As we move into August, I want to thank everyone who continues to support the Bandera Natural History and Art Museum. Whether you've visited for the first time, attended one of our summer programs, volunteered at an event, or simply shared our mission with friends and family, you are helping us build something truly special for our community.
If your membership has recently expired, or if you've been thinking about joining, there has never been a better time. For the next 90 days, all museum memberships are 20% off. Membership is one of the best ways to support the museum while enjoying benefits throughout the year, including unlimited admission, gift shop discounts, reduced pricing on many special events, and, for our family and higher membership levels, reciprocal admission to participating museums across the country.
I'm also excited to invite you to the Ribbon Cutting of the Sully Woodland Art Educational Center on Friday, August 14, from 5:00–7:00 PM. This beautiful new addition to the museum represents an exciting step forward as we expand our educational programs, host traveling exhibits, and offer new opportunities for art classes and community events. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate this important milestone.
Finally, don't forget that Bandera County children receive free admission through the end of August. If you have children or grandchildren, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. From dinosaurs and wildlife to world cultures and fine art, there's something here to inspire curiosity in visitors of every age.
Thank you again for your continued support of our museum.
Simon D'Urso
Director
.png)
Discovery Mini-Camps
Our July Discovery Mini-Camps were a wonderful success! We welcomed enthusiastic young learners who spent their mornings exploring history, nature, and art through engaging educational lessons paired with fun, hands-on activities.
Throughout the month, your children discovered the colorful traditions of Talavera pottery, learned about the importance of animal habitats and the incredible adaptations of wildlife, and let their imaginations soar during our Mystical Creatures camp, where mythology, folklore, and creativity came together in exciting art projects.
One of the greatest rewards was seeing the excitement on the children's faces as they learned new concepts, asked thoughtful questions, and proudly took home the projects they created themselves. We are grateful to all of the families who joined us this summer and helped make these camps such a memorable experience.
Thank you to our volunteers and staff for making Discovery Mini-Camps a highlight of the season. We look forward to offering even more educational programs and creative opportunities in the future.
Upcoming Events
Now through Oct 31st - 20% off Annual Memberships
Friday, August 14th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm - Ribbon Cutting for the New Art Wing
Featured Exhibits
%20(1).jpg)
Location
New Spain Art Hall
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
Born in 1695, Miguel Cabrera trained under esteemed painter Jose de Ibarra to become one of the most influential artists in all of New Spain. This posthumous portrait of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, a 16th century Jesuit priest who died caring for plague victims, shows his signature style in luminous, smooth surfaces, soft modeling of light, graceful idealized figures, and expressive-but-restrained emotion. Cabrera was known to pay close attention to fabrics, which can be seen in the detailed folds of Gonzaga's surplice (a priestly linen tunic).
At the bottom right of the frame, a cast-aside crown and scepter represent the saint's noble lineage and inherited wealth. He rejected these at a young age in favor of a monastic life. Similarly, a blackened skull symbolizes his early death at the age of 23 during the 1591 plague outbreak. Gonzaga had spent months treating patients in Jesuit charity hospitals, despite concerns about his frail health.
Red Fox
The red fox is one of the most adaptable mammals on Earth, living in forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains, and even suburban neighborhoods. They are second only to humans for the widest distribution of any land mammal.
Their cat like vertical pupils help them judge distance with incredible precision, making them excellent hunters during dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours. Combined with exceptional hearing and smell, these adaptations make the red fox one of nature's most efficient predators.
A red fox's hearing is so sensitive that it can detect the tiny sounds of rodents moving beneath several feet of snow before making a perfectly timed pounce.
They may also use Earth's magnetic field to hunt. When a Red Fox can't see its prey, it often pauses, listens carefully, and tilts its head. Before it leaps to attack, the fox tends to orient its body toward magnetic north. Foxes hunting with this technique are significantly more successful than those who don't. Scientists are still studying exactly how they detect the magnetic field and why this method works.
Location
International Hall
Location
Art Educational Center
Armadillo Alebrije
Hand-carved from copal wood and painted in the Oaxacan alebrije tradition, this imaginative sculpture combines two animals that evoke complementary ideas. The armadillo symbolizes protection and resilience through its natural armor, while the chameleon suggests adaptability, patience, and transformation. Its intricate Zapotec-inspired geometric patterns, spirals, and sun motif reflect artistic traditions of Oaxaca, where every painted surface becomes part of the story.
Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures, traditionally made from papier-mâché or wood. This type of art celebrates creativity, inviting each viewer to discover their own interpretation.
The art form originated in Mexico City in the 1930s, when Pedro Linares, a papier-mâché artist, began creating surreal, dreamlike creatures after experiencing vivid hallucinations during an illness. His designs were later adopted by artisans in Oaxaca, who began carving them from copal wood.
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:
-
Visiting the museum with a group of 10 or more
-
Hosting a Birthday Party at the Museum
-
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:
