Flaco Jimenez

Flaco Jiménez was born on March 11, 1939 and is a Tejano music legend from San Antonio, Texas. Jiménez's father, Santiago Jimenez Sr. was a pioneer of conjunto music. Flaco Jiménez is one of the best accordion players in the world. Jimenez was universally recognized as a leading exponent of the authentic South Texas Conjunto. By the time he was seven years old, Flaco was performing with his father. He began recording at fifteen, as a member of Los Caporales. He played in the San Antonio area for several years, and then began working with Douglas Sahm in the 1960s. Jimenez won a Grammy Award in 1986 for "Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio", a song of his father's. He was also a member of the supergroup Texas Tornados, with Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender. The Texas Tornados earned a Grammy Award in 1990, and Jimenez earned one on his own in 1996, when his Flaco Jimenez won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance. In 1999, Flaco earned another Grammy Award for Best Tejano Performance (Said and Done, Barb Wire Records), and one for Best Mexican-American Performance as a part of supergroup Los Super Seven. Jimenez has also won a Best Video award at the Tejano Music Awards and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard Latin Magazine for "Streets of Bakersfield" with Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens.

I listened to the song "Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio" a song by Flaco Jiménez father. Even though I had no clue what he was talking about most of the time, it was still a very good song. It made me want to start dancing and even made me want to try to sing along, but lets not talk about that. Other than it being a very fast pace song, it was really relaxing. I also like that Flaco is still playing his father’s songs, to keep his father's spirit alive.

Juan Tejeda

Juan Tejeda is a musician and scholar with his own band. Juan is a Mexican-American and is now a Chicano or what he calls it Xicano. Xicano is from the America Indians that were here first, mainly the Nahuatl and also the Aztecs. He spoke about the difference between Race, Nationality, and Ethnicity. There are only three different races. Ethnicity can be categorized as Mexican, Latinos, Hispanic, and even Americans. Spaniards came to America for gold, god, and glory. Part American Indian and Spaniards are called Mestizo. The Mestizos fought the Spaniards and made Mexico. Angelo Americans believed in Manifest Destiny, the idea that they should own the land from sea to sea. The three languages Chicano spoke Nahuatl, Espanol, and then finally English. He wrote his own poem called “Coyote Hungry for Justice” in 1996 about the questions of life. Tejano Music evolved in America and is called Corrido, Conjunto, and Orquesta Tejana. This music comes from the history of the working class music on the ranches. It is a mix between German and Mexican music.

San Antonio Museum of Art

San Antonio Museum of Art is located at 200 West Jones Avenue and is open every day, except Monday. Admission is anywhere from free, for members and children under three, to eight dollars for adults. Suan Antonio Museum of Art first opened its doors to the public in 1981 and since then the museum has grown from seven to fifteen acres. This museum has exceptionally important permanent collections of Western Antiquities, Asian Art, Latin American Art, and contemporary American paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts---each curated by specialists with strong international reputations.

The first piece of work I found interesting was Passing Storm over the Sierra Nevadas, 1870 by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902). This is a painting of a landscape that immortalized the sublime wilderness of the American West. This painting caught my eye because it looks so real. The contrast with the light and dark in this painting really strikes you, makes you ask, is this a photo? The focal point has to be the bright spot in the sky. This painting is a symmetrical because if you fold it in half its not symmetrical but looks even on both sides. This painting is very peaceful and comfortable. Leaves you with hope, even through the dark cloudy days sunlight can shine through.

The second piece of work I found interesting was Cherub (Querubin) by Artist unknown, Spanish in the 18th century. This is a sculpture of an angle with its arms in the air. It is carved and painted wood with glass eyes. I found it interesting because it is so old yet it is still here. The main color is brown since it is from wood. This sculpture is symmetrical. Kind of reminds me of Atlas in Greek mythology. Put a globe in the angle’s hands and there it is. This work lets off a sense of accomplishment. It is form the 18th century but it is still here. Also gives off a sense of progression since if you look at work from then compared to work from now.

Botanical Garden

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is located at Brackenridge Park next to the San Antonio Zoo. On 33 acres, the Botanical Garden is a combination of indoor displays and outdoor gardens, which include the Old Fashioned Garden, Rose Garden, Sensory Garden (Garden for the blind), Kumamoto En garden, Sacred Garden, Shade Garden, Gertie’s Garden and other garden displays. The garden was first conceived in the 1940s by Mrs. R. R. Witt and Mrs. Joseph Murphy, with a master plan developed in the late 1960s for the site of a former limestone quarry and waterworks. Funding began in 1970 with the official opening in 1980. The Botanical Garden opened daily from 9:00am - 5:00pm, but is closed Christmas and New Year's Day. It cost adults six dollars, children (Age 3-13) three dollars, senior citizens four dollars, and military and students four dollars. Military and students need to have ID ready.

Make sure you take sunscreen if you are going to be here all day. This garden is filled with paths and walk ways leading everywhere on this 33 acre plot. I like the indoor gardens with the water misters that water the plants. Was a good break from walking around outside. There were indoor waterfalls and mini rivers running through them. Some on the indoor building had sounds of a jungle in them. I really enjoyed my trip to the Botanical Gardens. It was a break from the normal; go to school go, to work daily routine. They even had a plant that if rubbed on the skin would rid oneself of freckles, but that didn’t work.