A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Empowering Artists: San Antonio's Only Black Art Gallery
Maria Williams shares her journey as founder and curator of In the Eye of the Beholder Art Gallery, San Antonio's only Black art gallery, and how she's creating space for cultural pride and representation in the art world.
• Founded the Art of Four Art Initiative to advocate for Black and minority artists after noticing lack of representation in grant awards
• Started with coffee shop meetings with four admired artists before hosting first exhibition in a friend's home
• Teaches artists to value their work appropriately and understand their worth in the marketplace
• Received recognition through Express News coverage and Contemporary Art Month award
• Gallery located in historic St. Paul Square, described as "San Antonio's Harlem Renaissance"
• Creates transformative experiences for children who see themselves represented in art
• Participates in the Harlem Fine Arts Show and has been invited to showcase in Barbados
• Collaborating with A Better Chance for Youth on February 1st for a Living Wax Museum event featuring young people portraying historical African American figures
• Emphasizes walking in cultural pride and power: "when you have sense of self, you have power"
Visit the In the Eye of the Beholder Art Gallery at 123 Helman Street, third floor, San Antonio, Texas 78205.
Welcome to a better chance for youth television show with your host, monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity, an opportunity for hope and a future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of A Better Chance for Youth show with your host, monique Robinson.
Speaker 4:Welcome, welcome and welcome everybody. I am your wonderful host, dr Monique robinson, and we are here today. Um, I kind of miss doing the scholarship kids, but hey, we got to get back to the basics. So if you have not completed your application for this year, you got a couple days to get it. I think that application time closes. You can still join, but the fee might go up. So right now to join as a member is $65, but to join as a board member we only have two slots left, because somebody already applied, and keep my fingers crossed for her. She seemed like she has a lot to bring to the table, so I can't wait so you can meet our new team members.
Speaker 4:Now, if you haven't been paying attention to some things that have been going on, I have been doing some unique things in San Antonio and one of the things is, you know, I have a love for the arts in any form, shape or fashion. Now, I love the arts. Most people know I am. I don't know if I can still call that, though like a little bit I was a vocalist because I don't really sing as much as I want or used to, but I do sing now when I need to. I do. When I need to, I do, but, um, being that I grew up in the arts, I learned to appreciate all of the arts. So I, um, can't draw, can't do anything with visual arts or just that type of art, but I do respect it. Like you know, I like to go to a museum or two.
Speaker 4:So today we have a wonderful guest here in our own backyard. She is um. She's in san antonio, but you know it's funny how I meet people, but I think I should let y'all know, let her tell you how we actually met um, and when you hear the story from her, when I bring her on, you probably laugh. So after this commercial break, I am going to bring on our special guest today, and she also have we have a couple of special announcements that I know you guys will love. So after this break I'm going to bring her on and we're going to have some fun today with our guests.
Speaker 5:Are you interested in attending an historically black college or university? Hello, my name is Robert Deason. I'm president. Are you interested in attending an historically black college or university? Hello, my name is Robert Mason. I'm president and founder of the Common Black College application. Our application allows students to apply to over 50 historically black colleges and universities at the same time, for only $20. Hbcu graduates have been some of the most renowned individuals in their respective fields since the late 1800s. In addition to that, our faculty and staff are truly committed to your success and they have a vested interest in seeing that you do well. That, coupled with the academic rigor and the fact that you will establish lifelong relationships, are just some of the many benefits of your attending an historically black college university. So if you're interested in completing the common black college app, visit our website at commonblackcollegeappcom to apply now. Thank you, and get educated welcome back.
Speaker 4:Welcome back. I told y'all after the break I was going to have my special guest here, you know with me. So welcome to A Better Chance television show with me, of course, dr Monique Robinson. So tell us who you are. Now I did tell the audience we kind of met in a unique way, but I said you'll tell them that story. But tell us who you are. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you. Thank you for having me. My name is Maria M Williams and I am the owner and curator of In the Eye of the Beholder Art Gallery, which is the only Black art gallery here in San Antonio, texas. I am also the founder of the Art of Four Art Initiative, where we advocate for all the arts and we specifically advocate for Black and minority artists. So how we met. I was given the honor by San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum here in San Antonio during Juneteenth to do a proclamation for, oh my goodness, what is it?
