discussed eight possible curators and decided on Hickey, a San Diego-based arts writer who has taught at UTSA and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, because of certain goals they had set for the institution: to begin a [[cutoff]]

"Dave has written a lot and is from outside the city but familiar with Blue Star and its shows," Moore continued. "He knew the politics involved. He's been very supportive of Blue Star.

"He came back with his idea, which wasn't what the board had in mind, so we debated it and suggested a small group show, but basically said do what you want. Our in-[[cutoff]]

SOUTHWEST CRAFT CENTER: Linda Suggs, "New Work," open through Aug. 17.
ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER: "Freedom of Choice & Jump-Start Performance Company"; Andy Beach, David Zamora Casas, Augusto Blanco Cuellar, David McCall Freeman, Michael Martinez, Roland Mazuca, Martha Prentiss, Priscilla Reyna, Kathy Vargas, Bernice B. Williams, Beverly Sanchez-Padilla and Paul Love. Today-July 31. 
SOL DEL RIO GALLERY: "Contemporary Moods"; Gene Elder, Phil Evett, Kline & Kline, Jan Tips, Anita Valencia, Bettie Ward. Today-July 31. 
GREENHOUSE GALLERY OF FINE ART: "Abstracted Forms from Nature": Marilynn Branham. Today-July 13.
MCNAY ART MUSEUM: "Amy Freeman Lee/A Texas Collector." Today-Aug. 4.
J.R. MOONEY GALLERIES, North Star Mall: "Spain, Australia, and Texas"; Jose Vives-Atsara, Darryl Trott and Mark Keathley, Monday-31. 
UTSA ART GALLERY: "Tejanos/15 Painters, 3 Sculptors." Tuesday-July 31.
ART CELLAR: "Quattrocentro 1991"; Ted Abercrombie Jr., Pat Kupeli, Mahala
THE BLUE HORSE GALLERY: Work by Gilbert Dúran and Royal L. Vereen. Friday-July 31.
DAGENBELA GALERIA: "Tres Entre Nosotros"; Tony Ortega, Mary Louise Lopez and Celina Hinojosa. Friday-July 31.
THE TURQUOISE COYOTE: "Recent Ceramic Work": Douglas Kenney. Friday-July 31. 
BLUE DOOR GALLERY: Work by Alonso Davis, Alberto Mijangos, Gilberto Tarin and Bettie Ward. July 11-31.
JANSEN-PEREZ GALLERY: Graphic work by David Alfaro Siqueiros in gallery A; new paintings by Mel Casas and Cesar Martinez in gallery B. July 11-31.
SAN ANTONIO ART INSTITUTE: "Between Worlds: Contemporary Mexican Photography." July 11-31.
BLUE STAR ART SPACE: "Blue Star 6"; Henry Stein, opening, 6-9 p.m. July 12. Also "Downtown Youth Drop-in Center Outdoor T-shirt Art Show and Sale": Princess Cook, Sherye Foster and Ramon Sanchez, 5-9 p.m., July 12. July 12-Aug. 25
BLUE STAR LOFT COMPLEX: "Site Installations"; more than 60 artists will show their works. Fund-raising preview, 6-9 p.m. July 11; free public viewing, 6-9 p.m., July 12 and noon-6 p.m., July 13.
CREATIVE ARTS GALLERY: Work by Michael Ben Rodrigues and Anthony Segura. July 12-Aug. 12. 
MILAGROS ART GALLERY: "Contemporary Work from Oaxaca": Adrians Alanis, Maria Elena Hernandez Huerta, Felipe Morales and Amulfo Mendoza, July 12- Aug. 12.
MONTE WADE FINE ARTS: "Yard Art Creations" by Michael Saileau and "Southwestern Paintings" by Chris More, July 12-26.
NANETTE RICHARDSON FINE ART: Work by Linda Hammond, Mary Lou Lewis, G.E. Mullan, Margaret Putnam, Marija Kae Rodriguez, Martha Strickland and Lin Turnbow. July 12-31.
SAN ANTONIO ART INSTITUTE STUDENT GALLERY: "Las Guapas"; Anet Alaniz, Nancy Coon, Carole Garmon, Susan Livengood, Patrizia Pozzoli Lowell, Janie Martin, Lottie Bettie Ward and Dede Winn. July 12-31. 
NUEVA STREET GALLERY: "A + C = O (Art plus Craft equals Object)": Lyn Belisle, Cletus Behlman, Richard Conn, Gene Elder, Henry Rathburn, Michael Schroeder, Gilberto Tarin and Anita Valencia July 12-Aug. 2
ART INCORPORATED: "Definitions": John Self, "No Symbolism-ism"; Elizabeth Walsh, "Room at the Top"; Louise Pierucci-Holeman, Caprice Pierucci-Taniguchi and Susan Oaks; and Anna Marie Pavlik. July 8-Aug. 7
J.R. MOONEY GALLERIES, Broadway: Work by Janis Marckstein, Michael Schofield and Mary Mark. July 13-31.
PALO ALTO COLLEGE: Free workshop, "Contracts for Artists." Speakers: Gary Poenisch and David Sokolow. July 13, 9-11 a.m.
SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART: "Citizen Wayne," free screening of a film in progress by Brian Huberman. July 18, 7 p.m. 
GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER: Work by Terry Ybanez. July 19-Aug. 4.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY: "Facets and Faces"; Jeannine Kennan and Virginia Gill. July 19-Aug. 6
W.D. DELI: "Gogeographismos," Henry Rayburn, July 19-31. 
LAS PALMAS LIBRARY: "Flamingo Madness," Barbara Levine. July 20-31. Free workshop for children, 1-3 p.m. July 20. 
BLUE STAR ART SPACE: "Contemporary Art Month: A Redefinition," roundtable discussion. 7 p.m., Aug. 2. 

sions just as we had to with ('Blue Star IV' curator) Lucy Lippard or any other curator."

Indeed, any institution - and board - worth its salt does exactly that. It makes the best decision it can based on available information. It hires a curator to organize a show and then does not second-guess or meddle or change that show. Otherwise it has wasted the institution's money and the curator's time in what is ultimately an unprofessional undertaking.

Blue Star Board president and artist Anita Valencia sees that institution as Contemporary Art Month's centerpiece: "(It is) our rightful place because if not, we become just another place... we really are the only place that each year shows local artists, such as

is going on elsewhere, too."

Referring to "Blue Star 6," Valencia acknowledged that the board had wanted a group show but that she "would like to see more local one-person shows, especially by women. There is a lot of talent in San Antonio and our board is open to any exhibits proposed to it... all ideas are shown to the board."

"We'd rather live on the edge than give specific instructions to the curator," Moore continued. "In a way, this is what we're about, an institution that is always doing the unexpected and is using for wide diversity in what it does."

And any way you look at Contemporary Art Month, diversity - and controversy - is part of the experience. And that leads to ques [[cutoff]]

  

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