07/13/2019

I was back at the Blue Star Arts Complex for the annual Paper Trail show, which showcases local artists who specialize in printmaking, stickers, buttons, zines, and all things in between. It has definitely grown to include artists from nearby cities like Dallas and Austin, but as far as California now as well!

My first stop was to caffeine up, and the hipster-ish Halcyon is the perfect place to do this. I love this place and its couches on the inside, so cozy! (Secret: it’s also my favorite study spot during finals time). I enjoyed the sun on my face with a hazelnut flavored coffee and the birds hopping around nearby.

I needs my coffee in the morning…..

The show had an official start date of the evening before, but the first 100 people this morning got the coveted sticker and button of the featured artist who designed the show’s logo for the year, and that is a must-have for me. $5 is nada when it comes to my collecting habits in this situation.

Since I was a wee bit early, it gives me time to look at the items without the crowds, and a chance to talk to the artists as well about their work.

This printmaking setup happened to be UTSA students, and later on in the show, I ran into one of my former instructors from the university who was there because he runs one of the printmaking clubs on the campus. We had a good long chat about art and just life itself, and it was nice to see him out of the “school environment” context. Later on, the guy had a luchador (a Mexican wrestler) mask, but right now he was kind of camera shy.

Another artist I talked to was an installer of exhibits in the DoSeum, which is the children’s museum here in San Antonio. I got to thinking that maybe this would be a neat possibility after I finished school as a job. He did mention that since this museum was a very touchy-feely one (it is for children, after all), he did have to constantly rebuild and reinstall, and had to be okay with all that. I think I would be okay with this, too. (His website was down, unfortunately).

One setup that caught my eye early was a banner that said “Sammy the Sushi Cat” and its fluffy pink tabletop cover with all..things…cats!!! I am more of a dog person myself, but cats rolled up looking like sushi is pretty darn cute.

This table had matryoshka dolls, which I absolutely LOVE.

This artist was the most entertaining. He told me in a wonderfully deadpan and sincere voice that he was hungover and was working towards getting day drunk. His stand was made with simple cardboard signs with sarcastic comments that I truly laughed out loud reading! I bought a button and later on returned for a sticker. When I meet artists like this, I always wish I had more money to spend to buy their work just to support them; I appreciated his humor so much.

This gorgeous Harry Potter poster art certainly caught my eye, the way the words were woven into the patronus was beautiful.

This artist’s name was clever:

Buttons, buttons, and more buttons!!!

Find them at Choice Goods Gallery in Blue Star or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewednesdaysart/

I’ve purchased this artist’s work before, he does many artwork of cities and their buildings and skylines – 23 in all so far! He even has his work in puzzle form! I also don’t know if his last name is real or an artistic pseudonym.

There was the weird things to see:

…As well as jewelry and this great pencil triptych of an anteater, which is not my favorite animal, but I can appreciate them in this incredible work.

Maybe one day, I’ll have my own stall here. Brick holds a special place in my heart always, because it was my very first art show ever with my own original work back in 2017. As well as other reasons that I won’t divulge here. 😉

So here’s the stash I ended up with: I especially love my Snoopy pin, which will go on my camping backpack:

Support local art here in SA!

Smell ya later, Brick!