One of the reasons I love living here and why there’s such great architecture is that we live in a very unique place. We become influenced by both high and low culture, as well as pop culture and the strange things that occur to us in this weird town of rich and poor. And I think it helps us as creative workers and as citizens of the community to be open to all of those things that make this such a crazy but wonderful place to live.
The game has changed completely in the last 10 years, a sequence of really interesting developments. I actually like how it’s still not as revved up as Austin, Houston or Dallas. I think it serves the city well to have a little slower pace. And, frankly, it’s slower because we are a poorer community. There are fewer people who can afford or want to live in an inner city downtown location. I love all the funky aspects of the city. We don’t have the pretentiousness that you see in the other Texas cities. There’s a lot more mixing going on, great mixes of classes that you don’t see elsewhere.
— Davis Sprinkle
Al Rendon is San Antonio’s photographer, born and raised here and known for iconic photographs of the city and its culture. Al is an active Southtown gallery owner as well as an art and commercial photographer. Check out more of his work at AlRendon.com.
