Dates and Art Exhibit Location

Oct 27 - Nov 17: University of Texas at San Antonio

Events

  • Wednesday, October 27: 11am-12pm, Artists lecture and Q&A at 3.01.18A or the UTSA Gallery
  • Wednesday, October 27: 6-6:30pm, Blue Star reception, open to the public
  • Wednesday, October 27: 6:30-8pm, Panel Discussion, "The Berlin Wall and the US-Mexico Border", Moderator: Bill Fitz Gibbons, Executive Director Blue Star, with 4 German artists and American artists, open to the public
  • Wednesday, October 27: 8pm, Reception at home of Dr. Anglelika Jansen and Bob Brown, by invitation only
  • Thursday, October 28: 9pm, Live interview on KENS5 TV with Jeff Thinnes from Breakthrough, Berlin artists Inge Schmidt and Thomas Klingenstein
  • Thursday, October 28: 4-6pm, VIP Reception at home of Carol and Greg Wright, by invitation only
  • Thursday, October 28: 6-9pm, Opening Reception and Presentation at UTSA Gallery (main campus), open to the public
  • Thursday, October 28: 9pm, Get-together at home of Rick Liberto, by invitation only
  • Friday, October 29: 10-11:30am, Discussion with Brackenridege High School students (Value of Freedom)
  • Friday, October 29: 8-10pm, Local artists get-together at Sala Diaz
  • Saturday, October 30: 1-2:30pm, Riverboat tour and lunch provided by Boudro's for the German artists
  • Saturday, October 30: 6-7:30pm, Sausages and beer at studio of Bill FitzGibbons, by invitation only
  • Saturday, October 30: 8-11pm, Halloween event at "the Cove"
  • Sunday, October 31: 7pm, Halloween Dinner/Party at home of Lori Dunlap, by invitation only
  • Sunday, October 31: 11:00am-12:30pm, B-B-Q with Mexican-American artists, professors and students at ranch of Ralph Velasquez, CEO, Faith 5 Management
  • Sunday, October 31: 12:30pm, Departure to UTSA Gallery for Walkthrough and Q&A session Breakthrough artists and group of Faith 5 Management

Local Partners and Sponsors

The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio (also referred to as UTSA) is a state university located in San Antonio, Texas, United States. With an enrollment of over 29,000 students, it is the second-largest of nine separate components in the University of Texas System, the seventh-largest in Texas, and the largest public university in Texas outside of the six flagship universities from the various systems.

University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the Technische Universitaet Berlin (TUB) signed a contract of co-operation on March 2, 2010. This agreement is an important bridge between two outstanding institutions of learning and will energize academic exchanges between Texas and Berlin. On July 23, 2010 the ties were deepened when the two presidents, Dr. Steinbach from TU and Dr. Romo from UTSA met and outlined specific fields of cooperation. Please find more information on the initial signing here.

Dr. Angelika Jansen, San Antonio Dresden Economic and Cultural Alliance Representative
The Alliance was formed out of a long-standing interest in the community to leverage the historic relationship between Texas and Germany to spur greater economic and cultural exchanges with the largest economy in Europe. But it wasn’t until an exhaustive research process that the San Antonio – Germany Alliance Taskforce selected Dresden for such an endeavor. Dresden was chosen for its cultural richness and its exceptional concentration of research institutes in future-oriented fields of competence such as microelectronics, information and communication technology, nanotechnology/new materials, and biotechnology.

Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines is pleased to support the University of Texas at San Antonio and the Breakthrough Art Organization with a donation of international tickets to be used for the transportation of the Berlin artists to the exhibition at San Antonio.

Texas Commission on the Arts
Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992
UTSA Office of the President
Blue Star Contemporary Art Center
Ann G. Ash
Boudro's on the Riverwalk
City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs
Kathy Coiner
Joel and Lori Dunlap
Frost Bank
Gore Design Completions, LTD.
Chris Hill and Rudy Choperena
Stacey Hill
Soonalyn and Daniel Jacob
The Lifshutz Foundation
Rackspace Hosting
Rio San Antonio Cruises
Nancy and Robert Shivers
Carol and Greg Wright
Rick Liberto
Wes Oliver and Devi Norton
UTSA, College of Fine and Liberal Arts, Department of Art and Art History

Summary of Events

Wednesday, October 27 - Click Here to View Photos
The first day in San Antonio kicked off with a visit to the Exhibition at the UTSA Gallery followed by a discussion with UTSA art students and a visit of the Breakthrough artists to their studios.

