“Westside Pews”
Presented By
Westside Development Corporation
Dear Friend,
“Westside Pews” is an project of the Westside Development Corporation (WDC) to raise scholarship funds for para-professionals to
become certified teachers, support local artists, and promote public art throughout our community.
For your donation in support of our scholarship fund, the WDC will provide you with a Westside Pew in appreciation for your tax
deductible contribution. Attached includes a pictorial presentation of the pews with the accompanying donation amount and artist
information.
The pews were saved from the Jerusalem Presbyterian Church which stood at Las Palmas Dr. in the City’s Westside prior to its demolition
in 2016. Artists from all over San Antonio have creatively refurbished these pews into functional art pieces. The work accomplished is
amazing and each one tells a different story.
The Westside Pews are currently on display at Galería 237 at Alamo Colleges’ Westside Education and Training Campus at 563 SW 40th
Street. It is opened Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 9:00pm. I hope you will take the time to consider making a donation and see
the Westside Pew exhibit in person.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. Should you have any questions, please contact Samantha Foltz or myself at 210-501-0192 or
by email, [email protected].
Sincerely,
Leonard B. Rodriguez
President and CEO
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $4,500.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Hens and Chicks” by Blair Wilson
This pew imagery was inspired by my love of gardening. I chose one of my favorite garden plants to honor named "Hen and Chicks". The Hen and Chicks plant
is in the cactus, agave, succulent family. It has done well in all of the gardens I have had the pleasure of tending. I built a garden in Seattle for over twenty
years. Now, I have found fertile ground, suitable for a splendid garden right here in San Antonio Texas. I thoroughly cleaned, caulked and sanded the church
bench. Then I painted 13 polytab panels for my pew with gesso, nova gel, acrylic, and gloss sealer. I adhered the panels to the pew with a technique I learned
at San Anto Cultural Arts Center.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $4,500.00
“Westside” by Oscar Felan
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
Born and raised in San Antonio. He spent much of his early childhood at his grandparent’s home on the West Side of San Antonio. His early artistic
influences started with his very creative and talented mother (and mentor) Gloria Bumpers who continues to create one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture and
jewelry to this day. Additional influences include his Aunt Marina Rodriguez who worked producing portraits from her home studio. Oscar learned early on
that all people are “artists painting a picture” of themselves for the world to see. It was with this knowledge that he began to produce colorful designs and
artwork himself. Most of his designs reflect thoughts in his mind of the world around him including the media, his culture, and opinion. The style in which
everything seems connected represents one thing feeding off one another; thoughts flowing inside one’s mind from one to the next with no start or
ending. His medium of choice for this project was oil pastels and wood stain with a clear polyurethane coat.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $5,000.00
Dimensions in Feet:
4Hx9Lx2W
“Holy Mosaic” by Roy Villareal
Roy Villareal was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. Roy is a self-employed carpenter, painter,
theater set designed, handyman, and born artist. This pew has lights installed on the bottom to
give it a glowing effect. Power cord and switch included.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $5,000.00
“San Anto Conjunto Bench” by Jacinto Guevara
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
Jacinto Guevara, born in 1956 and raised in Los Angeles, California, has been drawing and painting all his life. He added music performance in 1976 to his
hobbies. In 1986 he became a "full time" artist and then moved to San Antonio in 1992. Over 600 of his works are in more than 200 collections, including over
more than ten pieces in Cheech Marín's and Dr. Ricardo Romo's private collections, and the collection of UTSA. Jacinto is a self-described 'Urban landscape'
artist and is known for painting from life. The pew pays homage to San Antonio's significance in the record industry of Norteña, Tex-Mex and "Conjunto"
music. Depicted is the Hohner accordions used in this genre; the sites of recording studios and recording disc manufacturers such as Tanner 'N' Texas, Marsal;
record store, Del Bravo records on Old Hwy 90; and finally a depiction of the 79, 45 and 33 RPM discs and local labels.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $3,000.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Words” by Chris Conde
Born into a military family, Chris Conde grew up living in several countries around the world. He attended late elementary and early middle school in Guam,
early high school in Turkey, then graduated high school in Okinawa, Japan. Combined with the sociological observations of living amongst different cultures as
well as being openly gay and a recovered alcoholic, Conde's art and music is birthed of an individual who has felt the brightest lights and darkest blacks of the
human experience.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $1,500.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Tangled Up” by Nicholas Federico
