A wise woman once told Anel Flores to move to Olmos Park Terrace. Sixteen years later, and she’s still in the neighborhood writing, painting, and making jewelry forever “inspired by my community garden, my neighbor’s outdoor sculptures, and the colorful bike-riders who fly by daily.”
Anel paints a vibrant picture of the lively neighborhood that’s home to her countless creative cohorts. These are painters, writers, photographers, crafters, jewelry-makers, fiber and glass artists, and just about any other type of media-maker you can think of. She muses, “It’s energizing to feel that while I might be on my fifth or tenth hour plugging away on my next book, entranced in a painting, or sculpting a new piece of jewelry, there are friends close by doing the same thing.”
And now, these inspiring artists invite San Antonio into their studios for one weekend only. The 14th Annual Uptown Art Stroll features 21 San Antonio resident artists and more than 30 guest artists spanning three neighborhoods.
“Inviting someone into my studio is like asking them inside the house after a first date!” Flores summons this hypothetical one night stand: “When a person walks in they will not only be able to see the work, but also the intimate secrets of how I create and how I invite the story to the page and canvas.”
You’ll know you’ve found Anel’s and any of the artists’ homes when you see yellow and purple tie-dyed flags (and a clearly marked sign) in the front. There will be maps aplenty, but in the meantime you can visit http://theoptna.org for more in-depth location information. And don’t you worry about your aching feet – free pedi-cabs will be available to haul patrons between venues.
You can learn more about Anel at http://www.aneliflores.com