In the evening, the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center hosted a Panel Discussion organized by Blue Star President and Executive Director Bill Fitzgibbons and his excellent team. The Blue Star Contemporary Art Center is the largest and most established contemporary art facility in San Antonio. It was founded by local artists and has become the key center for international, national and Texas artists to exchange exhibitions, symposia and to continue developing trend-setting art in San Antonio. The panel discussion, titled “The Berlin Wall and the US-Mexico Border,” took place with all 4 Berlin Breakthrough artists joined by San Antonio visual artists Anne Wallace and Ken Little and writer John Phillip Santos.

Following the panel discussion, Dr. Angelika Jansen and her husband, Bob Brown, hosted a dinner with many community leaders in their lovely home. Angelika was the moving force in bringing the Breakthrough project to San Antonio, organizing all of the local activities, raising support from generous local businesses and individuals, and essentially making it all happen!

Thursday, October 28 - Click Here to View Photos
Breakthrough artists Inge Schmidt and Thomas Klingenstein, together with Breakthrough Founder Jeff Thinnes, were invited to appear as guests on the local CBS affiliate KENS 5 show “Great Day SA.” This was a tremendous opportunity to reach a broad spectrum of the San Antonio community with the story of Breakthrough and call their attention to the Breakthrough exhibition opening later that day.

The Breakthrough exhibition opened in the early evening at the Gallery of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts at the University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA). An official reception took at the gallery following an opening ceremony in the university auditorium. German Consul General from Houston, Mr. Roland Herrmann, representing Breakthrough’s primary sponsor, the German Government and the President of UTSA, Dr. Ricardo Romo were honored speakers. An official welcome letter by the Mayor of San Antonio, Mr. Julian Castro, was also read by Dr. Angelika Jansen, coordinator of the San Antonio events. The exhibition and ceremony met with tremendous positive response from the San Antonio audience.

Prior to the Opening reception, a private “warm-up” reception was hosted in the private home of Carol and Greg Wright. Several community and academic leaders from the university, as well as San Antonio’s Honorary German Consul Mr. Bernard Ben Buecker and Consul General Roland Herrmann, attended this delightful garden reception.

Following the Opening Reception, the Breakthrough Team went to the private home of Rick Liberto where several local artists and art enthusiasts awaited them with customary San Antonio warmth (and delicious food and drinks!).

Friday, October 29 - Click Here to View Photos
The day began with a tour of the Linda Pace Foundation with Executive Director Steven Evans. This was yet another wonderful example of the incredible philanthropic role in and impact on the arts that is unique to the United States.

Thereafter we visited Brackenridge High School for a dialogue on enduring values of freedom of expression and the will to achieve goals with over 100 High School students between 15-17 years old. They were highly motivated for an engaging dialogue and well-prepared by their Art teachers Kim Bishop and Luis Valderas.

Following the high school program, the Breakthrough team was invited by Chris Hill and Rudy Choperena to the historic , beautiful Gallagher Ranch. The “lazy afternoon” of conversation and nourishment with local artists was a one-of-a-kind Texas experience.

That evening the Breakthrough artists were again hosted by Chuck Ramirez, renowned local artist living in the unique “Compound” area – a group of adjoining properties made available as homes to local artists. Several artists and art supporters attended the casual outdoor reception for wine, cheese and conversation. Tragically, Chuck Ramirez died a week later, hit by a car while on his bicycle. His generosity, interest in and support of the Breakthrough project, and his jovial nature will not be forgotten.

Saturday, October 30 - Click Here to View Photos
Saturday was a day of relaxation and casual discovery of the beauty of San Antonio. A River Cruise Lunch Tour of San Antonio was sponsored by the owner of the cruises, JoAnne Boone, with a delicious lunch catered by Boudro's restaurant through the generous support of owner Randy Matthews. The cruise with local art professors and supporters of the arts provided the Breakthrough artists unique and unforgettable views of San Antonio’s historic River Walk District and downtown areas.

Saturday evening, Blue Star Executive Director Bill Fitzgibbons and his wife Anne, kindly hosted the Breakthrough artists to an informal cookout at Bill’s studio on the recently revived arts district of San Antonio.

Sunday, October 31
The highlight of the artists’ final day in San Antonio was a barbecue with leaders of the city’s Mexican-American political and cultural leadership organized by Phase 5 Management Group CEO, Mr. Ralph Velasquez. It afforded the Berlin artists the opportunity to exchange ideas with filmmakers, artists, the former president of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and gain much appreciated insight into the interests and concerns of the Mexican-Americans of San Antonio (who constitute 65-70% of the total population).