Speaker 4:Bobby Jones.
Speaker 2:Bobby Jones. I should not ever forget Bobby Jones because he used to wake me up every Sunday morning because that's how my mom got me up. But we were at True Vision and I remember seeing you and I was like that's the HBCU lady, that's the HBCU lady. And then so, hbcu lady, all I could do, because I did not know her name and I had been trying to get a hold of her because I wanted to bring a component of the HBCUs to be a part of our Juneteenth celebration. Somehow, some way, I got so excited and I was like HBCU lady.
Speaker 2:Hbcu lady, because it was crowded and I said I'm excited, I've been wanting to see you, I've been looking for you. I said, but I couldn't think of your name and all I kept saying was you. I said, but I couldn't think of your name and all I kept saying was HBCU lady. I would tell people, y'all know the HBCU lady. So that we had actually we had encountered one another before but never, I don't think ever formally met. But I knew that face and I was like HBCU lady, yay. And I was just. I was just so happy to finally get to meet her and then learn her name was Monique Robinson.
Speaker 4:I mean, well see, if I would have told them, they probably wouldn't have believed it. It's comical, but, honestly, you are not the only person in the city, even outside the city, that has labeled that as my name.
Speaker 2:Well, you made your mark with us. We're like Monique Robinson who's that? But I know the HBCU lady.
Speaker 4:At least, I'd rather be called that than some other name, and there you have it.
Speaker 2:This also means you're doing good works. You're doing good works for the HBCUs and the children of the community, our youth.
Speaker 4:Thank you, thank you. Now, I have been amazed ever since I actually I've been to the gallery at the previous location, but I have been so amazed by the actual art and, yeah, anybody who knows me personally like I own it for myself. Like I cannot cut in a straight line, I cannot draw, can't even really draw a stick figure, but when I walked in, walked in there, you know, and some of her artists are there and they think I play, because I actually tell them when I'm there, like I don't know how to do this, but can you teach me? And I'd be so sincere and they're like no, but anyway, if you have not been, like tell us, tell us how you even got to that point. Like they are, you have some amazing art. Point. Like they are, you have some amazing art by the way.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you, thank you. Well, how we started the gallery, the initiative was what I started first, the Art of Four. The Art of Four came about because, you know, every city has its woes and its ills, and here in San Antonio, I took notice that we didn't have representation of Black artists. And yet I knew wonderful Black artists here in this city and I was literally, you know, just home watching the news and there were grants being given out and there was some artists that had been awarded grants, and they were some artists that had been awarded grants, and none of those artists were like me, and I wanted to know why. So I picked up the phone, I called a gentleman who was an artist here in San Antonio and I said hey, do you know about all these grants that are being given out? And he said, yes. I said, well, I noticed that, you know, no one looked like us that were being awarded these grants. And this gentleman said to me that is normal and I'm the wrong person. I'm the wrong person. I said, no, that's not normal, but we've allowed it to be normal. So they may feel it's normal, but that's what we allowed. And so I told him how I felt, got off the phone and really tried to figure it out. How do we change that? How do we change that? Because I know so many talented Black artists in this city and I want to know why they weren't getting the same opportunities as other artists. And so, and how do I, how do I do that? And literally, I just started making phone calls, started making phone calls, meeting with those artists that I admired and I knew, you know, at a coffee shop, and saying, hey, this is what I've taken notice of here in our city. And they, of course, again saying, yeah, that's the norm. And I said, well, how do we change that? I said, for me, we've got to change that. So literally started meeting in coffee shops and in my mind it was I wanted us to meet, become a united front and be somewhat ambassadors in our city, in our city, and find those opportunities for Black artists or make those opportunities for Black artists. And so the first thing I thought to do after meeting with them and I had four artists that I had already admired, and one young lady is by the name of Claudette Hopkins. Claudette Hopkins had been creating here in San Antonio for over 50 years at that time, 50, 60 years, there was a young lady named Akime Davis who I just loved her work, kaldrick Dow and Wardell Paquette, and I loved their work and I said this is what I plan on doing. I plan on going around and advocating for Black artists and I want the four of you to be the first four. Well, then it ended up that we started calling ourselves, you know, the art of four and we made an introductory video highlighting those artists and then I just went around and anyone who would give us some sort of space to let us do, you know, what I now call pop-up exhibits. That's what we did. We did the first.
