San Antonio is tipping its hat to a homegrown talent this April, former Poet Laureate Octavio Quintanilla, whose contributions to poetry and art are getting widespread kudos during National Poetry Month. Known for his unique blend of visual and poetic expression, Quintanilla's work is currently shining in three exhibits across the city. With eyes widely fixated on the former laureate, fans can see his “Frontextos” at Our Lady of the Lake University, the Mexican Cultural Institute, and streaming online through Urban-15's Mega Corazón poetry event.

Amid the celebrations, Octavio Quintanilla made sure to also support the city's newest Poet Laureate, Eduardo "Eddie" Vega, at his investiture ceremony on April 15. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, setting aside any sort of political froth, put it straight:  “artists and the art they create are critical to telling the story of our people, our places, our history, and our culture. Artists challenge standard narratives to create new approaches to view ourselves as a city.”

Quintanilla's "Frontextos" is not your average poesy. According to a San Antonio Report interview, Quintanilla revealed that the process began as doodles in his notebook, which eventually matured into visual poems. These works challenge and stretch beyond the confines of what we typically label as 'poetry.' Combining text, imagery, and abstract forms, the poems quite effectively break down traditional barriers.

He openly shared in an artist's reception that he's been all too familiar with the trap of excuses – too many classes to teach, too many books to read, and just never enough time – which had previously held him back from creating. Yet, Quintanilla managed to instead carve a daily practice of sketching, which has since flooded his Instagram feed with visceral emotions translated into colors and shapes.

The Mexican Cultural Institute's current exhibition of Frontextos, which opened on Wednesday and runs until the end of April, is a testament to Quintanilla's artistic journey. Those who can't make it to the exhibit can get a taste of his creativity at Our Lady of the Lake University's Sueltenfuss Library where his work stands on display until April 30, as detailed in an event announcement. And for those who prefer a digital setting, there’s always the Urban-15's Mega Corazón, promising an up-close experience of poetry in motion from Quintanilla and many others through the end of the month.