ART MATTERS

New San Antonio Museum of Art exhibit traces ancient beauty ideals

This Egyptian cosmetics dish will be on display as part of "Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents."

Photo courtesy of SAMA

Amidst ongoing pop culture conversations of Ariana Grande’s thin frame and other slimmed-down celebs, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is taking a look at how aesthetic standards have shifted over time and place. “Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents,” a new exhibit exploring the traditions of New Kingdom Egypt, Early Imperial Rome, Classic Maya, and Tang Dynasty China opens November 21.

The show spotlights objects from SAMA’s own ancient collections, along with loaned artifacts from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Witte Museum. In addition to viewing portraits, museum visitors can examine everyday tools, accessories, and vessels used in ancient self-care.

The items often contrast with their utilitarian use. A bronze incense burner is elaborately fashioned into a Roman bust crowned by two serpents. An Egyptian cosmetics dish takes the form of a soapstone oryx. Many were found in grave sites, a reflection of the importance of grooming rituals to ancient lives.

The museum says it wanted to not only contrast the standards of antiquity, but invite viewers to reflect on contemporary norms. Together, the works form a thesis: when it comes to beauty, there is really nothing new under the sun.

“The ancient world was obviously very different from our own in a lot of ways, but actually most of what we do today to enhance or alter how we look are things people were already doing thousands of years ago,” McAlpine, Associate Curator of Provenance Research, said in a release. “I hope visitors to the exhibition are excited to see ancient objects related to all these things and more.”

“Ancient Beauty and Body Art from Four Continents” will run through November 27, 2027, in the Steves Gallery. General tickets run from $14-$24, although the museum offers free admission on Tuesdays from 4-7 pm and second Sundays from 10 am-noon. SAMA says public programming related to the exhibit will be announced during its run.

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MONUMENTAL EFFORTS

San Antonio's USAA debuts D.C. monument for America 250

Photo courtesy of USAA

The National Military Monument will open July 28.

San Antonio’s USAA is branching out from insurance to experiential art. No, the homegrown company hasn’t suddenly gone Meow Wolf, but it is debuting an ambitious installation on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday, July 28.

Timed for the United States’ 250th anniversary, the National Military Monument was created to honor the more than 41 Americans who have served in the country’s history. Two double-sided flags are embedded with digital screens that light up with names as visitors walk past. The piece was designed to mimic flags rippling in the wind — an effect USAA says is a reminder that “behind every stripe is a person, a family and a story of service.”

Assembling those names was no simple task. Since there is not a single source archiving every American who's served, the organizers pulled from a mix of public records dating back to the Revolutionary War, including National Park Service and WWII Army enlistment records, POW lists, veteran service organizations, and USAA members who opted in to the project.

The monument also gives visitors a chance to connect with military history personally. Interactive kiosks throughout the site let visitors search for specific relatives and friends. On Tuesday, visitors can also search online to confirm a loved one is listed or submit names that are missing.

"This monument is ultimately about people," said Juan C. Andrade, USAA's president and CEO, in a statement. "We hope every person who walks through The National Military Monument leaves thinking about someone they know who served, reflecting on their sacrifice and carrying forward a deeper sense of gratitude.”

Like all public artworks in the National Mall, the National Military Monument does not charge a fee to view. Visitors can learn more, search for names, and submit additional records by visiting USAA.com/Monument250. The monument will be on view through August 23.

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