Speaker 2:The very first exhibit we did was at a young woman's house, a dear friend of mine by the name of Ruthie, and Ruthie was thinking about moving to Houston. So she has a big, beautiful home with great windows. I love, I love light. And I said to Ruthie, because she had cleared out our house with the anticipate, you know, anticipating that she was moving and I said you know, this would be a great space for an art exhibit, and, bless her heart, she said "'Oh, maria, all you gotta do is tell me when. "'you know, you are more than welcome'". I would love that, and Ruthie is most definitely an avid art collector as well. And then I looked at her because I'm one to always try and push the envelope. I said you know, this would actually make a great space for a two-day art show. And once again she said Maria, just tell me when, let me know. And that's how the first exhibit started For me. Because it still was her home, I did not make it public. Well, come to find out she did. She made it public, she put it in her I guess, neighborhood, you know newspaper or and then she would tell, she told friends and people came by and these artists were. People were amazed, people were happy. Of course now we also use their client lists, so some of their clients came from as far away as Austin. I think there might've been a couple that came in from Houston for one of the artists. But yeah, and it was a great art show.
Speaker 2:One of the things that I also try and advocate is for them to know their worth, right, right. We had an artist by the name of Caldrick Dow who I you know. He brought his artwork and I saw what he was charging and I said you've got to teach the public the value, not your work, but the value of your work. Value, not your worth, but the value of your work. Wow. So the choice is yours either put a one in the front or a zero in the back, and let's get it going. And he, yeah, yeah, and he, I think he, he believed that we were overpricing his work until he started selling his work, um, and, and then, of course, miss claudette, who was a seasoned artist, she was no joke, so I didn't have to worry about, you know, what she was putting on her work, um, and, and the same with the kimi. Kimi was pretty a solid on her value of her work and wardell pickett value of her work and Wardell Pickett.
Speaker 2:And so we had a wonderful two-day show, you know, and I was so proud of these artists, I was so proud of what we had accomplished, you know, right out the stall, and I thought this is a good thing. And next thing, you know, some of them told friends, other artists, other artists started learning about the initiative. And then, as time went on, and we were growing from, you know, four to five to six to seven to eight, and I remember saying so. What do we do? Do we change the name from the Art of Four to the Art of Eight, or is it going to be? Every time we have people, we're going to change the name, you know, and overwhelmingly, everyone said no, we are the Art of Four, and so the Art of Four stuck with us. The art of four art initiative.
Speaker 4:Love it, love it, love it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and from that we really just grew. People learned about the initiative, artists learned about the initiative. We were invited to be a part of different art exhibits. A gentleman by the name of Vince Davis, with the Express News, found out about us and contacted us too. That was our first interview.
Speaker 4:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:I was so excited I told the artist. I was like, oh, this man wants to interview us. And then we were thinking where are we going to interview.
Speaker 2:So I contacted the Carver Community Cultural Center. That was the executive director, cassandra Parker-Newicki, and I told her hey, cassandra, could we use a space somewhere at the Carver to be interviewed? And she let us use the Joe Long Theater and Vince Davis interviewed each artist, interviewed myself, and then we did a little photo shoot and that was our first. Oh, that was yours. Yeah, that was our first.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was the first um yeah exactly being introduced to to the public, and so you never know who's watching um yeah, you know, not long after that, um, I received a phone call from a young lady, that I received a phone call from a young lady by the name of Andrea Bocap Sanderson and she had told me she goes Maria, there's a gentleman who's looking for you and I think you might want to speak with him. You know he's in the arts and so on and so forth. And I was like, okay, I don't remember who called who or how we exchanged numbers or what, but I got on the phone with a young man who is unbelievable in his own right and his name is Rigo Berrito Luna and he is an artist. His wife is also an artist, but they own Presa House in the King William area and he got on the phone with me and he says I just want you to know that I nominated the Art of Four for Contemporary Art Month. I'm so new.
