The History of
the San Antonio Ethnic Art Society
In the summer of 1983, Johnnye Yates and John Coleman discussed the possibility of forming an art organization. This discussion led to famed collectors Aaronetta and Dr. Joseph Pierce, Dr. Gary Houston, F.L. “Doc” Spellman, Johnnye Yates, and John Coleman incorporating the Southwest Ethnic Art Society. The primary goal of the society was to increase the awareness and understanding of the visual art of African-American ancestry.
In the early 1990s, the society began allowing high school students to display their art at the Society’s annual exhibits. The Society held its first Art Banquet and Awards Presentation on October 15, 1994. In February 2001, SAEAS was recognized at the San Antonio Museum of Art when former Mayor Lila Cockrell and Aaronetta Pierce exhibited art from their private collections. In the fall of that same year, members began teaching art after school to elementary school students in the San Antonio Independent School system, in conjunction with the Carver Cultural Center’s 21st Century Program.
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In 2004, SAEAS began awarding scholarships to area youth who are between the ages of 10 and 17 and who seek one-on-one training to enhance their artistic skills. Once awarded, the scholarships are guaranteed renewable until each recipient graduates from high school, and include annual exhibition in a SAEAS’s funded Student Art Exhibition.
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Today, the 501(c)3 non-profit organization is a multicultural artist collective that hosts joint exhibitions, underwrites one-on-one arts training for San Antonio area youth ages 10-17, and supports a biennial artist grant for African American women in visual arts, the SAEAS Abaraka Award.
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The members have exhibited jointly at the Institute of Texas Cultures, USAA, University of Texas Health Science Center, Central Branch of Public Library, San Antonio Water Board substation, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, City of San Antonio, Bexar County Court House, and annually at the Carver Community Cultural Center, among other venues.
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Presidents have included Johnnye Yates (1983-85), LaVern Britt (1986-1988), John Coleman (1988-1995), Claudette Hopkins (1995-2010), Gracie Poe (2010-2015, 2016 – 2019), Ron Turner (2015-2016), Ronney Stevens (2016, 2019 – 2022), and Barbara Felix (2023 - present).
SAEAS Historical Highlights​
1983
Founded as the Southwest Ethnic Art Society by collectors Aaronetta and Dr. Joseph Pierce, Dr. Gary Houston, Johnnye Yates, John Coleman, F. L. “Doc” Spellmon.
1984
Inaugural Exhibit, Sponsored by the San Antonio Chapter of The Links, Inc. at the Institute of Texas Culture.
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1988
Membership began enlarging across ethnic lines and to include poets;
High school students allowed to exhibit at SAEAS annual exhibits.
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1994
Society hosted its first Art Banquet and Award Presentation.
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1995
Society changed name to San Antonio Ethnic Art Society launched annual “Lunch with the Artist”.
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2000
501(c)3 non-profit status was acquired. Society arranged with Dr. Leo Edwards to host series of individual exhibits for SAEAS members at his eastside medical office.
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2004
SAEAS Youth Art Scholarship program was formed.
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2010
Began recruiting supporters of SAEAS to form the “Friends of SAEAS”, which included Dr. O.Raye Adkins, Gerri Buhl, Mae Thomas Gentry, Terry Hookstra, Clem Lyons, Yolanda Miller, San Antonio Zulu Association, Lon Taylor, Dr. Linda Holley, Adolph Thomas, Ronnie Washington, and Rachel Edwards
The SAEAS “Honorary Board of Directors” was established and has included Mayor Lila Cockrell, Aaronetta Pierce, William Sinkin, and Dr. Leo Edwards.
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2015
30th Anniversary Exhibition at University of Texas-San Antonio Ethnic Art Gallery.
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2017
Launched biennial SAEAS Abaraka Award in conjunction with collectors Aissatou Sidime-Blanton and Stewart Blanton.
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2023
Established the SAEAS archive accessible to researchers at the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM).
