If you peek inside the windows of the new Institute of Texan Cultures space at the corner of Houston and Camaron streets, you can spot the red texture of a bandana painted on the wall. You may also catch a glimpse of brightly colored Indian Blanket flowers. Some say you can even make out the silhouette of a San Antonio mission.
All of these elements are part of a new mural created by a husband-and-wife duo, San Antonio artists Malachy McKinney and Sandra Gonzalez McKinney, for the new ITC location.
“When visitors first walk through our doors, they will be greeted by a beautiful, unique commissioned artwork called ‘Texas Tapestries’,” says Monica Perales, associate vice provost at the Institute of Texan Cultures. “It reflects the interconnected and interwoven threads that unite Texans. It features plants and symbols from across the state. We encourage visitors not only to take in its colorful beauty, but also to see the symbolism and the ways they can make connections to their own Texas stories.”
The mural, located at the entrance of the new space, serves as an introduction to the museum’s new exhibit floor, called “Common Threads.” It was also built to move when the ITC eventually transitions to its permanent home.
Malachy and Sandra drew inspiration from fabrics, native plants and traditional patterns from various cultures around Texas.
“You will see a lot of vibrant color — things that feel like home to many people,” Malachy says. “Different textiles, local plants and the cultures that shape Texas are all represented.”
WATCH: San Antonio artist talks about home and heritage.
“We were trying to capture the scope of Texas and its heritage — its traditions,” he says. “We wanted to include every part. You can see a landscape with touches of West Texas. There’s a silhouette of a mission. You have to look closely to catch those details, but they’re in there.”
The couple hopes that when people stop and observe the mural, they feel a sense of home.
“I hope when people see it, they feel something familiar,” Malachy says. “I hope it reminds them of their home and heritage. I hope it helps them reflect on a part of their life.”
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