I visited the Art Museum of South Texas located in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was my first time visiting so the next few paragraphs are going to be my first response to the fine arts within this museum.
Walking to the front doors you are greeted by a realistic size bull by the entrance lawn and facing away from the museum building is a water structure known as The Watergardens which displays running water and shoots out water from large fountain. At night, they place lighting to show a display of images when the water begins to dance to a rhythmic pattern. Once inside there was the front desk, where visitors could schedule tour guides or walk around the gift shop as they please. The museum is set up right by the water so looking out of window you are greeted by the crashing waves of the Corpus Christi Bay, as well as the breathtaking air-craft carrier ship from WWII, The USS Lexington.
We'll begin with the first gallery which was a Western Style art style.
Within this art style you could see that it shows the wild life of South Texas, White Tail Deer and Javelina that would be seen together within the brush county. Growing up in Laredo, TX. It would be common to see these two within rural areas within the town. This beautiful painting done by Gary Swanson was the first thing that caught my eye.
Dave McGary, "Iron That Walks" - 1991
I was drawn to the Native American art, the art above was made of bronze metal. Looking at it I could tell it was created due to a molding pour yet with the color and paint put on it you could hardly tell it was made out of bronze. The sculpture was amazing with the detail work and how realistic it looked, getting down to the clothing, weapons, and body figure.
The next gallery had a lot of religion base imagery that had to do with catholic art and native art such as Mayan and Peru natives art work back in 1600 -1900 century as well as art work from BC.
This gallery was another reminisce towards my childhood and growing up in a Mexican American household, most of these images were very familiar. Having Mayan art work as well as Catholic inspired artwork within family household gave a sense of relaxing and pleasantness just being in that little gallery. Most of the art work was very old and ancient clay makes within the gallery.
Rigoberto Gonzalez, "All That Is Beneath The Heavens"
This art work was very questionable to me and this art was displayed upstairs of the museum with other local art work in Texas. Looking at it the first thing that draws attention is the clouds showing an incoming storm from the right side. The beauty in this art work is amazingly realistic, showing a river in the middle of it. However, looking closer on the left side of the river bank you can see a family playing, maybe enjoying a family outing. As for the right side there is a large gate which appears to be wooden. I wonder where this river is resemblance of.