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Westside Partners Celebrate the Launch of a New Center for Visual Arts at WETC New Programs Will Train Youth and Promote Workforce Development on the West Side Who: Alamo Colleges Westside Education & Training Center (WETC) and Westside Development Corporation (WDC) What: Noche Buena – An event introducing La Printeria, Gallery 237 & the San Antonio Motion Picture Academy When: Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Presentation at 7:45 p.m. Where: Alamo Colleges Westside Education & Training Center 563 SW 40th St., San Antonio 78237
San Antonio – Alamo Colleges Westside Education & Training Center (WETC) and the Westside Development Corporation (WDC) will mark the grand opening of the San Antonio Center for Visual Arts during Noche Buena, a celebratory night of the arts on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
The visual arts center, located at the WETC campus, is a workforce development initiative and cultural arts social enterprise featuring three significant community programs: La Printeria, Galleria 237 and the San Antonio Motion Picture Film Academy.
La Printeria is a fine art printmaking program focused on providing education and skills development around careers in the visual arts. Students will obtain knowledge through hands-on learning including printmaking, graphic design, screen printing for apparel and accessories, flat stock and more. These emerging artists will also learn the business side of art including branding and marketing, and how to properly price their work. “La Printeria is a hands-on program that will allow students to explore their interests in the visual arts, and provide them with the skills training and personal development they need to pursue their interests,” said Harvey Mireles, Executive Director for La Printeria. “This program will also give artists from across the city a place to continue developing their skills and provides a venue where they can network and collaborate, showcase their talents, and market their work.”
Galleria 237 is the visual arts center’s new 6,000 sq. ft. community art gallery, which will showcase the works of both accomplished and emerging artists through private or collaborative exhibitions.
The Center for Visual Arts will also be the home of the San Antonio Motion Picture Film Academy, which provides training for students interested in working in the film industry. Working professionals teach the program. The academy focuses on crew positions including camera assistants, sound, production assistants, electricians, grips and stagehands. “Integrating these new programs at WETC will bolster workforce training and professional development opportunities in the arts.
The arts have long been an integral component of economic development for the City of San Antonio. We are extremely excited about making these resources available city-wide and especially within the Edgewood community,” said Leonard Rodriguez, President and CEO of the WDC. “We are proud that the WETC is making a significant contribution to improving the lives of individuals and families in the west side community,” said Alamo Colleges Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development Dr. Federico Zaragoza. “These latest additions to our offerings at the WETC will serve to keep it at the heart of the community,” he added. During Noche Buena on September 24, works of more than 50 accomplished and emerging San Antonio artists will be on exhibit and for sale. Artists include Adriana Abundis, Sabrina Alfaro, Albert Alvarez, Hank Arriazola, David Blancas, David Zamora Casas, Sarah Castillo, Fadela Castro, Francisco Cortes, Carlos Cuevas, Nina Donley, Oscar Felan, Ana Fernandez, Ryan Forrest, Adrianna M. Garcia, Aaron Garza, Hosea Garza, Luis Garza Mario Garza, Albert Gonzales, David Gonzalez, Raul Gonzalez, Jacinto Guevara, Adan Hernandez, Mari Hernandez, Thomas Hopkins, Ashley Jacobs, Tanja Johnson, Ashley Mireles, Abraham Mojica, Juan de Dios Mora, Ernesto Olivo, Cruz Ortiz, Ashley Perez, Juan Miguel Ramos, Daniela Riojas, Andrea Andi’ Rivas, Martin Rodriguez, Mary Agnes Rodriguez, Nik Soupe, Lionel Sosa, Louis Vega Trevino, Luis Valderas , Deborah K. Vasquez, Roy Villarreal, Blair Wilson, Liliana Wilson, Max Woodward and Terry Ybanez. At the event, more than a dozen beautifully painted pews will be on display and available to purchase. The pews were salvaged from the Jerusalem Presbyterian Church before it was torn down. Fourteen artists were selected to paint the pews and transform them into works of art as part of the WDC’s Westside Pews project.
Proceeds from the art sales will benefit artists, WDC scholarships and La Printeria programming. For more information, contact the Westside Development Corporation at (210) 501-0192 or info@prosperwestsa.org. Westside Development Corporation The Westside Development Corporation is a City of San Antonio delegate agency, non-profit organization and Local Government Corporation responsible for attracting new business and assisting existing business in the Westside of San Antonio. The organization has been responsible for fostering economic development, promoting the development and redevelopment of real estate, creating viable urban communities, and preserving the character, culture and history of San Antonio’s Westside.
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