Local artist paints hidden features of San Antonio River

"The A.J. Rodriguez New Works" is on display at the UTSA Downtown Art Gallery

SAN ANTONIO – A well-trafficked tourist destination in San Antonio is now being displayed along the walls inside of the Durango Building at the Downtown UTSA campus in a unique way.

Local artist AJ Rodriguez lives near the San Antonio River, and has captured the major waterway in a different perspective many aren’t used to seeing.

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“The majority of what you’ll see in this series of work is focused on capturing those things that are many times unseen by the person that is commonly walking down the river,” Rodriguez said. “So that kind of inspired me to kind of take a look at some of these other structures, within King William and within the Eagleland reach of the south portion of the river.”

Rodriguez said the San Antonio River has been a part of his life for many years, with six generations of his family having lived near the river and seeing it almost everyday in the walks with his family.

Rodriguez’s artwork is primarily focused on nature -- much like his last series that was focused on south Texas birds -- and he decided to highlight his hometown by painting the hidden features along the San Antonio River.

“The other thing you’ll notice with all of these works is a symbolic gesture with the red sides on each of them. I did that purposely because the river is kind of like the life-blood of San Antonio,” Rodriguez said. “I enjoy seeing artwork that you can see and interpret in your own way before understanding what the artist was trying to accomplish.”

Since Rodriguez is a UTSA alumnus, it prompted UTSA Art Collection curator Arturo Infante Almeida to display “The A.J. Rodriguez New Works” at the UTSA Downtown Art Gallery through Aug. 26.

The gallery is located on the first floor of the Durango Building at the UTSA Downtown Campus, located at 501 W. César E. Chávez Blvd.


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