October 4 - January 19, 2025
From Briscoe Western Art Museum:
“Opening a window into the rich history, culture and landscapes of the Southwest, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is proud to host Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West, an exhibition that reveals the breadth of narrative art produced in the Southwest from the early twentieth century to today. The exhibition features more than 70 remarkable works curated from the prestigious collections of the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Briscoe and private lenders. Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West will be on view October 4, 2024, through January 19, 2025, and is included with museum admission.
A narrative work of art is one that tells a story of a particular moment, or moments, in time. Narratives are often used to illustrate historical events, legends, traditions, myths, fables and religious ceremonies. The exhibition explores the many ways artists have told stories about the Southwest in their art including religious, migratory, historical and rural subjects.
“Narrative art tells a story. It can illustrate historic events or bring the imagination to life. The traditions of storytelling in the Southwest go back to ancient times and the Indigenous populations of the region,” explains Liz Jackson, President and CEO of the Briscoe Western Art Museum. “From the simple carved forms of Helen Cordero to the narrative realism of Martin Grelle and Navajo artist Ed Natiya, the exhibition celebrates the intricate tapestry of the American Southwest’s artistic heritage. We’re proud to share these works and the stories they tell.”
The exhibition explores the various ways artists have told stories about the Southwest in their work, including illustrations of historic events such as Diego Romero’s image of the Pueblo Revolt, and paintings of local religious ceremonies such as William Penhallow Henderson’s “Holy Week in New Mexico” and ruminations on spiritual traditions as in Partocinio Barela’s “Last Supper,” as well as reflections on modern art and iconic images of the West inspired by pop culture, including Andy Warhol’s “Geronimo” and Billy Schenck’s “Cliff.”
The range of artists and the stylistic variation represented in Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West offer a variety of lenses, allowing audiences to engage with the region’s complex and evolving history and culture. Storytellers showcases the talents of renowned artists like Fritz Scholder, Gerald Cassidy, Alan Houser and Henry Balink, who bring diverse perspectives on cowboy, Native, and Spanish cultures, alongside works by Frederic Remington, Andy Warhol, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Martin Grelle and Mark Maggiori.
Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West was organized by the New Mexico Museum of Art. The exhibition is sponsored in part by The City of San Antonio, Jan McCaleb Elliott, Jessica Elliott Middleton and The Texas Commission on the Arts.
Step Into the Stories of the West at the Briscoe
Showcasing the purely American art form of Western art, the Briscoe Western Art Museum celebrates the past, present and future of the storied genre through the art and artifacts in its permanent collection as well as through the range of exhibitions it features annually.
An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. Inside the museum’s beautifully restored historic home inside the former San Antonio Public Library building, the Briscoe’s collection spans 14 galleries, with special exhibitions, events and the Hendler Family Museum Store, providing art, culture, history and entertainment.
The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active duty members of the military. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.
About The Briscoe Western Art Museum: Preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is located on the San Antonio River Walk at 210 W. Market Street in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building. Named in honor of the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs, and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden. Follow the Briscoe on social media, @BriscoeMuseum.”
On View: October 4, 2024 | 12–5 pm
210 West Market
San Antonio, 78205 TX
210-299-4499
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