Published on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Briscoe Western Art Museum in October 2023, The West Starts Here: A Decade at the Briscoeis an appreciation of the famous art destination in San Antonio, Texas, as well as a deeper examination of key pieces in its robust and exciting permanent collection.
Kim Wiggins, Frank Chisum—Wild West Icon, 2020, oil on canvas, 601⁄8 x 401⁄8 in. Gift of the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation.
Featuring essays and comprehensive art descriptions by Michael Duchemin, Emily Crawford Wilson and Judith Sobre, The West Starts Here explores the history of the building, which once housed a public library, and also looks to the future as the Briscoe has become a major art destination for all things related to the West. Even the title carries significance about the American West: San Antonio straddles the 98th Meridian and signifies the divide between East and West. “San Antonio is a city that sits at the crossroads of the Americas. It serves as a cultural melting pot and an entrée into the rich history of the South Texas borderlands. The Briscoe’s slogan ‘The West Starts Here’ reflects San Antonio’s status as a gateway city that leads into the broader story of the American West,” writes Wilson in the opening essay.
George Hallmark, Reverence, 2011, oil on linen, 48¼ x 36 in. Purchased with funds provided by John T. and Debbie Montford.
Deeper in the book, which is available in hardback and paperback, the three writers examine major pieces from the collection, including artworks by George Hallmark, Oscar E. Berninghaus, Carl Rungius, Kathryn Woodman Leighton, Howard Terpning, Fritz Scholder, Kim Wiggins, Martin Grelle, Logan Maxwell Hagege, John Moyers and Mark Maggiori. Many of the works come from prominent art collectors Jack and Valerie Guenther or their foundation, which provides funds for the purchase of art for the collection.
Adding another dimension to the collection, many of the images and essays include small “Community Perspective” sections that add more context, history and even opposing perspectives about the careers of the artist, the themes of the artwork and the significance of the subjects. Readers will not only set the book down with a deeper appreciation about the Briscoe, but also a more nuanced understanding of what makes a great museum collection.
Gladys Roldán-de-Moras, Sunday Riding at Mission San Jose, 2014, oil on linen, 36 x 48 in. Gift of Marrs McLean Bowman in Memory of His Mother Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers.
One “Community Perspective” entry, from U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, accompanies Gladys Roldán-de-Moras’ Sunday Riding at Mission San Jose: “With striking reds and golds reflecting the beating sun, talented San Antonio artist Roldán-de-Moras captures a kinetic moment of the vibrant life and culture around Mission San José-working parish and World Heritage site. While today we recognize Mission San José for both its history and artistic beauty, here it forms the background for different beauty: the lively activity in the foreground. Three women riders gather, ready to set their brilliant fabrics and finely embroidered sidesaddles into motion with energy building up in the sweeping brushstrokes of the horses’ legs. The mission stands today, open and sturdy, after having served for centuries, bearing witness to joy and sorrow, cultural preservation and destruction, and the motions and commotions of generations. And this captivating work of art reminds us of the many rich and sun-soaked chapters of each life lived just outside its shadow.”
Billy Schenck, Throwin’ a Loop, 2012, oil on canvas, 32 x 381⁄8 in. Purchased with funds provided by the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation.
The West Starts Here: A Decade at the Briscoe is now available at the museum, as well as International Artist Publishing’s store page accessible from www.westernartcollector.com. —
The West Starts Here: A Decade at the Briscoe
By Michael Duchemin, Emily Crawford Wilson and Judith Sobre
Published by Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2023
212 Pages, $35 (paperback), $50 (hardback)
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