When I think of my favorite public art works in San Antonio, the mural of Carlos Mérida certainly ranks among my top ten.  When I discovered it, it was hidden away in the San Antonio Convention Center building.  I actually had to search for it in the enormous empty building.  It was not viewable from afar, even though it was over 2 stories high in size.  It was surrounded by a double, curving staircase.  

When I heard that the convention center would be demolished, I was worried that the mural would be destroyed.  I was relieved to find out that someone came up with the brilliant idea solution of keeping the mural in place, and using it in the design of the new building, locating it outdoors.  

I was astounded when I wandered downtown, and stood on the balcony along the river looking across at the beautiful new siting for this magnificent piece.  I was even more pleased to find out that the San Antonio Museum of Art has a nice collection of Mérida's work, and that it is currently on view through January 29, 2017.

I wondered whether my great grandfather, Dr. Aureliano Urrutia, had known Mérida.  As it turns out, they both had encounters with the artist Gerardo Murillo, also known as Dr. Atl, so perhaps their paths did cross at some point. They certainly both experienced,valued, and were influenced by the interplay between European and indigenous culture.

Read about how a "Two Stop Field Trip Tells the Story of Artist Carlos Mérida" on the Rivard Report.  

 Photo by Elise Urrutia.

Posted December 18, 2016.