Speaker 2:I was like, and that is you know, because I had an idea what Contemporary Art Month was, that's a big deal, though. He explained it to me and he says and you were voted overwhelmingly to win, you were, you're being recognized, and the gift to us and what was presented to us was a reception at Art Pace, san Antonio, downtown Long, that's right Now. We were at Art Pace so I was like, oh, that's big time isn't it.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2:And then he said and the reception will be with at that time we were just coming out of COVID really, you know, we're still at the edge and there was a young woman, an artist, by the name of Alicia Wormsley and she had a traveling banner. Wow, and that was in red there are Black people in the future. There will be Black people in the future. You know the purpose of that is, during COVID, it was our communities that were devastated, the lack of access to health care or access to health care. So we had the reception, but before that, art Pace had the banner on their building and we did a photo shoot with Art Pace and the banner in back of us saying there will be black people in the future.
Speaker 2:And I was overwhelmed I really was. I thought we have to be on the right path. We have to be on the right path because of the way things were falling in line and the alignment of things, and thrilled to death. Even though Ms Wormsley was not traveling, she did join us via virtual means and I have to tell you that when she was speaking and the audience was listening there at heart pace and I remember hearing my name coming out of her mouth and I thought, god, this is it, this is my purpose, this is my mission, this is what you have me to do Now.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm doing it through the arts, but one of the things that I notice is and I call myself and I've been told that I'm an art activist and I started that because I was on LinkedIn one day and I was reading about this organization in Dallas and I remember, oh my God, I'm reading my story, I'm reading my inspiration, this is the same.
Speaker 2:These folks are doing the same thing I am. And so I contacted them and next thing, you know, they had invited me to an event in Dallas and I went and they offered me a job and I thought how is this? You know, again, to me, that was the okay, the okay from God. I'm not a religious person, anyone will tell you, because so many people think, because I don't go to a church or a mega church that I have, I don't have a relationship with God, but I think God, the God that I worship, is beyond the walls of any church, and so I just was like okay, you're letting me know. With every step that you have ordained and I'm following, nothing but positivity has happened.
Speaker 4:That's true, and it's been what it's your fifth year now too.
Speaker 2:And it's been what. It's your fifth year. Now, too, we just celebrated our fifth year and again, I am pleasantly surprised, extremely proud. I know that when I first started and people would pat me on the back or say things and I would shy away from it, I would.
Speaker 4:I would think it is not me, and I still believe it is not me, but then there's a passion and purpose, though, so that's why it doesn't feel like that.
Speaker 2:Right. Then there came a point in my life where I realized it was my passion and my purpose and, no matter what was said or done to me, it is what was comforting me. Okay, you know what I'm saying? I had some you know extreme exchanges in my life and transitions and I got up every day and went to that gallery and it was still. It was my comfort. At the same time, I was like am I making it up or is this truly my comfort? At the same time, I was like Am I making it up or is this truly my comfort?
Speaker 4:Well, it's a piece. If you have not been To the gallery, I encourage you to go. It's something for everybody there anyway, no matter how old you are. You know even the younger ones. And then also it's so many valuable lessons of the pieces that are there. And one thing I do know, and I've seen it where you know Ms Maria welcomes young people. Some people are like uh-uh, don't bring them kids here because they're going to tear my stuff up. She's like no, they, they know they do. I've seen it with my own eyes that you know she has had young people in there and they just be so mesmerized. I think that one toddler one day just stood and just looked up at them painting, and so I'm like I guess they won't tear nothing up.
