two-color reduction linocut that incorporates the design of both states of the church; the completed structure as it once was in the 1700s and the subtle impression of the cathedral which shares some of its walls today, making it one of the oldest churches in America.
1759 Rhys Munro
The dome shaped structure depicted, a typical dwelling used by the native Coahuiltecan tribes, is meant to honor their historical presence. Called “wikiups”, these homes were made of bent wood, brush, and animal skins. The fragmented composition symbolizes the displacement and “absorption” of the indigenous peoples throughout the 1700’s when Spain colonized what is now modern day San Antonio.
1760 Jason Kirkland
This assemblage of found objects focuses on the importance of religion in San Antonio while under Spanish rule in 1760. That was the year King Charles III declared the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Immaculate Conception to be a special patroness of Spain and all its eastern and western territories.
1761 Samuel Velasquez
Forming expresses that even relatively quiet years can still have an impact on the present. The formation, establishment, and trials of the people living in the missions of San Antonio were the building blocks that would later become this city.
1762 Georgia Zwartjes
Water was the source of life for the people, animals and plants of La Villa of San Fernando de Bexar. On August 16, 1762, several male citizens presented a petition requesting distribution of waters from San Pedro Creek and the San Antonio River. The following day, the Governor was accompanied by the greater part of the community to a place north of the villa where water was most abundant. A citizen, Geranimo Flores, determined the best irrigable lands were situated between the San Pedro Creek and the San Antonio River. In order to take advantage of these water sources, a dam and canal would need to be built. The dam would be constructed of limestone. The canal would be located atop a hill called Loma de la Vieja. This was the preferred site, as water could easily flow through the favored lands.
This fiber art piece, Fruits of the River, represents some of the elements of life dependent on water and critical to the citizens and residents of the villa: corn, mesquite beans, chilies, acorns, pecans, cotton and wool.
1763 Catherine Cisneros
Some reports describe the broad plains of San Antonio de Padua as the most beautiful in New Spain with grass as high as a horse’s chest. Although by 1763 the five Missions were established in San Antonio, San Antonio was still surrounded by broad plains the most beautiful in New Spain and in many places the grass was as high as a horse’s chest, the stars were breathtakingly brilliant and the fireflies were a wonder to behold.
1764 Joseph Duarte
Maestro is the story of the laborers who worked on the Missions.
1766 Casey Galloway
In researching 1766, I was struck by the amount of conflict between many of the native tribes in central/south Texas. Exacerbated by the growing numbers of European settlers and shrinking unoccupied land, clashes between the Coahuiltecan and Apache caused many to seek refuge in the newly established Spanish Missions. The purpose of these missions, according to the authorities, was to educate and Christianize the Natives in order to make them productive Spanish citizens. The native peoples who sought refuge supplied the labor in the construction of the missions, the acequias, and the farms that fed the community. This work is dedicated to them.
1767 Ramin Samandari
1767 was the year of arrival of Marques De Rubi to San Antonio. Rubi was sent by King Charles III of Spain to inspect the presidios of New Spain. Rubi’s report suggested that all the small Texas missions be closed except the one in Goliad and the missions of San Antonio.