Ryan Badger, Curator of Collections for the Briscoe Western Art Museum, guides us about how to use the museum’s virtual resources for at-home learning.
The mission of the Briscoe Western Art Museum is preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage.
Pre-pandemic, the center of the Briscoe’s work was the permanent collections in the museum at 210 West Market Street, on the San Antonio Riverwalk, near the Convention Center, La Villita, etc. The museum also hosts changing exhibits, like last year’s “Art and the Animal,” and—when it was safe—hosted events that include community partners like the zoo and wildlife rescuers to welcome families.
When the museum temporarily closed in March, the team launched Beyond the Briscoe, a set of online resources, especially videos, that bring the museum’s artifacts to life. There is also an email newsletter to get updates.
We asked Ryan for advice about how families can use the Beyond the Briscoe resources for at-home learning. He gave some examples:
* Kids who like to cook can watch a video about cowboy stew and then make it in the kitchen.
* Kids who like to create can download acvtivity sheets and learn how to paint bluebonnets and sculpt a longhorn.
* Young children can sit with their parents and watch a video storytime, such as “Two Baby Buffalo.”
At-home learning is new to many of us, but it’s a skill that we can develop. Just choose something that looks interesting and give it a try.
The Briscoe is making plans to reopen. Members can visit on May 21-22, and the general public can come starting May 23. Find out how to become a member at https://www.briscoemuseum.org/member/.
Their spring exhibit, Briscoe Museum Night of Artists, will be open through July 26 because the museum was closed when the big event would have happened. The exhibit fills two levels of the Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe and includes nearly 300 works by 80 artists.
The McNutt Sculpture Garden will be open, and is a great opportunity to appreciate art in the fresh air.
We hope you will take Ryan’s advice about how to use the Briscoe’s virtual resources for at-home learning with your family. Western art is a beautiful gateway to study San Antonio’s place in history, and this time we have with our kids is an opportunity for us to shape their identities as citizens and build new skills. Stay safe and have fun! #LearnEverywhere
