in this issue San Antonio Current
Issue 20_06 /// March 11-24, 2020
25 Arts
Publisher: Michael Wagner Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin
The Gatekeepers
Editorial
Furor over Centro de Artes’ exhibition raises questions about how much say the city has over arts content
Food & Nightlife Editor: Lea Thompson Calendar Editor: Kelly Merka Nelson Contributing Arts Editor: Bryan Rindfuss Staff Writer: Chris Conde Digital Content Editor: Sarah Martinez Contributors: Ron Bechtol, Daniel Conrad, James Courtney, Jade Esteban Estrada, Dan R. Goddard, Lance Higdon, Steven G. Kellman, Hannah Lorence, Kiko Martinez, M. Solis, Gary Sweeney Editorial Interns: Brianna Espinoza, Trevor Flynn, Steven Hargis, Katie Hennessey
Studio Visits
Artist Emily Fleisher on memory, motherhood, peach pits and video games
Advertising
Sales Manager: Joseph Allen Account Manager: Mallory Jochen, Cristal Colleli Account Executives: Tom Berry, Mike Valdelamar Digital Sales Specialist: Mike Valdelamar
31 Screens
Destiny Awaits
Marketing and Events
San Antonio high school senior looks forward to bright future in cinema despite SXSW setback
Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Events Manager: Chelsea Bourque Marketing & Events Interns: Marlene Mejia and Caitlin Muñoz
Creative Services
Creative Services Manager: Tina Corbeil Graphic Designer: Samantha Serna Graphic Design Interns: Pedro Macias, Raquel Prado, Jacqueline Rivas, Gabriela Rivera
35 Food
Nostalgia Trip
Circulation
Circulation Manager: Justin Giles
Some of Earl Abel’s famous dishes survive the transition to a new location. Others, not so much.
Business
Business Manager: Sonia Acosta
Euclid Media Group
Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers: Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services: Stacy Volhein Creative Director: Tom Carlson Digital Operations Coordinator: Jaime Monzon Senior Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Director of Digital Sales: Fran DiCarlo www.euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising: Voice Media Group (888) 278-9866, vmgadvertising.com San Antonio Current 915 Dallas San Antonio, Texas 78215 sacurrent.com Editorial: (210) 227-0044 / Fax - (210) 227-7755 Display Advertising: (210) 227-0044 Fax: (210) 227-7733 Classified: (210) 227-CLAS / Fax - (210) 227-7733 The San Antonio Current is published by Euclid Media Group Verified Audit Member San Antonio Distribution – The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Get listed 1. Visit sacurrent.com 2. Click “Calendar” and then “Submit an Event” 3. Follow the steps to submit your event details Please allow 48 hours for review and approval. Event submissions are not accepted by phone. Copyright: The entire contents of the San Antonio Current are copyright 2019 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above. Subscriptions: Additional copies or back issues may be purchased at the Current offices for $1. Six-month domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $75; one-year subscriptions for $125.
Alamo Smoke Joins San Antonio’s Bustling BBQ Scene The Takeaway Small Plates
41 Feature
Moving Heaven and Earth
Ahead of his March 12 San Antonio performance, burgeoning jazz giant Kamasi Washington talks about creativity and why the world is what we make it
41 Music
Homegrown Beats Music Picks
BY C H R I S CO N D E Mary Kang
09 News Up Front
Touch Me, I’m Sick
Trump’s failure to lead on COVID-19 is likely to infect Republicans down the ballot
Glitter Political
Rodriguez vs. Rodriguez: Recent Precinct 2 commissioner debate highlighted milestones and shortcomings of the late Paul Elizondo
14 Calendar
Calendar Picks, This Modern World Art Picks
53 Etc
ON THE COVER p Jazz heavyweight Kamasi Washington spoke to the Current ahead of his SA gig. Design: Melissa McHenry.
p The city’s removal of a video from an art space it owns is raising questions of censorship. Design: Melissa McHenry.