The City of San Antonio's Department of Arts & Culture is proudly presenting a visual feast that is both a cultural exploration and a biographical narrative. "Dining with Rolando Briseño: A 50-Year Retrospective" showcases the prolific career of Chicano artist and activist Rolando Briseño, beginning tonight at Centro de Artes Gallery. The space, nestled in Historic Market Square, opens its doors to the public for this expansive exhibit which will continue through February 9, 2025. In an evening set to celebrate art and heritage, the opening reception kicks off at 6 p.m. according to the City's announcement.
Explaining the significance of the retrospective, Krystal Jones, the Executive Director of the Department of Arts & Culture, noted on the City's website, "So much of culture revolves around food – what we eat, how it is prepared, who is at the table, and what is discussed around the table." She further emphasized that Briseño's art captures the essence of Mexican American experiences over the past seven decades, telling stories deeply rooted in food traditions and social activism, "It’s a visual testament to what has been lived, fought for and celebrated."
Rolando Briseño, a native of San Antonio, demonstrates through his art how personal and communal narratives entwine. He has always sought to artistically represent the interface of his experiences as a Mexican American growing up with the beauty of cultural traditions, particularly those centered around food. Briseño, as he reflected on his work, expressed on the City's website, "My work represents a reconciliation of nature and culture that include macro/micro natural elements," crediting tables and food as symbols of cultural and cosmic importance in his pieces.
An advocate for Chicano rights, Briseño immersed himself in local arts movements and has been instrumental in establishing Latino arts organizations. Following his studies in New York, Mexico, and internationally, he has become known for his distinctive depictions of the Mexican culinary narrative. Throughout his career, he openly explored themes of sexuality, loss – notably recovering from a significant fire that decimated his home and studio – and resilience. He has been publicly recognizable for his works spread across museums in the Americas while also privately mourning the recent death of his partner, fellow artist Angel Rodriguez-Diaz. Ruben Cordova, the curator of the exhibition, praised Briseño's imagination: "Briseño utilizes food as artistic building blocks: he erects model buildings out of dough and corn tortillas, and varieties of chiles serve as pigments," as mentioned on the City of San Antonio official website.
Over 75 pieces—drawings, lithographs, paintings, photographs, and salvaged items from the aforementioned fire—constitute “Dining with Rolando Briseño”. This comprehensive exhibit is not just free but invites the public to delve into the history and ethos of a community via the lens of a single creative force. The Centro de Artes Gallery is located at 101 S. Santa Rosa Ave., San Antonio, TX 78207, and welcomes visitors Wednesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends from 12 to 5 p.m., with closures on City holidays.
