When the summertime heatwaves hit Corpus Christi, it’s important to know where to go. A visit to the Art Museum of South Texas (AMST) is the perfect break from beaches, busy shops, and sweltering sun. An architecturally compelling destination, with dynamic exhibitions and spectacular views of Corpus Christi Bay, worthy of writing home about.
The summer of 2024 will see many firsts for the Art Museum. April 26 marked the opening of AMST’s newest traveling exhibition, King Ranch: A Legacy in Art, Paintings by Noe Perez. The paintings in the exhibition present evocative visual narratives about King Ranch. Perez’s landscapes, genre scenes, wildlife, and livestock paintings serve as a reminder of the beautiful, vast, and rugged beauty that is King Ranch. Experience 171 years of history about 825,000 acres through 36 breathtaking paintings all with the ease and convenience of strolling about the Art Museum of South Texas. Perez, the artist, is a south Texas native born in Falfurrias, now living and working in Corpus Christi. He is considered by many to be one of the foremost contemporary landscape painters of Texas. His work in this project was commissioned by the King Ranch to celebrate their 100 Year Anniversary of the historic main house. King Ranch: A Legacy in Art, Paintings by Noe Perez on view April 26-August 25.
Coinciding with the King Ranch exhibition, AMST teams up with a favorite local tradition, Buc Days. During May 2-12 admission to Buc Days grants access to the Art Museum, as well as neighboring establishments; fun for the whole family. Enjoy a special Second Saturday with outdoor art activities like Raku firing, as well as unique family-friendly indoor art activities. Roam around the Art Museum during the day and catch the excitement at the Buc Days rodeo at night.
Plan your trip accordingly and enjoy free days at the Art Museum. Each month the Museum hosts 4 free admission days. First Friday each month runs concurrently with Downtown Corpus Christi’s larger ArtWalk. Enjoy free admission with extended hours 10am-9pm at the Art Museum thanks to Frost Bank. Venture downtown to enjoy live music, unique cuisine offerings, and local vendors. Second Saturdays each month feature art activities, guest appearances, and docent tours from 10am-5pm all supported by Art Bridges Foundation. Third Thursdays are AMST’s community artisan market party nights. Stop by the Museum 5:30-9pm and enjoy a live DJ, refreshment offerings, the local artisan market organized by WeirdCorpus, art activities by neighboring organizations, poetry readings, surprise appearances, performances and more. Third Thursday has also been known to host short-film screenings out on the terrace as well as rooftop concerts. Free admission is supported by Kleberg Bank. Introducing the newest free day, Fourth Sunday. Beginning May 26, the fourth Sunday of each month will be free admission for all thanks to AEP Texas.
Looking for a truly unique experience in Corpus Christi? Attend the Art Museum of South Texas’ most talked about summer fundraiser artRageous. Each year the fundraiser’s theme is chosen by a carefully selected committee so no two artRageouses are ever the same. This year the Art Museum will blend elegance and grit as artRageous: Rococo Ranch. Walk the line between powdered wigs and cowboy hats, Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 7:00pm-11:00pm. While Rococo was a favorite of the 18th-Century royals, around here we tip our hat to the King…King Ranch that is. Sponsorships and ticket sales to artRageous directly support AMST’s exhibitions, educational programming, and outreach into the community. More information on artRageous: Rococo Ranch can be found here.
On view from June 16-August 11, War Toys: Ukraine a special traveling exhibition supported by Exhibits USA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO comes to the Art Museum of South Texas. Children often share their experiences and emotions through indirect methods of communication, such as art and play. As a result, their personal accounts of war frequently go unseen and unheard by the international community. War Toys: Ukraine presents universally understood accounts of this conflict while drawing attention to the individual children and communities who have been affected by armed conflict.
Before heading off on the next adventure make sure to stop in at Elizabeth’s Café in the Art Museum for Mediterranean inspired cuisine and signature cocktails. Relax on the patio waving to dolphins and vessels cruising the channel and thank whosever brilliant idea it was to visit the Gulf Coast Capital’s finest treasure, the Art Museum of South Texas.
