Rolando Briseño is a San Antonio-based public artist. He proudly embraces the designation of Cultural Adjustor (I believe it’s printed on his business cards). There have been several events over the years (sometimes at the Alamo, sometimes in a gallery space) where Rolando has curated similar shows to prompt people to reconsider the prevailing mythos surrounding the Alamo. This video was taken during the 2011 event, which, I believe, was staged on the feast day of Saint Anthony de Padua, June 13. There are way too many luminaries from the local arts and cultural scene to list here, but we do have a who’s-who of San Antonio, whether as part of the ceremonies, or as members of the audience bearing witness to this moment of cultural adjustment. The band playing is Los Nahuatlatos, and I poached some of their live performance during the event to use for the music bed. I shot this all so loosely, with no intention of editing it into anything, really. I just happened to have my camera with the (cameras are wonderful devices for the socially awkward introvert to hide behind), but when I got home later that day and edited together a short montage, I loved how the emotions (joyful and tragic, at the same time) were so fortuitously captured.

[UPDATE: On September 5, 2024, Centro de Artes Gallery unveiled a show. Dining with Rolando Briseño: A 50-Year Retrospective. My little film was included (true, it’s but a minor footnote to Rolando’s impressive and on-going career, but I’m very honored). The show continues through Feb. 9, 2025. I hope to make it to town and see it.]