Speaker 2:No, they won't. That's why I encourage parents to bring their children when they walk in and they see these images, especially Black and Hispanic children, where they don't get that opportunity right. You know, I've seen and you've seen it. I don't care how rambunctious they are Once they walk in and they're like oh OK, wait a minute. I had a young girl come in last Friday and her parents were like this is the first time she's ever been in a gallery and I just sat there and watched her as she did not move, but her eyes were everywhere. She stood in one place and her eyes were everywhere and I told her I said that particular moment in time we may have discovered an artist.
Speaker 4:Yes, you're right.
Speaker 2:Truly, and that for me means everything. Impact. That for me means everything. Impact. And that's what I love about what I do the impact, the impact on our community, on our children. We had the opportunity to facilitate art classes for Ella Austin Community Center one summer.
Speaker 4:That's nice.
Speaker 2:And then, just recently, some of those same children and an artist that I met at Ella Austin, who I had to remind her she was an artist and she awarded a mural, and she took some of those same children that were in those art classes and they did a mural for a local garden, community garden, and the young lady called me. She says I want you to know that I've titled this mural In the Eye of the Bee Holder because it was about bees. And she goes that's in honor of you and your gallery, miss Maria. And those are the things, those impactful things, because those children will probably do the same thing right. The impact that was given to them, I hope carries on the impact that was immersed in that young lady and stirred up in her, because I think, I think her parents seriously told me she was three, three or four years old she was her.
Speaker 4:She was awakened by the pieces that were in there. And, yeah, I knew, every time I go and I'm like I just stopped trying to act like I know my way around it because I don't, because every time I go it's a different thing, a different artist, a different design.
Speaker 2:So I mean it should all, um, all of it should stir you. It shouldn't be just one style, one piece, one artist. Um, I'm glad to hear that all of it stirs you. I'm glad to hear that, uh, something new. You're like, oh, now this artist.
Speaker 4:You know, I love that, I love it because I was like that wasn't here last time. He was like no, it wasn't, and then you just kept on moving. I was like, okay, it wasn't. I am not ashamed when I don't know something. I'm not ashamed, I have no shame that's okay.
Speaker 2:You know, um, last year I had a young lady speak at our fourth anniversary and it popped up you know how Instagram or something had popped up, and so I watched her and she mentioned how she went to school she's an executive director now of an arts program and how she went to school. She was always in the arts and she pointed out. She said and Maria just did it, not knowing anything. You don't have to know something when you do something, right, If you?
Speaker 2:just do the right things right, and I learned, in some cases trial by fire. You know I learned and so and I tell people now that I'm learning you know I'm talking about three years old and young children. But you know, this past Juneteenth, when I had, you know, these college students working in the gallery, and I sit back and think about how much I learned from them and I this is not bragging, but this is me understanding the importance of my work how all of these students because majority of them were college students said to me thank you for giving us a space, thank you for giving us a place that we could come and create and that is what is important to me, you know, I think a sense of belonging and a sense of cultural pride. I really push that and I have told people who have come into my gallery. When I talk about cultural pride, it is your cultural pride For me.
Speaker 2:I'm a Black woman. Right, you may be Hispanic. Have cultural pride In everything that you do. You should be prideful in who you are. You should walk in that power, because when you have sense of self, you have power. And it is absolutely true. You know, there was a time I lost myself and when I started remembering the woman that I was, the woman that I am and the woman that I am becoming. Even with all that, I can't help but walk in my power.
Speaker 4:What is good? Well, look, we have to take a short, short commercial break, but when we come back, you never told us where the gallery is, so I want you to tell us that when we come back, right after this.
Speaker 6:What if your greatest breakthrough was on the other side of your story? Inspire Me Moments Living Out Loud with no Regrets by Anthony Harris Brown, isn't just a memoir. It's a mirror, a movement and a map to becoming who you were meant to be. Through raw honesty, spiritual insight and empowering reflections, you'll unpack your past, embrace your scars and rise stronger. This book is for the dreamers, the educators, the men learning to breathe again, the women reclaiming their worth and the leaders who lead with heart. You'll find real stories of trauma and triumph, tools for healing and moments that remind you the cape was never in the closet. It's always been in you. Inspire me moments live out loud, with no regrets and all heart. Get your copy today, everywhere books are sold.
