The center will showcase art from college students.
Frank Piedra
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
San Antonio is celebrating its 300th year and Sinkin Eco Centro is participating by paying homage to San Pedro Springs with an exhibit “Art of the Sacred Texas Springs.”
Keeping the focus on natural environmentalism, Eco Centro will display a variety of media, such as paintings, drawings, poetry and photography inspired by Texas’ springs.
The exhibit will run March 23-April 22, and student artists may contribute artwork.
Students wishing to submit to the exhibit must do so by March 1.
Submissions are limited to students attending college in this city.
“This is the first year of the ‘Art of the Sacred Texas Springs’ exhibit,” said Dyhanara Rios, webmaster for the exhibit. “It is a year-long series, and several events will be in San Antonio, Austin, San Marcos, Wimberley and New Braunfels.
“In each city, there is a springs site. Firstly, the springs are important because of the environmental significance and the species living there. The indigenous cultures and people near these environments are celebrating by creating art influenced by the springs and other water sources here in Texas.”
However, the springs and environmentalism are not the only focal points of the exhibit.
“We have different ways to celebrate the springs,” Rios said. “We want to give students the opportunity to show their work, and by getting involved in this project, they will learn environmental significance along the way.”
The opening reception will be at Eco Centro, which will be followed by a pilgrimage to San Pedro Springs Park.
“There will be a Native American healing chant for the springs,” administrative coordinator Ariana Fuentes said.
“We are partnering with different organizations in the cities mentioned who are also putting on their own events throughout 2018. We expect to keep growing with the city since community response has been highly positive.”
Performing the healing chants will be members of the Coahuiltecan native tribe. They are indigenous to the area.
According to the Eco Centro website, the center is a LEED certified community outreach institution for environmental sustainability.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
It is a certification program focused on new, commercial building projects and relates to green and environmental sustainability.
It is operated by this college and funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities grant.
“This federal grant assists with the integration of Hispanic-serving communities around them,” Eco Centro Director Meredith Miller said.
The center’s mission is to provide education, outreach and understanding to the progress and practice of sustainability, Rios said.
All art inquiries should be directed to sac-ecocentro@alamo.edu or by visiting Eco Centro at 1802 N. Main Ave.
Additional information can be found at www.sacredtexassprings.com
