By Edmond Ortiz
A recently completed art display at a southwest San Antonio park is meant to inspire visitors’ contemplation of their place in the universe.
What you should know
Local artist Doroteo Garza finished work on Ujuālnān in Pearsall Park. Ujuālnān means “grand sky” in Pajalate, a Coahuiltecan language that was previously spoken by the Payaya people who occupied lands that collectively became San Antonio.
Representatives from three San Antonio city departments and District 4 City Council office made the announcement about the newly completed installation on Oct. 27.
According to a press release, Garza was inspired by the planets of our solar system, and a desire to explore humanity, the cosmos and our link to the natural world.
Garza crafted Ujuālnān in consultation with Chris Packham, astrophysics professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio; the display is created to resemble a 1:11 billion scale of the solar system, the release stated.
What they are saying
A Rio Grande Valley native and a member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, Garza uses art to investigate indigenous folk stories and see how they relate to the cosmos.
He said his new art installation serves as a journey through the Milky Way and gives visitors a chance to reflect on their place in the universe and their connection to all of creation.
“The depth with which I approached the concept for this project is rooted in my understanding of San Antonio/Yanaguana as the center of the universe. This is our ancestral teaching, our creation story,” Garza said in a statement.
District 4 Council member Edward Mungia called Ujuālnān a gift to the community.
“It brings art, culture, and science together in a way that honors our history, celebrates our present, and inspires future generations,” Mungia said in a statement. “I’m proud that residents and visitors alike can experience this beautiful connection to our heritage and the universe.”
Pearsall Park is located at 4838 Old Pearsall Park.