Speaker 4:Welcome back, welcome back, I am here with you know, she is like the premier artist novel. But seriously, guys, this is Miss Maria. She is the founder, the curator I might be saying it wrong so she might have to correct me Of, I'm going to get it right today, I promise. In the Eye of the beholder art gallery, san Antonio's only Black art gallery, and if you haven't been, you are definitely missing a treat. Like some days I go there, I go there and act like I'm going to see Miss Maria, but honestly, I'm going to see what new pieces she may have, because it's always something new. I'm going to see what new pieces she may have because it's always something new. So how?
Speaker 2:do we get to the gallery? So we are located in historic St Paul Square here in San Antonio, which is off of Commerce. Our address is 123 Hyman. We are located on the third floor. If you are familiar with the east side of San Antonio, I like to call us the east side entry into downtown San Antonio is one that our community should hold dear and hold in reference. If you know anything about like the Harlem Renaissance, sometimes this is the best way for me to explain it to people I say that St Paul Square was San Antonio's Harlem Renaissance.
Speaker 2:I have folks that come into the gallery and who share with me up to last Friday at the market, share with me riding their bikes up and down you know St Paul Square, playing on the train tracks, which nowadays would probably get a parent put in jail, but having great, great memories of places like the Cameo Theater that is, the building is still there in St Paul Square. I even for myself, myself putting my business in the street. There was a nightclub that I used to go to. You know speakeasies are real popular, so a lot of these clubs. It wasn't called a speakeasy back then, it was just a club that was downstairs under a building. But yeah, st Paul Square has a lot of history and so it's quite an honor for me to be in that location and I can't help but thank Don Thomas for seeing the value in what I do.
Speaker 2:When he came into the gallery our original location and he asked about how I switched out work, how I rotate the artwork, and I shared it with him and I said but as of this week, the gallery would be closing. I said, but as of this week, the gallery would be closing. And he literally just turned to me and said but you're the only one doing what you do. You're the only one and told me you know, come check out St Paul Square, let's see, you know, what we can work out. And I just told him the other day. I said I thank you, I thank you for recognizing what I did, because you um allowed me to see my fifth year of having an art gallery and having an art gallery in st paul square, which is oh so significant well, congratulations again on that.
Speaker 4:I was there saturday y'all, but y'all know my weakness. I hate getting lost, even though I do all the time, so I was not gonna take that chance and getting lost in the dark if I would have stayed. But I uh was glad that I was there for a moment to celebrate and, uh, look at some new pieces. She I don't remember the artist's name- Her name is Yolanda Cooper.
Speaker 2:Yolanda was actually brought to us by a young lady named Georgia Williams, who is an artist, a fiber artist, out of Houston. And Georgia says Marie, I think I have another great artist that I think you'd really like, and when she sent me her work, her website, I was amazed at that artist, but I also remembered that work. I said I did not know, I didn't have the opportunity to meet her, but we were blessed to be able to go to the Harlem Fine Arts Gallery. We represented our gallery.
Speaker 4:You be everywhere. I can't draw, but you know I can do some speeches. I can put a speech like I did it.
Speaker 2:I mean yeah and so I remember seeing this young lady's work, um, at the Harlem Fine Arts Show, and then she came down to meet with me and a few, few weeks passed by and I was like darn it, you know, cause I hadn't heard from her. But then she contacted me and she goes would you still like me to be an artist of your gallery? And I said of course. And she brought her work down, signed her contract, and so now we represent her art here in San Antonio and we'll be representing her art in Harlem at the Fine Arts Show when we attend again this year.
Speaker 2:Well, actually next year I can go 2026. Well, we were invited back again, I'm very proud. I'm in the wrong profession.
