Technically, the local chapter of the international event series PechaKucha was born in 2011, but organizers sought to celebrate its 21st quarterly event like many native San Antonians celebrate their 21st birthdays: on The St. Mary’s Strip.
The recently renovated Paper Tiger at 2410 N. St. Mary’s St. will host the popular arts and culture event PechaKucha San Antonio on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
The pre-show happy hour will kick off with snacks and a cash bar at 6:30 p.m. Presentations, emceed by WOAI-TV Anchor Randy Beamer, will start at 7:30 p.m. but plan to show up even earlier than usual; there are no pre-sale tickets available this time for the event that routinely sells out days before showtime.
More than 1,000 people attended PechaKucha Vol. 20 at the Majestic Theatre in December. Entrance to Paper Tiger will be first-come, first-served.
PechaKucha San Antonio, which has a host of community/in-kind sponsors including the Rivard Report and a partnership with the Las Casas Foundation, asks for a $5 donation at the door. Proceeds go to the foundation and for event planning costs.
Founded in Tokyo in 2003, PechaKucha is based on the concept of the casual but efficient transference of ideas and concepts known as “chit chat.” Presenters have 20 slides and six minutes and 40 seconds (20 seconds per visual slide) to share an idea, a project, a passion, a recipe, a rant, a mathematic equation, a person, a revolution, or whatever they’d like. Most presentations are based on the speaker’s profession or hobby, and most will make you laugh – or at the very least, make you learn something new.
Here’s a list of the speakers and brief descriptions as provided by event organizers in alphabetical order:
Travis Buffkin, Impoverished Musician
Born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Travis Buffkin learned to harmonize with The Judds before he could walk. He believes, particularly, in songs named after women and dudes named Lefty or Lightnin’; worships at the Church of Nelson-Dylan-Simone of The-Not-So-Disparate-Trinity; has had sex to Slim Harpo, The Rolling Stones and The Rolling Stones playing Slim Harpo; and writes/sings about it.
Chris Cullum, Attaboy Click
Chris Cullum is best known for flavors that are tasty, fresh and full of soul — and he can pair food with music like no one else. He first brought great cuisine to his father’s River Walk jazz club Jim Cullum’s Landing before building a great beer and wine selection at the St. Mary’s Strip music venue and bar Limelight. He now owns the soul and jazz establishment Tucker’s Kozy Korner and is the proud proprietor of both the Attaboy Burgers Airstream food truck and Attagirl Ice House off the Strip.
Kelly Edwards, Tattooer
Kelly Edwards’ passion for art began as a child, and by his 20s, he was making art for any gig that paid — from muralist to newspaper illustrator to hip-hop poster designer. When a friend challenged him to try tattooing, he began to study, get tattooed by and learn from the legends in his trade. Now in his 19th year as a professional tattoo artist, he focuses on large Americana and Japanese traditional tattooing. And tacos. Never forget the tacos.
Elisabeth Forsythe, Bar Director
Elisabeth Forsythe loves her craft and hospitality in equal measures. Grounded in classic technique, she experiments with new, often untraditional ingredients and spirits. Her bar programs feature wildly creative and extensive cocktail menus, but there’s one thing most important to her: making guests happy. Elisabeth, a.k.a. “Miss Speed Rack Texas,” was a finalist in the national Speed Rock competition, and her work has been featured in Imbibe, Texas Monthly and Tasting Panel.
Phillip Luna, Artist/Musician
Phillip Luna is a full time artist and musician, and has been a consummate contributor to the San Antonio art and music scene for almost three decades. Self-taught multi-instrumentalist; his visual art and musical compositions are based on behavioral and emotional struggles, as well as love and outer space.
Troy Peters, Conductor
Troy Peters has been Music Director of YOSA (Youth Orchestras of San Antonio) since 2009. Throughout his conducting career, he has built meaningful connections between the classical music tradition and local cultural scenes across the U.S. He presented Portland indie folk act Blind Pilot with the Oregon Symphony, commissioned composers (including Phish’s Trey Anastasio) to write for the Vermont Youth Orchestra, and paired a mariachi band and a Tejano legend with the San Antonio Symphony. Sobre Sound recently named his “OK Computer Live” project, in which a dozen local bands covered Radiohead’s landmark album backed by a full symphony orchestra at the Tobin Center, San Antonio’s top moment in music for 2015.
David S. Rubin, Curator/Artist
David S. Rubin is an independent curator, author, and artist. He has been an active figure in the contemporary arts field for 40 years and is currently a regular contributor to the online journals Glasstire, The Rivard Report, and Visual Art Source. From 2006-2014, Rubin served as The Brown Foundation Curator of Contemporary Art at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
Brooke Smith, Chef
Chef Brooke Smith prefers not to speak about herself in the third person. She uses her craft to reflect her passionate, individualistic, and creative nature. Her appetite for new experiences is rivaled only by her appetite for bean, rice, and sour cream tacos. She is a native of San Antonio, and having the opportunity to flourish in the community she so adores is a source of great pride and motivation.
*Top image: Paper Tiger shirts were worn by many on the opening night of the venue in March 2010. Photo by Scott Ball.
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