Permanent Exhibits
in Terminal 1
Gate Portals at Terminal One
San Antonio and South Texas are defined as much by their history as by their festive culture, events, and places. To capture the region’s very interesting cultural mix, as well as its uniqueness, the City commissioned internationally recognized San Antonio artist Cesar Martinez to design distinctive portals in the concourse at 12 airline gates.
As arriving passengers step off their plane, they will enter into one of 12 canopy-like structures designed by Mr. Martinez. The portals are supported by four columns and complemented in design theme by coordinating terrazzo floor areas. The multi-faceted portal artworks feature glass/ceramic photographic tile murals bordered by columns with tile and silk-screened or etched design metal treatments. Each column has unique tile designs that relate back to the photographic murals, as well as metallic collars that occur at the bases.
GATE 9 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Fiesta
San Antonio is Fiesta City all year round. However, the biggest Fiesta of them all is the annual spring festival celebrating the history and culture of San Antonio. It takes place over two weeks in April of every year. Bursts of confetti, streamers, parades and neon-lit carnival rides inspired the designs in this portal – wall mural, columns and floor.
GATE 7 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Spirit of The Coahuilteco
Before its founding and settling, the San Antonio area was home to a number of Native American tribes. For the nomadic Coahuiltecos, the missions provided convenient shelter and protection from the more aggressive tribes that inhabited the area. Some Coahuiltecos were workers during the construction of the missions, eventually assimilating and becoming permanent residents. Their remains are buried on the mission grounds and cemeteries. This portal – wall mural, columns and floor - is an acknowledgement of their existence and contribution to local culture. Their ancestors live among us.
GATE 10 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Market Square
There was a time when San Antonio’s Market Square area was a produce market, where area farmers sold their produce out of wagons and trucks. Today it is a market place of a different sort with shops and restaurants that reflect the uniqueness of San Antonio’s cuisine and culture. There is no better place than here to relax, have a great dinner and drink Margaritas. Slices of lemons and limes and the gargoyle street lamps that light the area inspired this portal design – columns and floor.
gATE 3 – pORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Conjunto
This portal design – wall mural, columns and floor - was inspired by conjunto music, a major element of local culture and South Texas culture in general. It is a tribute to this accordion-driven musical genre and the musicians that have made it what it is today. A major pioneering influence, Valerio Longoria, was a long-time San Antonio resident until his death in 2000.
GATE 2 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Jones bridge
San Antonio was founded along the banks of the San Antonio River. There are numerous uniquely designed bridges in downtown San Antonio. This portal design – wall mural, columns and floor - was inspired by Jones Bridge, which spans the Riverwalk channel that flows under Market Street. As you look down from it you will see all the Riverwalk activity and, especially, the restaurants’ umbrella-shaded tables so typical of the area. The concrete railing of the bridge inspired part of the design.
GATE 11 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Presa Street Bridge
San Antonio was founded along the banks of the San Antonio River. There are numerous artfully designed bridges in downtown San Antonio. The Presa Street Bridge, which spans the Riverwalk channel that flows under South Presa Street, is of Germanic steel design - all nuts and bolts. A montage of sights from central San Antonio complements this portal design – wall mural, columns and floor.
GATE 12 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
japanese sunken gardens
San Antonio’s cultural diversity is perfectly exemplified by the Japanese Sunken Gardens located in the Brackenridge Park area at the headwaters of the San Antonio River. Formerly an abandoned limestone quarry, one of many in the San Antonio area, the Japanese Sunken Gardens is one of the best possible uses for these large excavations. There is no better place in San Antonio for a quiet, meditative walk. This portal design – wall mural, columns and floor – takes its inspiration from the Japanese Sunken Gardens.
GATE 13 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Fiesta Dance
Mexican folk dances are typical entertainment at many of the City’s numerous fiestas. The design elements of this portal - wall mural and columns - incorporate fiesta themes and the traditional Mexican serape, the format used for the portal floor designs.
GATE 14 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Charreada
Spanish settlers introduced cattle to the new world. Mexican vaqueros, the original cowboys, greatly influenced present-day cattle ranching in Texas and its culture in general. The Mexican Charreada, a formalized display of cattle ranching skills, is a kin to the American rodeo and has found a niche in local culture. This portal – wall mural, columns and floor - highlights the feminine aspect of the Charreada, as well as things familiar in a ranch setting.
GATE 15 – PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Southside Missions
This portal design – wall mural, columns and floor - was inspired by the Southside Missions, including the Spanish aqueduct and the acequia, an extensive irrigation ditch once so vital to the area. The floor design was inspired by an old tile excavated from the grounds, which suggests a dovetail design. Located very near each other in a tranquil rural setting, San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada are the most southerly of the San Antonio missions.
INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS MEZZANINE - PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
Market Square
This portal design – wall mural, columns and floor - was inspired by the good times that can be had at Market Square. Good food, drink, frequent celebrations, cultural events and shopping in a variety of shops and galleries. This is the best place in town to dine and drink a Margarita with friends. This design is a mix of sliced lemons and limes over which we see the silhouettes of the gargoyle lamps that light up the area at night.
INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS MEZZANINE - PORTAL BY CESAR MARTINEZ
The San Antonio River
At the heart of San Antonio's existence is its river. The San Antonio River was always here, quietly winding its way down to the Gulf of Mexico. This portal wall mural honors one of its commonest denizens, a fish called the Rio Grande Cichlid. More commonly, it is called a mojarra, a generic designation for this type of fish in South Texas Spanish, always here, still here.
   |
  |
The Riverwalk Theme at Terminal One
Visitors to the City will also experience their first walk along the San Antonio River at the Airport’s main food and retail concession area. Los Angeles-based artist May Sun was commissioned by the City to develop a concept that ties the concourse and central food and retail court areas with the imagery that depicts the natural environment of the San Antonio River. Ms. Sun’s visuals of a lush riverbed, its wildlife and vegetation have been integrated into a wonderful floor design that has been created using the terrazzo technique. The incorporated natural patterns, colorful hues and detailed imagery give the floor an artistic natural feel not normally found in typical floor treatments. Ms. Sun also created plaques, installed as part of the fountain located at the Terminal One Main Food Court. These plagues depict distinctive features of the San Antonio missions.
