San Angelo art, culture shine on a global stage at European Union Ambassador's D.C. home

Tim Archuleta
San Angelo

WASHINGTON D.C. – Early in an evening dedicated to art and diplomacy, European Union Ambassador to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis stood in a doorway leading to reception salon to welcome his West Texas guests.

 “I am so supremely happy to have everyone here,” Lambrinidis said.

He ushered the guests into the large salon, where he offered them a preview of a unique initiative to use the EU Residence as a place for interaction between diplomats and American culture, focused on Texas, and especially on the city of San Angelo.

More:Why Europe likes the U.S., especially Texas, thanks to a not-so-small museum in San Angelo

The warm space with three seating areas, a grand piano and sparkling display cases is “stunningly beautiful” thanks to his special guests, he explained.

A large oil on canvas painting of a majestic, gold-detailed horse, a shiny gallon bucket filled with colorful paint brushes, all made of ceramics, and Mexican pots were on display.

“I never wanted to look at this house as a mirror in which to look at myself but as a window in which to look at the United States, in which we are located,” Lambrinidis said. “And to be able to say to the United States, but fundamentally to Texas, and not just Texas, but fundamentally to San Angelo, that forget why you should like us, maybe you do, maybe you don’t. We love you.

“And we want to be able to celebrate that relationship with the art that we put in my house.”

Art 'is global, and it benefits us all'

The 57-year-old diplomat from Athens, Greece, was about to officially share the collection of 32 art pieces on loan from the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts during the June 20 event he called, “Texas and Transatlantic Ties.”

San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter was seeing the art in its new home for the first time. She was preparing to address the crowd later in the evening. There was no written speech, just simple, neighborly, Texas talk of friendship and the city’s desire to benefit the world through art.

San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter addresses guests on the significance of having art from the San Angelo Museum of Arts’ collection on display in the residence of the ambassador of the European Union to the United States on June 20. The art is on loan as part of a unique initiative to use Texas art to celebrate the relationship between the U.S. and EU.

Gunter thanked the ambassador for doing something unique in partnering with the nationally-recognized San Angelo Museum of Fine Art.

“Obviously, he is a man of vision because only men of vision have the ability to do these kinds of projects,” she said.

Gunter, in her first term as the first woman mayor of the 158-year-old city, explained that it was important for her small town to shine on a global stage.

“Art, culture has no limits whether it’s population, region or talent,” she said. “It is global, and it benefits us all, particularly when you are small because if we do not have a global stage from which we work we will always stay small.”

More:Here's a sneak peek at the artists of the America Plains Artists Special Summer Show

San Angelo, with its history as a fort town and agricultural hub, has finally grown to 100,000 residents. It has a reputation for uniting to do big, progressive projects annually.

“I look around at the art, and I, as the mayor of the town, could not be more proud of what I see in this home tonight and the talent that we brought to your city,” Gunter said. “I know that this art makes us a much bigger city because it speaks loudly of the talent and the ability to project beyond where you are.”

A new way to do diplomacy

San Angelo artist Rene Alvarado watched as the salon guests discussed the beauty of his work. His massive paintings, Linda Paloma and Horse Open Landscape, were favorites on this evening.

Alvarado reflected on the “amazing graces” in his life – of the time, early in his development as an artist, when his poor grandparents from Mexico offered him $50 to continue his studies. It was a small investment with a big return in growing his confidence to do significant things.

“This isn’t my project. It’s a group project,” Alvarado said. “To be a part of this project, it gives me a taste of the validation that I always thought I was missing.

 “As I am speaking to you right now, those things of wondering where­­­ am I going with my work is coming to a place of validation for myself and the creative process, where I knew that my work had a universal dialect. A language that we all speak through the creative process.

He said he hopes the project leads to a great understanding of a diverse world. He has four paintings that are part of the year-long loan agreement.

“Diplomacy is a word I love,” Alvarado said. “Everyone has a space. Diplomacy is about just a spot for everybody in this buffet.”

Phoebe Kapouano, Lambrinidis’ wife, and neighbor Mario Castillo, a San Angelo native who organized the art exhibition, spent hours combing through photos of the museum’s art collection to select the pieces on display.

The ambassador said the Texas-based artwork is a new way to do diplomacy.

“When I first suggested the idea that I would put in here art from Texas there were some people who asked, `Have you asked for Brussel’s permission?’” Lambrinidis joked. “I said, ‘Are you kidding me. Of course, I haven't.’”

The museum loan is unique because the art exhibition is on display in a foreign ambassador’s official residence, an exclusive setting for high level U.S. and international political leaders, foreign dignitaries, and economic representatives.

That intimate space is usually reserved to display art work from an ambassador’s home country.

Lambrinidis said the initiative recognizes the deep relationship between the U.S. and the European Union.

“Our relationship, our feelings for the United States are not just economic ones, although that is a huge thing. They are not just security ones, although that is a huge thing,” he said. “Nothing is more important to the security of the United States than a strong and united European Union. And nothing is more important for our security than a strong United States in the world. We are tied together.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, toured the exhibition after a late evening on Capitol Hill.

“We are proud of this collection,” he said. “It helps bring a little of Texas to Washington D.C. in ways that are really positive. It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle you are on art is good and really it’s a tribute to share this with you.”

San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts Director Howard Taylor explains a ceramics piece to U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, on display in the residence of the Ambassador of the European Union. Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU Ambassador to the United States, hosted an event, “Texas and Transatlantic Ties” on June 20 so guests could view the 32 Texas arts pieces on exhibit in Washington D.C.

Howard Taylor, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts director, said the exhibition celebrates deep human connections between two super powers.

“We are all in this together,” he said. “We are all human. There is no difference really, very superficial.

“We are just thrilled that you are sharing this with us. Ambassador, we are a small community but what you have done here is massive, absolutely massive.”

If you appreciate locally driven journalism, consider a digital subscription to GoSanAngelo.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news updates. Submit news tips to News@GoSanAngelo.com