THREE MUSEUMS FOR THE PRICE OF NONE

Visit the San Antonio Museum of Art, the McNay, and the Institute of Texan Cultures for free with an Alamo Colleges ID

Alamo Colleges students can visit the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), the McNay Art Museum, and the Institute of Texan Cultures for free with their student ID. There may be an additional cost for special exhibitions.

SAMA features extensive collections of a broad range of art reflecting world cultures. This summer you can see Pasión Popular: Spanish and Latin American Folk Art from the Cecere Collection through August 18; The Jameel Prize: Art Inspired by the Islamic Tradition opening May 24 through August 11; and Rostros de Maria: The Virgin as Archetype and Inspiration through September 29. Artists of SAMOMA from the SAMA Collection closes May 26. 

The McNay Art Museum showcases a premiere fine arts collection comprised of nearly 20,000 works of art. Human Face and Form runs through September 1; Majority Rules: A Decade of Contemporary Art Acquisitions runs through September 15; and Fiesta, Fête, Festival: Selections from the Tobin Collection runs through June 9.  Opening May 29 are The America of Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton through September 8 and Beth van Hoesen at the McNay through September 29. Opening June 5 will be Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera through September 1.

At the Institute of Texan Cultures, you will experience a historical journey into the cultural heritage of the more than 130 ethnic groups that settled the Lone Star State. In addition to The Back 40, a hands-on, outdoor living history area, this summer’s offerings include Texas Contemporary Artists Series: Luisa Wheeler through June 2; Progression of a Dream through June 30; Fiesta Medal Mania March 25 through July 8; Girl Power through July 14; Made in Texas through September 29; and Why We Came: The Immigration Experience March 30, 2013 through March 30, 2014. 

Other art institutions in San Antonio that you can visit for free:
 

Artpace promotes art as a dynamic social force by supporting emerging and established contemporary artists. Opening July 11 will be New Works: 13.2 with international artists-in-residence Pak Sheung-Chuen,  Trevor Paglen and Clarissa Tossin through September 15.

Students and military are welcomed free to the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, the first and longest-running venue for contemporary art in San Antonio. Blue Star serves as an incubator for contemporary art in the city, hosting over twenty exhibitions of emerging and world-renowned artists annually.  Upcoming is Kathy Sosa May 31 through July 31. Texas Tough will feature Sherry Owens – Origins, Sharon Kopriva – From Terra to Verde, Amita Bhatt – Depends Who You Ask, and Jill Bedgood – Book of Hours: Intervention June 6 through August 24.

The Coppini Academy of Fine Art was founded by the sculptor Pompeo Coppini and his protégé Waldine Tauch in 1945 and is devoted to classic representational art. The Coppini features ongoing classes and member exhibitions.

San Antonio Art League & Museum is the oldest art institution in San Antonio and houses a permanent collection of Texas art, most notably the Edgar B. Davis Collection chronicled in William E. Reaves, Jr.’s Texas Art and a Wildcatter’s Dream. The Art League mounts an annual schedule of exhibitions from its holdings as well as exhibitions of contemporary San Antonio artists. The Art League will open A Salute to the Watercolor Gang’s 50^th Anniversary on June 2, and in July will mount an exhibition of selections from the permanent collection.

Southwest School of Art is an educational and an exhibition institution, and as a part of its mission preserves the former Ursuline Convent and Academy, founded in 1851, as a place of historic significance. Currently showing are Michael James: Organizing Nature; Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga: A Tradition of Strings; and Trish Ramsey: Equivalent Forms through July 7. Opening July 18 are the All School Exhibition, the Certificate Student Exhibitions and the SSA Teen Program: Bee Nation through August 25; and Vincent Colvin: Solo Exhibition through August 23.