Local artists sell out

Nary a First Friday goes by without someone muttering in my ear, "Well, you know, no one really buys art in San Antonio." This may have been a home truth at one time, but it's not true now. Though the national economy is still lugubrious and Europe threatens to tank, local galleries report that SA collectors have been more active than ever. And they are buying local art, too.

Last year began well, with Joan Grona Gallery's February painting show by hometown artist Ana Fernandez selling out. Joan Grona started the fall season with robust sales as well, with newcomer Wesley Harvey's September show performing well. Local art sales finished 2011 with confidence. The Steven DaLuz show at AnArte Gallery in mid-December sold out at the opening, reports owner Ana Montoya, placing the mid-career SA painter in the enviable state of taking on new commissions from buyers who missed their chances with his collection. Earlier shows at the gallery were also successful. AnArte's November exhibition of works by Franco Mondini-Ruiz protégés (and production assistants) Bryson Brooks and Holly Hein sold exceptionally well, with more than 200 small gilt paintings and found objects going out the door during the month. Their larger pieces continue to move.

David Shelton Gallery has been especially aggressive in sales. Showing at art fairs, including during Art Basel Miami and at the Dallas Art Fair, propelled out-of-town Shelton sales, accounting for almost 40 percent of last year's activity. Shelton also informs the Current that the El Paso Museum of Art recently purchased a work by Vincent Valdez from his gallery. But local collectors still dominate purchases at his Southtown gallery; the Kelly O'Connor solo show sold out in September.

SA institutions are also collecting local. San Antonio Museum of Art received gifts of two dozen pieces by area artists from collectors last year. But not all art sales have occurred at the high-profile spots. Hausmann Millworks (known for its many art studios) has accomplished almost $30,000 in sales from their Fotoseptiembre photography show of new works by Bruce Hahn. That's a lot of action for a converted woodshop tucked next to the north-bound railroad tracks. But 2012 is a new year bringing unknown changes. There's yet plenty of time for the whole thing to go south.

> Email Scott Andrews