Speaker 4:I need to take up art.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was very proud when the CEO of the Harlem Fine Arts Show called and invited us back.
Speaker 4:Well, congratulations. Look at you.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Well, I spoke on a panel. I did speak on a panel while I was there and made some wonderful kinships, friendships. I love it. We had some great artists. As you know, we were just invited to Barbados. I know I'm going.
Speaker 4:My figure is going to sell for a million dollars and I'm going yeah, dollars, and I'm going, yeah, so you know you.
Speaker 2:Yeah you, you heard me go, oh my god, when I opened up the email, um, and and the invitation to to participate.
Speaker 4:So congratulations what do I need to do so I can get my picture on the wall and go to barbados? Well, let's have a conversation oh lord, y'all y'all know she said let's have a conversation. Oh Lord, y'all Y'all know she's saying let's have a conversation. That's her way of telling me.
Speaker 2:One of the things that people always ask me how do you get your artist? You know, I will say that I no longer have to seek artists. Even though I still am a maid, I have so many people either sending me artists. The Harlem Fine Arts Show has really deemed our gallery, a gallery that they send a lot of Texas artists to, and it makes me, yeah, it makes me really proud. I prayed for Did you pray for me? Huh, yeah, you know, I prayed for a particular level, a particular type of artist, one with not only passion and talent, but one with ethics, one who understands what it is that I do. You know it is. It takes a special artist that also has to realize their art is more, more than them you have to know your value.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I would look at it. I know I do it a lot and my friends fussing me all the time because I'm like, well, you know, I get it eventually, you know, but lately, uh, you know, miss, miss maria, I don't really consider her friend. She reminded me of my older sister, so that's why I relate to her, y'all just saying she does some. Sometimes I'm like, oh, she's like, no, you're not. And so I'm glad that I have people in my life that will be like, look, uh, that's not gonna work, you need to charge for this. And sometimes I'm like, but this is my mission. Yeah, you know, people pay. They ties the church you need to be paid to. I get it. I'm doing better, ms Maria. We got to take our last, last, last commercial break. When we come back, I think we can tell them this special collaboration that we had Right after this.
Speaker 1:Celebrate the excellence of HBCUs with the HBCU Trivia Game. This board game provides an exciting and educational way to learn about notable alumni, historical events, sports news and more. This trivia game is sure to be a hit and perfect for college-bound youth, alumni and the entire family. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support, educate and entertain. Get the HBCU Trivia Game today. Go to HBCUTriviaGamenet to order welcome back.
Speaker 4:Welcome back. I've been here with miss Maria from in the eye of the beholder art gallery. If you have not been, I will say this please go check her out. It is some amazing things. You go once you go back. The next time it's gonna be something different. And y'all know me, I'm so nosy, I'm like that wasn't there. But I don't want to ask her, because what if it was? And I just didn't see it? So just saying, just saying so.
Speaker 4:You guys who have followed us forever know that every February, really every day, but every February we do. We started off honestly doing a essay contest and I've taught in better education for going, you know, over, ooh Jesus, over 25 years, and I get tired of reading essays. And then the kids, you know, with chat, gpt and everything out, they're really not writing it anyway, just kidding. They might, but I don't want to take that chance. So this year and last year we did a thing and some of you all, if you had me as a teacher, y'all probably remember this project because every year people look forward to doing it the Living Wax Museum, and in our Living W wax museum, the, the young people become african-american historic figurines now. So we don't do the essay contest anymore. But, however, you know you can have your spiel and you get a rubric and get everything like that. But this year guess what guys? We are working with miss maria and we will have the living wax museum. So, parents, if you've been waiting on this application, it will go out tomorrow. I promise so, and you know y'all don't trust me with art. So, look, I got legitimate artists that are going to judge this. So, uh, that, uh, we cannot thank miss maria enough for allowing us to use the space and allowing the community to actually see this amazing artwork that exists in the gallery. So this year's competition will be on February 1st.
