SA Museum Kicks Off 2025 with Artist Talks, Native American Film Series, Festivals and More       SA Museum, The Briscoe Western Art Museum, invites everyone to start the new year on the right foot with art, storytelling, wildlife and inspiration as it showcases student art and closes its acclaimed Storytellers: Narrative Art & the West exhibition. From special conversations with celebrated artist Billy Schenck and wildland conservationist and Western American Art enthusiast Carl Greene to the finale of the museum’s Native American film series and the museum’s wildest day of the year, the Wild West Wildlife Festival, 2025 gets off to a great start at the Briscoe. The Fun Has Already Started   KCG_WAC_MERCH2024-25   The Art of the Rodeo:  Student Western Art Competition Exhibit On display Jan. 6, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Student Western Art Competition Exhibition fills the Briscoe’s Clingman Education Gallery and is included with general admission. Featuring the 13 winning entries in the 2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Western Art Competition as well as 12 entries selected for exhibition, the works on display represent the best in show from the annual contest that includes 183 South Texas school districts or those attending private school or homeschooling across 54 counties. Once the rodeo kicks off on Feb. 6, the 13 winning entries will be displayed on the rodeo grounds while the museum choice selections will remain on display at the Briscoe through Feb. 23. Each of the works showcases an appreciation of western heritage, which the Briscoe and the Rodeo happily share. Enjoy the rodeo exhibition during regular museum hours and be sure to stop by when you’re downtown for the Rodeo’s Western Heritage Weekend, Feb. 1.   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.     A Masterful Dash of Abstraction: New, Truly American Art of the 1930s New Deal ·         A Conversation with Carl Green: Jan. 9, 2025, 6 – 7:30 p.m., included with museum admission   Discover art that not only captures the challenges of the time but celebrates the enduring American spirit with wildland conservationist and Western art enthusiast Carl Greene. Enjoy a fascinating conversation about the uniquely American, historically significant and aesthetically brilliant art that emerged during the Great Depression. Through works from the Storytellers exhibition, the Briscoe’s permanent collection and imagery from museums, federal buildings, and post offices nationwide, Greene explores how cultural conditions of the 1930s sparked an outpouring of expressive, homegrown art that is both diverse in style and deeply meaningful.   Celebrating Native American Heritage: Film Series Finale Spotlighting the importance of Indigenous cultures in the American West, the Briscoe’s relaunched Native America Film Series concludes in January.   ·         Native American Heritage Film Series “Indian Relay,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m.     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. The 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 the film. Admission to the film is free and includes museum admission.     Artist Talk and Book Signing: Billy Schenck ·         Storytellers and the Modern West with Billy Schenck: Jan. 18, 2025, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., included with museum admission Join renowned artist Billy Schenck, a founding figure of the Western Pop Art movement, shares insights into his bold and iconic depictions of the American West. Known for his striking, cinematic style, Schenck’s work bridges the gap between Western tradition and contemporary artistry. Schenck will share how he weaves together the story of his artistic process from film stills to paintings and creating new narratives. His approach offers a critical perspective on classic and contemporary Western iconography. Learn about Schenck’s early career, artistic inspirations and the influences that shape his work during this conversation with Tim Newton, Publisher Emeritus of “Western Art & Architecture” and the Briscoe’s Curator of Night of Artists and Special Exhibitions. Hear more about Schenck’s role in “Western Pop,” his Native pottery collection and his new book, “Women Artists of the Ancient Southwest: A Tribute to Timeless Creators.”     Walk on the Wild Side: Wild West Wildlife Festival Jan. 25, 2025, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., free admission   A celebration of the animals and natural beauty of the West, featuring crafts, animal encounters, and activities focused on the wildlife of the American West, one of the pillars of Western art. The Wild West Wildlife Festival celebrates the flora and fauna that define the West with a beastly day of animal fun, education and hands-on crafts and activities highlighting the truly wild side of the West.  The festival features art, storytelling and more to inspire everyone to explore the nature all around them.   Extended Hours & Programming Make 2025 a Great Time 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: Feb. 2, Mar. 2. ·         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: o    Sunday, Jan. 5:  Cultures of the Southwest. Explore different cultural celebrations in the southwest and create a storyboard to share a story from your culture. This family program is great for all ages. ·         Scout the Briscoe – Hunt and enjoy a fun interactive way to see more of the Briscoe’s collection in an educational scavenger hunt on the first Sunday of each month. Completing the hunt is a family affair and you’ll learn fun information about works throughout the museum. Upcoming dates: Jan. 5, Feb. 2, Mar. 2. ·         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.   On the brink of competition by Alexia Gonzalez – Mixed Media Painting   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.