On display at the City of San Antonio International Center, organized by Ruiz-Healy Art and curated by Graciela Kartofel; the exhibit, Photographic Encounters: Humanity In Nature, is an enticing sampling of works from artists represented by gallerist Patricia Ruiz-Healy. In addition to the exhibit, guided tours conducted by Ms. Kartofel are also on the calendar of activities concurrent to the exhibit.

The unifying theme that connects the six artists in this exhibit is nature and identity. Patricia Ruiz-Healy says: It is the idea of the intersection between nature and the human form whether it’s self-portraits of the artists or their use of the human form in exploration of our place in the world as it relates to nature.

Miami artist Carlos Betancourt (born in Puerto Rico) uses digital photography and computer manipulation techniques to create opulent images in rich jewel tones. Yolanda Andrade of Mexico works with themes of nature in her signature documentary style. Peruvian-born artist Cecilia Paredes paints her body to become the subject of her photography. Arturo Almeida of San Antonio presents abstract black and white photographs of Joshua Trees that echo cycles of the artist’s own life. Also shown are works by the Argentinean Alicia Candiani, a well known conceptual artist, and Alfredo De Stéfano of Mexico, who explores the topic of desert lands.

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The UTSA Main Campus Art Gallery, out by Loop 1604, in Northwest San Antonio is hosting the exhibit Far Places Close: Photographic Essays of South Asia, curated by Scott Sherer, and featuring the works of Luisa Wheeler, Brenda Davidson-Shaddox and Thomas Neff.

This exhibition features documentary photography essays from South Asia. For over 12 years Davidson-Shaddox has worked to photograph the approximately 200 ethnic tribes of Myanmar (Burma). Whether going to sea with Sea Gypsies or trekking into the mountains of the once head-taking Nagas, her goal has been to capture the essence of traditional lifestyles. Neff’s photographs juxtapose rural and urban life and landscape. His photographs of spiritual centers of Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan are meditative reflections while his studies of daily life in China document the vibrant character of street commerce in the flux between traditional and contemporary structures. Wheeler’s photographs derive from her travels in Uttar Pradesh, India. Her work documents contemporary Indian culture as well as a pilgrimage to Vrindavan, the site of a major temple for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and a memorial tribute at the Yamuna River.

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The Texas Seabees exhibit at the Louis J. Blume Library Gallery in St Mary’s University, features the photographic images of photographer/writer L.A. Shively. The images in the exhibit were selected from a book she published as her M.A. project; a book she designed and wrote as well.

About her exhibit and her book, L.A. Shively says: Navy Seabees do the dirty work of creating the foundation for a better life for Americans as well as others around the world. They are proud of their accomplishments, yet humble to the point of nonexistence, as they would rather work than talk to journalists or be photographed. Case in point: have you ever heard of a Seabee? If so, that means you have one in your family or as part of a close circle of friends. They are the builders, the plumbers, the steelworkers. They dig the ditches that no one else will. It was an honor to spend several years working with our own Texas Seabees, and now to share their stories and images.

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In the historic Irish Flats section, on Avenue E, just North of downtown San Antonio, you’ll find the offices of Speegle Davis: Architecture, where most of the time, you’ll find man-about-town, good friend, and all-around good guy, John J, Speegle.

Under the moniker Schiebel-Richardson Gallery -a nom-de-guerre that pays tribute to an eponymous art business previously housed in the premises- John Speegle has been presenting art, photography, and architecture exhibits for several years. 36 8 x 10’s is the first of two FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA exhibits he is hosting this year, and includes images by Davy Beicker, Connie Hargrove, Tony Hargrove, Art Koening, John J. Speegle, Jenne Speegle, and others.

The exhibit consist of images of architecture, photographed by architects, engineers and designers.

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Located just inside the Rivercenter Mall, off Commerce Street, San Antonio Visual Artists (SAVA) was created with the purpose of enriching the cultural life of San Antonio by spotlighting San Antonio artists and their works. SAVA’s website provides comprehensive coverage of the San Antonio Art Scene, introducing individual artists and their works, giving notice of art events and news and providing links to other community art organizations.

If you’re a visual artist, and live/work/show in the Bexar County area, you are invited to join SAVA. There are no fee or meeting requirements. Just lots of enthusiasm and synergy. At the beginning of 2008 SAVA had about 120 members. Today SAVA counts nearly 400 artists as members.

The 2009 FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA exhibit at SAVA was organized and curated by SAVA founding member Richard M. Ybañez, and was juried by Trish Simonite, fine-art photographer and Trinity University professor.

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On display at Huisache Grill in New Braunfels, is Keepsakes, a series of images by photographer Pauline Stevens, who produces commercial and fine art photography in her New Braunfels studio. Don and Lynn Forres owners of Huisache Grill, are involved and invested in enhancing the New Braunfels community, and are supporters of the arts. Thanks to this, Pauline periodically shows her work at Huisache Grill during FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA.

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