Speaker 4:You know I had to kick off, you know, african-american History Month even though, if you around me, you don't learn a fact every day, it's 365 to me. But I'm so excited because I was sitting there and she was setting up the other day for another event. I'm like, how are we going to get 20 kids, because we cut it off at 20. So if you don't sign up, I'm sorry. That's up to Ms Maria. We can hold more people in there. We might have to do some preliminaries based off of how many people actually apply Now the contest you do get prizes, you do.
Speaker 4:Last year we gave out cash and no, we didn't give out cash. We stopped doing that. We gave out trophies last year. But what we do want is people in the community to support, because then you get to see the gallery and you get to see some of the most amazing young people bring these historic figurines to life. Like last year, we had one little girl, Ms Maria, and I had to go back and push her thing like a couple times because I wanted to hear her speech. Like these young people went all out. So you heard it. I'm not judging, so they can't be mad at me I'm so excited.
Speaker 2:I'm so excited it will are we having the two judges? So myself and we have uh another artist from the gallery, uh, carmen cartonis johnson.
Speaker 4:Uh will be joining me in the judging yes, and we usually have three just in case. Uh, it's a swing, a swing type of vote. So if you have another artist in your rolodex because I do not want anybody to say that you know it's going to be because for nicholas, but I don't know, I don't judge any of them as well.
Speaker 4:That makes sense. Yeah, does any of our content like I? Really don't like I. I don't judge because most people know my heart. I would try to pick everybody. Okay, you get this. I was one of those type of you know, but in order to win, you got to know how to lose a little bit.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 4:That's my take on it.
Speaker 2:That's life. That's life. Sometimes you got to lose to win, to be quite honest, See. That's a Maria fact. Probably an old woman, maria fact but it is.
Speaker 4:They act like her for real, in real life. Some days I just be like, okay, yes, ma'am. So before we go, miss maria, I want you one more time, just in case somebody came in late or they might just be turning a radio station late as well. Because you know, ms Maria, we're not just on Daily Gospel Network, daily Gospel Network Plus, daily Gospel Network International, we are also on Spotify, apple Music and most of your digital radio platforms as well.
Speaker 2:Oh wow, absolutely wonderful. So once again we are in the eye of the Beholder Art Gallery. We are at 123 Hyman on the third floor here in San Antonio, texas, 78205. And we look forward to seeing you come into the gallery and explore with us the beautiful world of art, the beautiful world of Black art.
Speaker 4:Love it, love it. Thank you for spending time with us here at A Better Chance Television with me, of course, I am never formal, unless I have to be.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you for having us, thank you for having me.
Speaker 4:Anytime you need us, we will definitely share out anything you have. But, guys, seriously, go check out the gallery. I can't tell you how to get there, so you might have to Google search and find it, Because my directions y'all who know me personally we're not going to talk about that, we're just going to pray about it today. But she's like oh no.
Speaker 2:And, as I said, I want to see you at the gallery. So, yeah, you may not. She's wonderful, but you're challenged directionally.
Speaker 4:You don't want me to show you. I just say it's across from the SB, or that's what I was given. Somebody even told me it was downtown. I was like it's not downtown, and then Ms Marie was like it is, monique, it really is.
Speaker 2:It is downtown.
Speaker 4:So thank you for tuning in. I am your wonderful host, dr Monique Robinson. We have truly been taking the school on the world of art today, and guess what parents? You can now officially sign up, and I'm not judging, so you can't be mad. And, uh, if you don't win, you can't be mad at miss maria either, but at least now we know it's truly an artist that's judging us. It's been real, but we got to run. Talk to you, you next time.
Speaker 7:The Daily Gospel Network the television show dedicated to highlighting incredible students on their quest to change the world.
Speaker 3:Join us every week as we uplift the youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. Catch a better chance for youth television show with host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network. Thanks for watching A Better Chance for Youth television show with your host Monique Robinson, the television show where we highlight incredible students in their quest to change the world. Join us each and every week as we uplift our youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. So until next time, god bless from your friends. On a better chance for youth television show with your host Monique Robinson.
