Milam Park: Public Art Project
Milam Park: Public Art Project
The City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture has identified Milam Park (500 West Commerce St.) as an opportunity for a public art project. The artwork will be a mural located on the back of the seating wall facing North Santa Rosa Street (see map below). Currently in the beginning stages of the public art process, we need your input on what theme you’d like to see explored in the artwork design.
Beneath the surface of what is known today as Milam Park and the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, ancestors of some of the earliest communities in San Antonio are interred. These grounds were once the second Campo Santo of San Fernando Church, an early Catholic Cemetery, and an early city cemetery. The people interred here came from a variety of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds—from Native Americans to the city’s first soldiers and settlers, to Canary Islanders and participants from various military engagements.
Despite their diverse origins, these residents of San Antonio all endured the harsh realities of life as a frontier community. These people and their descendants influenced the development of the city and continue to contribute and serve the community in many ways. Those buried at Milam Park are a reminder of the collective effort that formed the very heart and foundation of the City of San Antonio.
El Departamento de Arte y Cultura de la Ciudad de San Antonio ha identificado a Milam Park (500 W. Commerce St.) como una oportunidad para un proyecto de arte público. La obra será un mural situado en la parte posterior de la pared de asientos frente a North Santa Rosa (ver mapa a continuación). La meta de la obra de arte es homenajear a las comunidades que descansan en Milam Park. Actualmente, en las etapas iniciales del proceso de arte público, necesitamos su aporte sobre qué tema le gustaría ver explorado en el diseño de la obra de arte.
Bajo la superficie de lo que hoy se conoce como Milam Park y Children's Hospital of San Antonio, están sepultados los antepasados de algunas de las primeras comunidades de San Antonio. Estos terrenos fueron en su día el segundo Campo Santo de la Iglesia San Fernando, uno de los primeros Cementerios Católicos y uno de los primeros cementerios de la ciudad. Las personas sepultadas aquí provenían de una variedad de orígenes sociales, económicos y étnicos, desde nativos americanos hasta los primeros soldados y colonos de la ciudad, pasando por los canarios y participantes de diversos enfrentamientos militares.
A pesar de sus diversos orígenes, todos estos residentes de San Antonio soportaron las duras realidades de la vida como comunidad fronteriza. Estas personas y sus descendientes influyeron en el desarrollo de la ciudad y continúan contribuyendo y sirviendo a la comunidad de muchas maneras. Aquellos sepultados en Milam Park son un recordatorio del esfuerzo colectivo que formó el corazón y los cimientos de la Ciudad de San Antonio.
Point of Contact: Bianca Alvarez, Public Art Project Manager, [email protected]
Survey Open: March 2, 2023
Survey Close: April 30, 2023
All Public Art Projects managed by the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture follow a comprehensive process. The Public Art Process includes six major checkpoints, in which we check in with the community and stakeholders for updates and feedback from beginning to end. Milestones with an asterisk indicate required approvals by our Public Art Committee and San Antonio Arts Commission. On average, a project can be completed in up to 24 months.
Project Overview:
Beneath the surface of what is known today as Milam Park and the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, ancestors of some of the earliest communities in San Antonio are interred. These grounds were once the second Campo Santo of San Fernando Church, an early Catholic Cemetery, and an early city cemetery. The people interred here came from a variety of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds—from Native Americans to the city’s first soldiers and settlers, to Canary Islanders and participants from various military engagements.
Despite their diverse origins, these residents of San Antonio all endured the harsh realities of life as a frontier community. These people and their descendants influenced the development of the city and continue to contribute and serve the community in many ways. Those buried at Milam Park are a reminder of the collective effort that formed the very heart and foundation of the City of San Antonio.
Public Art Project locations must gain approval from the San Antonio Art’s Commission’s Public Art Committee before the project can continue. This project gained approval on from the Public Art Committee on August 2, 2022.
If a project is in a park or historic district/location it must gain approval from the City of San Antonio’s Office of Historic Preservation’s Historic Design Review Commission. This project gained approval from the Historic Design Review Commission on May 17, 2023.
Project Location:
The mural will be located on the back side of the stone bench on the east end of the park, facing Santa Rosa St.
Project location photo taken Summer 2022.
This video is a recording of the virtual meeting which took place on March 14, 2023.
Documents
Community Conversation: Public Art at Milam Park
The Department of Arts & Culture wants to hear from you! As we plan for our Public Art project at Milam Park, we need your input to determine the theme and inspiration for the artwork. Please join us virtually for this community conversation.
To register for this virtual event please click here.
ACCESS STATEMENT
The City of San Antonio ensures meaningful access to City meetings, programs and services by reasonably providing: translation and interpretation, materials in alternate formats, and other accommodations upon request. To request these services call (210) 206 ARTS or Relay Texas 711 or by requesting these services online at https://www.sanantonio.gov/gpa/LanguageServices. Providing at least 72 hours’ notice will help to ensure availability.