One of the things I enjoy most about the museum is that there is always something new to look forward to, and the next several weeks are no exception.
Our 20% Off Annual Membership Sale continues through October 31, making this a great time to join, renew, or encourage a friend or family member to become a member. Membership is one of the easiest ways to support the museum while enjoying everything we have to offer throughout the year. Memberships also give you discounts in our Gift Shop and tickets to our special events throughout the year.
On Friday, September 25, we’re looking forward to hosting Date Night at the Museum, a special fundraising evening featuring live piano music, food, drinks, and for the first time a comedy show with the hilariously talented Tim Palmer. We wanted to create an event that was a little different this time. This one should be relaxed, fun, and a great excuse for a night out. I hope you’ll join us.
And then from October 8–10, we’ll be at the Bandera County Fair, sharing the museum with the community and meeting both familiar faces and people who may be discovering us for the first time. We will have a free activity for the kids and Oliver, our baby T-Rex, will be sure to make an appearance. So if you’re at the fair, come find us and say hello.
Whether you support us by becoming a member, attending a fundraiser, visiting the museum, volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about what we do, it all matters. We’re fortunate to have so many people in this community who believe in the museum and want to see it continue to grow.
Thank you for being one of them, and I hope to see you soon.
Simon D’Urso
Director
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Ribbon Cutting of Sully Woodland Art Educational Center
On August 14, we celebrated an exciting milestone for the Bandera Natural History and Art Museum with the official ribbon cutting of our new Sully Woodland Art Educational Center.
Friends, members, supporters, and the Bandera Chamber of Commerce joined us for the evening as we officially opened the doors to this newest addition to the museum. Following the ribbon cutting, guests had the opportunity to explore the new galleries and see the artwork now on display.
The opening of the Sully Woodland Art Educational Center represents an important step forward for our museum. The new wing gives us additional space to showcase art, develop educational programming, host future classes and special exhibits, and provide our visitors with even more reasons to return.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone whose support and hard work helped make this new addition possible. We also want to thank everyone who joined us for the ribbon cutting and helped make the evening such a memorable celebration.
If you haven’t had an opportunity to visit the new wing yet, we hope you’ll come see it soon!
Featured Exhibits
Portrait of a Wealthy Child
Step into 19th-century Mexico with Tiburcio Sánchez’s Portrait of a Wealthy Child, painted in 1873.
The young sitter’s elegant clothing, polished shoes, and carefully arranged pose reflect the privilege and social status of Mexico’s elite during this period. Sánchez, a Mexican portraitist trained at the Academy of San Carlos, was known for capturing the likenesses of prominent figures and documenting the visual culture of his era.
This intimate portrait offers a glimpse not only into the life of one child, but also into the class, fashion, and artistic traditions of post-independence Mexico.
Location
New Spain Art Hall
Uncertain Outcome
Carved from a single solid trunk of African ironwood, Uncertain Outcome captures a dramatic struggle between a powerful Cape buffalo and two attacking lions. The title perfectly suits the scene: despite being outnumbered, the buffalo remains formidable, leaving the viewer to imagine which side will ultimately prevail.
Created by Zimbabwean master carver Jabulani Sibandu, the sculpture is especially remarkable for its complexity. The animals, their horns, legs, tails, manes, and the base beneath them have all been worked from one continuous piece of wood. The intertwined figures demonstrate both careful planning and exceptional control of a dense, durable material.
Beyond its technical achievement, Uncertain Outcome conveys the tension and unpredictability of life in the African wilderness. Strength confronts strength, predator confronts prey, and the sculpture freezes the encounter at the moment when its conclusion is still very much in doubt.
Location
International Hall
Sunrise
In Sunrise, Andrew Grant Curtis presents the American landscape on a grand and romantic scale. A towering mountain rises above still water and richly wooded hills, while the warm light of sunrise spreads across the scene. Small details bring life to an otherwise vast and peaceful landscape.
Curtis was associated with the Hudson River School, a group of 19th-century American landscape painters united not by a formal school, but by a shared vision of nature. These artists often portrayed the American wilderness as majestic, harmonious, and worthy of reverence.
Sunrise reflects that tradition. The dramatic mountain, expansive sky, glowing light, and reflective water invite the viewer to experience the landscape as something more than scenery, a place of beauty, wonder, and contemplation.
Location
Art Educational Center
SUPPORT THE MUSEUM
Help Preserve our Shared History and Culture
Memberships, sponsorships, and donations directly support exhibits, educational programs, preservation, and community engagement.
Call us at (830) 328-5090 if you are interested in:
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Visiting the museum with a group of 10 or more
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Hosting a Birthday Party at the Museum
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Venue Rental - Rent out the International Hall, New Spain Art Hall, or our Outdoor spaces for your next big event
Also call us at (830) 328-5090 if interested in leaving a lasting impact in the community by joining our list of museum sponsors:
