Luminaria

Luminaria, in Mexican culture, has to do with lighting up the way. 
Usually it is something simple, like candles in lunch paper sacks, along the sidewalk to a holiday party.
But, San Antonio goes out big for our city´s Luminaria event, held 2 week-ends ago.

They say 300,000 people show up downtown to see it. 
But it sure did not seem crowded to us. 

Artist must present works made of light. It takes a lot of work and preparation.

So, the light crews get to work early :

And even the musicians dress up their act with lights, 

as they prepare to perform for the whole city.

Several artists painted murals on walls which were accentuated by the projected lights. 
Many filled whole building's wall!

Some were more attractive than others.

And some were down right scary.
(Maybe it was because it was right after Halloween.)


They also had projected whimsical light scenes 
which create an opportunity for everyone, from young to old, to pose.

And some of the works are serious indeed. Like this one. 
I don´t know what the artist intended, but I call it
¨The consequence of conquest¨. Wouldn´t you agree?

It´s a diorama, less than 12 inches tall.
Tiny pebbles placed along the stucco wall have been painted to each look like a skull!
And look how the tiny statues pose a shadow TOWARDS you, instead of towards the wall! Wow!
This was my favorite of them all the works!

But the audience brought in a sense of the current times. 
Like that person using a phone to take the snapshot above...  
or …..was she merely texting a friend?

Well, I am distressed to report that texting was indeed the activity for some….

despite what was happening around them.


Meanwhile, in a building close-by, players faces were illuminated by lights from a room-full of pinball machines.

I must say, though, that I liked the riverwalk the best.

That's where musicians played under the bridges, 
and let us enjoy their more classic art!

If you think you'd like this, just come down to San Antonio's Luminaria this time next year! You'll enjoy it.