San Antonio Museum Celebrates Dia de Muertos + Native American Heritage Month + Yanaguana + Cowboy Santa
Celebrate the seasons at the Briscoe San Antonio museum while celebrating the heritage of our region at this museum.
Pictographs, paintings and other forms of visual art have long been powerful tools for storytelling, offering a form of narrative art that conveys meaning through imagery rather than words. From the return of the museum’s Native American film series, hands-on workshops celebrating Día de los Muertos and a full day celebrating the Indigenous influence on the American West to the opportunity to share your story on the walls of the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s latest exhibition, captivating stories come to life at the Briscoe this fall.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is thrilled to announce a unique series of events celebrating the vibrant cultural traditions of Día de los Muertos, Native American Heritage Month, and Cowboy Christmas. These special events offer the community a chance to explore and celebrate the rich tapestry of the American West.
The museum is also honoring military veterans with free museum admission on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. Veterans may show their military ID to receive the offer and can also enjoy a 10% discount in the Hendler Family Museum Store. The Briscoe offers active duty military members free admission throughout the year, as well as discounted admission for active duty family members and veterans.
See the Stories of the Southwest through Narrative Art
Blending visual elements with symbolism, narrative art invites connection with stories on a deeper, more emotional level. On view now, Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West explores the many ways artists have told stories about the Southwest in their art, including religious, migratory, historical and rural subjects. From Indigenous stories passed down through generations to the contemporary interpretations of Western life, Storytellers showcases how artists use visual narratives to capture the spirit, landscapes and people of the West.
Guiding questions throughout the exhibition invite visitors to take a closer look at the works on display – and dive into the stories they tell – while stations throughout the exhibition ask visitors to share their own stories. Visitors can then hang their story on the exhibition’s community story wall, while a mini-drawing lab offers visitors the opportunity to practice the techniques of gesture drawing – a quick sketching technique that helps capture the essence of a subject’s pose, movement or expression – to create their own narrative art.
Día de los Muertos: Honoring Tradition and Art
- Ofrenda: Through Nov. 4, included with museum admission
The community is invited to participate in the Briscoe’s Dia de los Muertos community ofrenda honoring influential figures in Western art and the American West. Everyone is welcome to add copies of photos of lost loved ones and personal offerings to help celebrate their lives. The ofrenda is on display in the museum lobby and free Día de los Muertos-themed crafts are available for those who would like to participate. The Briscoe’s Hendler Family Museum Store also has Día de los Muertos items available for those who wish to add to their offerings.
- Sugar Skull Pinatas: Oct. 27, 1 – 2:30 p.m., 3 – 4:30 p.m., $20, $15 for museum members
Join artist Adriana Gamez as she shares cultural insights and crafting techniques to create a sugar skull piñata filled with Mexican candy. Light refreshments and all supplies needed to create an 11” inch piñata, as well as the candy, are included. Participants also receive admission to the museum. One ticket per person, both adults and children, is required. Two sessions are being held to accommodate everyone, but spots are limited so register quickly to avoid missing out.
- Calaveritas: Oct. 27, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., included with museum admission
Stop in on Oct. 27 as artist Renée Letapi-Gamez leads everyone in painting miniature sugar skull canvases to commemorate Día de los Muertos. Letapi-Gamez draws inspiration from Latin culture, focusing on small works inspired by catrinas, calveras and alebrijes. She’ll share her passion for these traditional elements of Día de los Muertos and help everyone create miniatures to celebrate the tradition. The drop-in activity is included with museum admission and all materials are provided.
Celebrating Native American Heritage: Films & Festival
To mark Native American Heritage Month and spotlight the importance of Indigenous cultures in the American West, the Briscoe is relaunching its Native America Film Series, hosting a special lecture and celebrating its annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival.
- Native American Heritage Film Series
“Rez Ball,” Sunday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m.
“Windtalkers,” Sunday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m.
“Indian Relay,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m.
The Briscoe is proud to announce the reboot of its Native American Film Series, a celebration of Indigenous storytelling through the lens of contemporary cinema. The series spotlights films created by Native American filmmakers and artists, offering audiences a unique opportunity to engage with the stories, cultures and histories of Indigenous communities from the American West. All films were directed, written, produced by and/or star Native Americans. Matthew Davila, a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe, curated the series and will lead a short presentation before each film. The films are included with museum admission and are free for members.
- Free Community Celebration: Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival
Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., free admission
Highlighting the continued vibrancy and artistic traditions of Native American communities, the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival features Native American artists, musical performances, dancing, storytelling, artist demonstrations, Native American-inspired food and free museum admission.
