Postcards from San Antonio

While conducting research for a novel-in-progress about Hedda Burgemeister and Otto Koehler, Gayle Brennan Spencer became fascinated and distracted by the stories old postcards have to tell – resulting in a series of collages, “Postcards from San Antonio.” 

 Pralines, tortillas, sombreros and chili queens

Gayle maintains the original, intimate scale of the postcards and period stamps to force viewers to come closer to read these messages from earlier times – to ponder how they relate to life today.

 Cowgirls and longhorn cards

The first part of this “kitschen-aide” series opened in March 2004 for a year-long show at Zinc Champagne, Wine and Spirits.  Several prints also were included and sold during the 2004 WARRR group exhibition at  Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, and submitted works have sold during SAY Si benefit auctions.  A pair of prints from the holy card series were featured in a group show at El Sol Studios in October 2007 for First Friday and as part of Southtown's Art in the Hood. 

 Hilton twins, the bell of St. Mark's and the Black

                            Bean Episode

2008 brought participation in two group shows, "Yellow Roses: Emily Morgan and the Mythic and Historic Women of Texas" at Bihl Haus Arts and "Olvidate del Alamo" at Centro Cultural Aztlan. "Cowboy Blues" sold for $200 during the "Small Scale Work for a Large Cause" auction at SAY Si at the end of February 2008. 

Holy Cards

Gayle's godmother/aunt always lamented the role saints should play in daily life was not one taught by the nuns of Star of the Sea.  It took trips to the Old World and Central and South America to strip the veneer off the more sanitized version of American Catholicism. 

And, as part of her research for "An Ostrich Plume Hat," Gayle developed interest in "The Blue Book," a 1911-1912 guide to the "Sporting District" of San Antonio.  This sparked The Blue Book Series, which was exhibited at Justin's On Main at the end of 2008. 

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