An artist's legacy
San Antonio Public Library honors the legacy of late, great Latino artist Jesse Treviño
Libraries are great.
For one night only, the San Antonio Public Library will host a panel with special guests honoring the life of the late, great Latino artist and Vietnam War veteran Jesse Treviño.
Treviño, who passed away in February 2023, often utilized the city of San Antonio as his artistic muse, centering many of his artistic works around the beauty of San Antonio's rich and diverse Hispanic community.
The library panel, titled, "Su Vida y Arte," will be moderated by Ellen Riojas Clark, PhD, a UTSA Professor Emeritus and a close friend of Treviño's.
Participants in the panel honoring Treviño's artistic legacy include KLRN's "On the Record" host and award-winning anchor Randy Beamer, President/CEO of the Avenida Guadalupe Association, Gabriel Quintero Velasquez, Anthony Head, the author of the book Spirit: The Life and Art of Jesse Treviño, and finally Cesar Martinez, a military veteran and Chicano artist who was one of Treviño's contemporaries.
Velasquez and Beamer were also close friends of Treviño.
The panel is free and open to the public, and will run on Wednesday, May 10, from 6-8:30 pm at the Central Library. If you miss the panel discussion, you still have an opportunity to view one of Treviño's greatest art pieces, titled, "Mi Vida," at the Central Library. The 14 by 8 foot autobiographical painting will be on display at the library for two years, thanks to a generous loan from art collector Cindy Gabriel.
Department of Arts & Culture Executive Director Krystal Jones said in an official press release, "We are honored to host Jesse’s esteemed colleagues on this panel in a format that is free and open to all because he made art accessible to all – in large scale formats that truly show the values and themes that many San Antonians resonate with."
Jones added, "However, his work transcends beyond just one community or group. Mexican Americans, veterans, survivors, people who deal with mental health issues and more can truly see themselves reflected in his collection of his works. We are grateful for his legacy and contributions.”
