Linda Pace

A Beacon for Contemporary Art in San Antonio

 
by Michele Krier
Photograph by James McCoon

 

Linda Pace is a name synonymous with art. Although her interest in contemporary art is showcased in San Antonio at ArtPace, the foundation she began in 1995, her name, and reputation are certainly known worldwide among artists, collectors, and serious art aficionados.

Linda is the daughter of David Pace, who founded the successful Pace Foods Company in San Antonio in the 1950s – the company famous for picante sauce as well as other products, which was later sold to Campbell Soup. Her commitment to San Antonio, and to expanding its cultural landscape, is evident in her commitment to ArtPace.

“ArtPace offers San Antonio an opportunity for people to see art that they would otherwise have to travel to Milan, New York, or Paris to access,” says Carrington Gallery owner Alice Carrington, who serves on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. “Their residencies for local, national, and international artists bring cutting edge work to Texas.”

In the early nineties, Linda Pace turned all of her attention to the pursuit of her dream – the establishment of a contemporary art foundation. “I wanted to give San Antonio a beacon for contemporary art,” says Pace, founder of the prestigious art institution. “But I realized that it didn’t have to be my art collection. It could be a site of exchange for artists, curators, and the public.”

ArtPace provides residencies for artists at its 18,000 square foot facility. Since ArtPace welcomed its first resident artists, Jesse Amado, Annette Messager, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres in 1995, the foundation has become one of the premiere contemporary art centers in the world. Pace’s motivation was partly educational, and the idea of exchange is evident in ArtPace’s mission. Along with its core residency program, ArtPace has forged community partnerships, providing teens with opportunities for exposure to cutting-edge art. The foundation facilitates ongoing dialogue about contemporary art, not only through access to its resident artists, but through its exhibitions and related programs. Pace wanted the foundation to bring artists from around the world to her hometown so San Antonians would have the opportunity to experience what was new in the world of contemporary art. In addition, she wanted to give artists from other parts of the world the chance to work in a new setting so they could feel free to take more risks in their work.

The residency program hosts nine artists annually and provides them with apartments, a living stipend, materials budget, studio space, and workshops, as well as technical assistance. For each residency, three artists are invited to live and work at ArtPace – one Texan, one from elsewhere in the U.S., and one international artist. The two-month residencies are followed by eight-week exhibitions of the work created. Part of the reason for ArtPace’s early success is the high caliber of the art presented, as well as the credibility lent to the program through its use of noted guest curators from around the world. Says Pace, “We found a way to bring artists who were doing challenging work to San Antonio and then we gave them a maximum amount of freedom. We think of ourselves as a creative laboratory – we wanted the artists to feel free to experiment. My goal was to give them optimum conditions in which to produce new work.” Penelope Speier, director of 04ARTS, a nonprofit organization bringing art programs to inner city kids, says, “One of the ways of being a successful philanthropist is by narrowly focusing your interest. Linda has accomplished this by deepening the appreciation base for contemporary art. Linda has a vision — she is willing to go out on a limb.”

“She supported our pilot Visual Thinking Strategies program in 1998 in a San Antonio elementary school and continues to offer in-kind contributions – providing us with an office and sharing her wisdom and input as a board member. 04Arts is helping to build an audience for contemporary art by exposing students to art from different styles, media, and historical periods. Linda believed this program would really be useful to the underserved arts audience in San Antonio. We wouldn’t be here if it didn’t fit with her goals for ArtPace.”

Herself an accomplished artist, Pace continues to make her own art while maintaining her philanthropic objectives. Pace graduated from Trinity University with a degree in fine arts and continued her studies at the San Antonio Art Institute, where she ultimately served on the board before founding ArtPace. For Pace, art-making provides a way to reflect on the events of her daily life. An active member of a number of international and local arts and women’s organizations, Pace received the San Antonio Museum of Art’s Woman of Achievement Award in 1998.

Bill FitzGibbons, a former instructor, now executive director of Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, says, “It only takes one or two people in a metropolitan area to be a catalyst for significant activities in terms of contemporary art-experimental art, collecting, and supporting artists. San Antonio is extremely fortunate to have one of those individuals in Linda Pace. Her effect on individual artists has helped them propel their careers, and she has helped artists on an international level, which is also putting San Antonio on the international contemporary art map.”

“Linda’s vision, and her generosity, have enhanced the cultural makeup of our city and moved it to a point of international recognition,” says Kathryn Kanjo, ArtPace executive director. “Her willingness to allow artists room to experiment helps drive the creative energy of the South Texas region.” The growth and success of ArtPace is detailed in a recently published book, Dreaming Red: Creating ArtPace. In just under a decade, Linda Pace has seen her vision for international.