San Antonio River Foundation

Help preserve our shared history by supporting Presence of the Past a new public artwork at the

St. James AMEC Culture Crossing in downtown San Antonio! 

The San Antonio River Foundation’s mission is to preserve, enhance, and transform the San Antonio River Basin into a vibrant cultural, educational, ecological, and recreational experience. We achieve this by funding and creating parks, public art, educational programs, and recreational opportunities throughout the river basin. Join us in giving back to the river that nourishes and sustains our community.

 

Today, through The Big Give, you can honor history along our river by contributing to one of our newest projects, Presence of the Past and Culture Crossing Pavilion by artist Gordon Huether and poet Andrea ‘Vocab’ Sanderson—a large-scale, permanent public art piece located in the heart of downtown San Antonio along San Pedro Creek Culture Park.

The site, the historic home of the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church founded in 1867, was hidden for generations, and only rediscovered during the 2020 construction of the San Pedro Creek Culture. This discovery provides an important connection to the rich and layered history of our city.

 

After thorough archaeological exploration, the River Authority invited the River Foundation to lead the effort to interpret this historic site and create a signature public art piece to honor it. In line with our mission, we worked with a citizens’ stakeholder panel and conducted a national search for artists.

Huether’s installation, Presence of the Past, uses historic quilt patterns to outline the façade of the original St. James AME Church. The design is anchored by the AME shield, symbolizing the church’s mission of civil rights, education, economic empowerment, and public service. The shield leads to an altar bearing the names of the church’s founding members, commemorating their enduring legacy.

The Culture Crossing Pavilion, a complement to Huether’s work, represents the continuation of this history. Poet Andrea 'Vocab' Sanderson collaborated with church and community members to create quilt patterns inspired by their personal stories, which are suspended above a raised platform, serving as a space for future poets, musicians, and speakers to gather and share. This tapestry reflects both past and present, celebrating the resilience and spirit of San Antonio’s communities.

Surrounding the pavilion’s quilt is a poem written by Sanderson, developed through oral histories with church members. This poem captures the shared memories, traditions, and aspirations of the parishioners, ensuring their stories will resonate for generations to come. Together, Presence of the Past and the Culture Crossing Pavilion form a space that celebrates San Antonio’s cultural diversity and the lasting legacy of the St. James AME Church.

 

The River Foundation is excited to present this work, which offers a space for gathering, learning, and reflecting on San Antonio’s history. To realize this vision, we are seeking partners to help raise $2 million to fund the project. This Big Give, we ask you to join us for this incredible opportunity to bring our history to life! On September 18 and 19, we host 24 hours of fundraising, though donations are welcome anytime through our website.  Thank you!

Pictured above from left to right: Jim Campbell, Dan Green, Scott Wolf, Gordon Huether, Congressman Greg Casar, Rev. Cynthia Ladson, Ashley Mireles, Andrea "Vocab" Anderson