Thursday, Nov. 14, 6 – 8 p.m., included with museum admission
Featured in the Briscoe’s annual Night of Artists and in the Storytellers exhibition, Navajo artist Ed Natiya captures the essence of Indigenous peoples from an authentic perspective. His sculpture and artwork radiate with life, love and beauty, sharing stories and Native wisdom as it once was, in hopes that these teachings and values may be remembered and appreciated for years to come. Join Natiya as he demonstrates his sculpture techniques, then enjoy a conversation with Natiya as he discusses his sculptures, inspiration, art and storytelling with Tim Newton, Publisher Emeritus of “Western Art & Architecture” and the Briscoe’s Curator of Night of Artists and Special Exhibitions.
- Painting with DiZurita: Celebrating American Indian Heritage
Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $45, $25 for museum members
Celebrate the local Indigenous cultures that helped shape San Antonio in this painting session led by energetic and charismatic international artist Gio DiZurita. Yanaguana was the name given to the life-giving river that we know as the San Antonio River. Folklore has long told of a blue hole where a jaguar lived and one day a bird flew into the hole looking for water. The jaguar startled the bird and as the bird flew out of the blue hole, drops fell down to create the river named Yanaguana, meaning spirit waters. prickly pear margaritas. While sipping beer and wine, you’ll create an acrylic painting on an 11 x 14 canvas in a hands-on session with DiZurita as she guides guests through a take-home work of art. Registration for this 21+ event is per person and includes museum admission, beverages and all supplies. Class size is limited, so register today to secure your spot.
Cowboy Christmas: Meet Cowboy Santa at the Briscoe
- Sunday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., included with museum admission
Get wrapped up in Western fun and meet Cowboy Santa at the Briscoe’s annual Cowboy Christmas. Included with museum admission, Cowboy Christmas is the perfect way to enjoy holiday fun and make memories with your family. The celebration falls on the Briscoe’s monthly “Locals Day”, so all Bexar County and San Antonio residents receive free admission to enjoy the museum.
Cowboy Christmas features a day of family fun exploring the museum with holiday crafts, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and visits with Cowboy Santa 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Families are welcome to snap pictures with Cowboy Santa, while a special 12 Days of Christmas scavenger hunt leads you through the Briscoe’s fantastic collection. Christmas crafts, including ornament making, will give everyone a bit of the West to take home. And of course, a stroll through the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden is the perfect path to enjoy the River Walk and its holiday beauty.
Extended Hours & Programming Make it Easy – and Fun! – to Head West
The Briscoe is committed to engaging the community with a variety of family-friendly and educational programs for all ages – all included in museum admission. The museum is offers extended hours on Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday – Monday. Children 12 and under always receive free admission at the Briscoe, making these programs affordable family fun:
- Highlights Tour – Enjoy a guided tour through the museum’s galleries through these 45-minute tours each Thursday at 2 p.m., with stops at some of the most significant and striking pieces in the Briscoe’s collection. With frequently rotating artworks on display, this tour is ideal for both first-time visitors and long-term friends of the museum.
- Locals Day – Come say howdy and explore the West for free as a San Antonio local. San Antonio and Bexar County residents enjoy free admission on the first Sunday of each month. Upcoming dates: Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 5.
- Full STEAM Ahead – Dive into this monthly hands-on activity on the first Sunday of each month with children and families combining science, technology, engineering, art and math with Western themes. Upcoming dates:
- Sunday, Nov. 3: Writing with Pictures. Learn more about Native American pictographs. Rather than using a written language, stories were passed down through oral language or pictographs (drawings). After a short presentation, families will create a story using pictures instead of words.
- Scout the Briscoe – Hunt and enjoy a fun interactive way to see more of the Briscoe’s collection in a free scavenger hunt on the first Sunday of each month. Completing the hunt is a family affair and you can enjoy a 10% discount in the museum’s Hendler Family Museum Store once you finish. Upcoming dates: Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 5.
- Storytime Stampede – Enjoy a storytelling session designed for young children and families on the third Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. Sing songs, engage in movement activities and create artwork together as you learn about the West. Even better: Adults bringing children to Storytime Stampede receive half-off general museum admission. Upcoming events:
- Saturday, Oct. 19: “Buffalo, Fluffalo” by Bess Kalb.
- Saturday, Nov. 16: “Beautiful OOPS!” by Barney Saltzberg.
Step Into the Stories of the West at the Briscoe
An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. The museum’s beautifully restored historic home inside the former San Antonio Public Library building, includes 14 galleries, with special exhibitions, events and the Hendler Family Museum Store, providing art, culture, history and entertainment. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.
