When San Antonio photographer Antonia Padilla decided to go through her archives late last year, she discovered negatives and contact sheets which contained images of pop singer Selena’s 1993 concert in Brownsville, Texas. At the time the photos were taken, Padilla was a photographer for the Brownsville Herald where she often was assigned to cover…
Arts & Culture
Ada Vox: How a Singing Drag Queen from San Antonio Got America to Listen Up
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. To most American Idol viewers, the singing drag queen Ada Vox came out of nowhere to turn in one stunning prime-time performance after another. Vox grabbed our attention early on with an incandescent rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep,” and she didn’t let go. Vox followed up with her interpretation…
Luther’s Cafe to Screen ‘Transpose’ Documentary
Luther’s Cafe will host a screening of Transpose, a documentary that examines the challenges transgender people face as they go through their transition and seek to forge ahead with their new lives. The film is a project of Arttitude, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization which serves to unite the LGBT community “with the goal of inciting…
MujerArtes Sale Comes Just in Time for Mother’s Day
The MujerArtes clay cooperative’s annual Mother’s Day sale and exhibit opens on Saturday, May 5 at the group’s Adobe Studio located in the heart of San Antonio’s Westside. The exhibit and sale will feature handmade artworks fashioned by the women of the cooperative who work under the guidance of experienced ceramicists. “This is the perfect…
On the Chartreuse Couch: Gene Elder Interviews Frates Seeligson, Director of Confluence Park
San Antonio’s Confluence Park opened on March 3. In this edition of the Chartreuse Couch series, Gene Elder interviews environmentalist Frates Seeligson, the director of Confluence Park. Gene: Frates, welcome, sit on the Chartreuse and feel the love. You are heading up a terrific San Antonio River improvement called Confluence Park and we want to…
Ada Vox Is An Idol Even If She Isn’t America’s
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. We’ve got some pretty mixed feelings over here, y’all. America voted. Unfortunately, they didn’t vote for Ada Vox to make it to the top seven on this season of American Idol. If you haven’t been keeping up with the singing drag queen from San Antonio Ada Vox, who’s…
Pride San Antonio Readies Flambeau Float With Quinceañera Theme
Volunteers with Pride San Antonio have spent the past few weeks planning and executing the design of their float in this year’s Fiesta Flambeau Parade on Saturday night, April 28. The work includes not only building the lighted float but creating costumes as well. This year’s parade entry has a quinceañera theme, a nod to…
SAY Sí Exhibit to Include Installation Focusing on Violence Against Trans Women
An art exhibit by students at SAY Sí titled, Stories Seldom Told: Omitted Histories, which opens on May 4, will include an installation inspired by recent cases of violence against transgender women of color. The installation, titled “The Final Transition,” is set in the bedroom of a fictional 17-year-old transgender woman named Marsha Skye Castillo.…
Will Ada Vox Make It to ‘American Idol’ Top 10?
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. Y’all. Our girl might win this whole damn thing. If you haven’t been keeping up with the current season of American Idol, you’re really missing out. Not only is the talent on this show actual talent this season, San Antonio’s singing drag queen Ada Vox is competing and,…
SA Filmmaker Chronicles the Colorful History of Fiesta Cornyation
After producing a 20-minute documentary about Fiesta Cornyation this year, local independent filmmaker David Sims announced he’s now working on a full-length version celebrating one of Fiesta San Antonio’s most popular events. Cornyation, the Short Film, which was completed last September, chronicles the origins of the bawdy stage show and it’s roots in the community.…