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Tag: Christina Perez

Under the Lights: Art and Politics in San Antonio

While a current LEAP Ambassador enjoyed six days in Austin as part of the New Leadership Texas program, two recent graduates were spending days in San Antonio as elected delegates to the State Republican Convention.

For those who have never been to a state convention, it’s an experience.  While many delegates meet on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to attend committee meetings, most of the rank-and-file delegates show up on Thursday to participate in votes, listen to speeches by the state’s leading public figures, and to enjoy special events hosted by the party and its leaders.

For Karla Rosales and Christina Perez, it was an opportunity to move into leadership positions.  Karla, who was making her second appearance as a delegate, was appointed delegate counter for Walker County, at least for the first day.  For Christina, a first-time delegate, it was a chance to make new connections, learn about the process, and do some work for her new boss, Congressman Kevin Brady, at his Saturday “Kolaches with Kevin” event.

The official business began on Thursday, June 14, when delegates met in General Session for a “get-acquainted session,” but also to hear speeches from the two candidates for State Party Chair: (1) the incumbent James Dickey and (2) challenger Cindy Asche.  Both spoke in the general session, asking for votes and laying out a vision.

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When the general session convened, delegates headed to rooms sorted by Senatorial District.  Walker County delegates headed to Senate District 5–a district more or less controlled by the populous Williamson County–where business was tended to.

The business included electing permanent officers for our senate district meetings; and electing members to the credentials, rules, platform, legislative priorities, and state nominations committees.  When these positions were contested, they involved taking votes, and Karla had a chance to perform her duties as “vote counter.”

Texas GOP, Texas Republican Convention 2018, Senate District 5, Karla Rosales

During this process, the Senate District voted in Walker County’s own Madeline Loosier as a member of the Legislative Priorities committee.

Texas GOP, Texas Republican Convention 2018, Senate District 5, Madeline Loosier

This “get-acquainted” day ended early, leaving delegates the opportunity to attend various social events or to do their own thing.  For Karla and Christina, this involved heading to the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, where much fun was had.

One of the key exhibits was “Immersed,” which included four artists–including Andy Warhol’s film “Sunset”–whose work involved immersing yourself in the experience of art.  The first of these, “Pleasure Principle,” by Chris Sauter, was quite an experience, with odd lights shining through holes in a “home” that was unusually decorated.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Chris Seuter

Perhaps the most fun of the installations was Phillip Worthington’s “Shadow Monsters,” which allowed visitors to be part of the art.  Visitors stood in front of a light, which transmogrified the visitor’s appearance, while also allowing them the opportunity to access numerous props, which were similar transmogrified by the screen.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Phillip Worthington
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Phillip Worthington
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Phillip Worthington
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Phillip Worthington
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Phillip Worthington

Also intriguing was Yayoi Kusama’s…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Yayoi Kusama

… “Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity,” a hall of mirrors type installation, which also included lighting effects.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Yayoi Kusama
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Yayoi Kusama

This was another of our favorites, and was doubly interesting because we had seen a similar work by this artist at the Phoenix Art Museum.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Phoenix Art Museum, Yayoi Kusama

Our least favorite was “Sunset,” by Andy Warhol, which was a 33-minute abstract-like film of a sunset.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum

In the midst of these installations were fun interactive “art” games that we quickly jumped into, while also branding LEAP at the McNay.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, LEAP
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, LEAP
McNay_42_Interactive_Lights_Web
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, LEAP
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, LEAP
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, LEAP
McNay_15_Interactive_Light_Web
SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, LEAP

The McNay isn’t as large as the major museums in Dallas or Houston, but it has a very nice collection, with a smattering of works across diverse times and regions.  There were 19th century European masters such as Van Gogh…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Van Gogh

…Monet…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Monet

…Cezanne…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Cezanne

Plus, much modern and contemporary art, such as Picasso…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Picasso

…Pollock (far left, below)…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum,

…OKeeffe (center, above; and below)…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, O'Keeffe

…Alexander Calder…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Alexander Calder

…Louise Nevelson…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Louise Nevelson

…Sally Skoglund…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Sally Skoglund

…Donald Judd…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Donald Judd

…Robert Indiana…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Robert Indiana

…and SHSU alum Danville Chadburne.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Danville Chadburne

Their sculpture garden is smallish, but has a very nice collection of artists such as Lois Jimenez…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Luis Jimenez

…the aforementioned Robert Indiana…

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Robert Indiana

…and Joel Shapiro….

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, McNay Art Museum, Joel Shapiro

It was a fun start to the convention and site-seeing, and a nice way to mix art and politics.

Author mikeyawnPosted on June 19, 2018June 25, 2018Format AsideCategories Art, Civic Engagement, Politics, TravelTags Christina Perez, Georgia O'Keeffe, Karla Rosales, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Luis Jimenez, McNay Art Museum, Republican Party, Robert Indiana, SHSULeave a comment on Under the Lights: Art and Politics in San Antonio

A Visit to the Canyonlands of Utah!

We woke up to snow covered grounds, but we didn’t let the chilly temperatures dampen our adventurous spirit as we quickly got ready for one of the best days of the trip: two national parks! The roads were clear so we decided to begin our day!

Canyonlands National Park

One week into our trip, we were headed off to visit our third national park. We knew it would be an exciting adventure! With temperatures in the mid-thirties to low forty degrees, we dressed warm before beginning our hikes of the day.

Our first stop at Canyonlands National Park was to the Mesa Arch.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Arch

The hike down to the arch was short and relaxing. Only a quarter of a mile into the trail, we turned a corner and were greeted by the beautiful arch overlooking a magnificent canyon. We took photographs…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Arch

…many photographs…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Arch

…and explored the area as always…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Arch

…before heading back to the car for our actual hike of the morning.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Arch

We drove along the winding roads through the park until we reached our trailhead: White Rim. The trail itself was 1.6 miles in and out. Because of the freezing temperatures and previous snowfall, the dips in the rock formations had puddles of icy water mix which proved to be fun to play with. The boys especially loved smashing the ice and picking up the large sheets of ice floating atop the water’s surface.

We wandered down the marked trail enjoying the mountainous views along the way. Thankfully, the trail was mostly flat and not too difficult of a trek.

As we walked the trail, we decided to build a cairn.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park

A cairn is a stack of rocks that line the trail to help hikers stay on the path. After picking up rocks along the way, we decided on our spots and built the cairns.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park

We had some friendly competition to see who’s cairn was the biggest.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park

Along the trail, hoodoos were occasionally located throughout. A hoodoo is a pinnacle of weathered rock that are shaped into interesting columns. Although we all tried to climb them, Ryan was the only successful one.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Ryan Brim

He took the opportunity to capture the moment with a memorable LEAP.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Ryan Brim

Actually, he did several memorable LEAPS, because it was difficult to time the photographs correctly…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Ryan Brim

We spent the rest of our time exploring and admiring the canyon views.

We enjoyed our short hike…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Brian Aldaco

…and were excited to move on to our second national park of the day!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Canyonlands National Park, Christina Perez

To hear about our experiences at Arches National Park, tune in tomorrow!

 

Author mikeyawnPosted on January 17, 2018Format AsideCategories Civic Engagement, Fun, TravelTags Brian Aldaco, Canyonlands National Park, Christina Perez, Kaitlyn Tyra, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Mesa Arch, Mike Yawn, Ryan Brim, SHSULeave a comment on A Visit to the Canyonlands of Utah!

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The The Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center had another interesting speaker, Michael Strutt, who spoke about the role of Texas Parks and Wildlife in conserving cultural artifacts. Thanks to the Wynne Home for bringing interesting speakers to the community!

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