Nicholas Federico, age 26, is a Texas Native, currently Nicholas is studying Graphic Design at San Antonio College. He also enjoys the creative process
of Music, as a result he has created a project called Fishbrain, a sound with a nuance of surfy indie rock duo. Federicos' pew reflects a seamless line
representing the unpredictable, random paths that keep everything connected in life. “A line is a dot that went on a walk. We are the dot and the
walk is the journey of life”
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $4,000.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Oaxaca In My Mind” by Nina Donley
I was born in Dallas, Texas but grew up in Kentucky. I lived in an orphanage from age 11 years old until 18 years old. I went to college at Morehead State
University and Eastern Kentucky University to study Art. I have used art as a coping method to deal with a hard life and have been part of many projects
throughout the US. I have lived in San Antonio for the past 6 years and love the culture here. I currently live in the live work units at the Gardens at San Juan
Square where I have a small art gallery as my business. Art has always helped me along the way in life to remain focused and creative. Without art I would
have not succeeded.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $2,000.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Flight of the Phoenix” by Ryan Forrest
Ryan Forrest is a young painter from Austin, Texas. Ryan began oil painting in 2009 and his work is
influenced by the great authors that informed his understanding of this world.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $2,000.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Arizona” by Thomas Hopkins
Thomas “Tommy” Hopkins is a visual artist and arts educator based in San Antonio, Texas. Hopkins received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the
University of Texas at San Antonio in 2006. He served as the Visual Arts Director and Instructor at SAY Sí, a nationally recognized non-profit youth development
program for nine years. Hopkins is a seasoned educator and taught many age groups including middle school students, high school students and young adults.
Hopkins specializes in oil painting techniques and practices a variety of disciplines including drawing, printmaking, encaustic painting, sculpture and teaching.
His work has been exhibited in galleries and private collections across San Antonio. Hopkins maintains a working studio and exhibition space at his home
located in the burgeoning 5 Points Neighborhood, in Midtown San Antonio.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $4,000.00
“Selena” by Adriana M Garcia & Ivan Ramos
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
Adriana M Garcia, an award winning artist, muralist, scenic designer was born and raised in the west-side of San Antonio. She received her BFA From
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied fine arts in Valencia, Spain. Garcia was most recently awarded $15,000 and winner of
the Jose Cuervo Traditional Mural Project, a national art competition where 10 selected finalist participated. She has presented her work at national
conferences such as 2013 National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS), the Roots and Remedies conference and el Mundo Zurdo. Garcia
also participated in X-Marks the Art a year long public art initiative by PASA where she created a kinetic light installation piece in San Antonio. She created
community murals with South West Workers Union, Bill Haus Arts, San Anto Cultural Arts Center and Casa de la Cultura in Del Rio, Texas, with a focus on
mental health and immigrations issues. She has exhibited work in San Antonio, Austin and Houston Texas, California and Phoenix, Arizona.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $2,000.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Wings” by Ashley Jacobs
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $4,000.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“New Spur, Old Spur” by Nina Donley
I was born in Dallas Texas but grew up in Kentucky. I lived in an orphanage from age 11 years old until 18 years old. I went to college at Morehead State
University and Eastern Kentucky University to study Art. I have used art as a coping method to deal with a hard life and have been part of many projects
throughout the US. I have lived in San Antonio for the past 6 years and love the culture here. I currently live in the live work units at the Gardens at San Juan
Square where I have a small art gallery as my business. Art has always helped me along the way in life to remain focused and creative. Without art I would have
not succeeded.
Scholarship Fund Donation Amount: $3,500.00
Dimensions in Feet:
L 11 x H 3 x W 2
“Simplicity” by Aaron Garza
Aaron started painting and exploring the arts in late 2009, working with stencils and t-shirts. In 2014, he opened the Espresso Gallery and helped promote
upcoming and established artists. After closing the gallery in 2015, Aaron has been traveling and currently living in a national park. Aaron appreciates simplicity
and high contrast. The pew was painted sing spray paint and a stencil cutout.
WESTSIDE PEWS
2016
“Hens And Chicks”
By Blair Wilson
Sponsored By
[Company Name]
This Pew Was Commissioned And Saved From The
Jerusalem Presbyterian Church
Demolition By The
Westside Development Corporation
Each Westside Pew will be outfitted with
commemorative plaque including artist
information and sponsor name.
Thank You for Your Support
and Consideration.