“San Antonio recently celebrated its Tricentennial, but there is more than 10,000 years of indigenous history and culture in this area, especially at Comanche Lookout Park,” Clayton Perry, San Antonio District 10 Councilman, said in the city’s promotional video. The planter is currently on display at the River Walk Public Art Garden before permanently moving to the Comanche Lookout Park installation. The artist team of Cortés and Garza also collaborated on a “Najo Jām” oversized planter in the shape of a peyote bud at the River Walk Public Art Garden near the corner of Market and Alamo Streets. “Nature is so integral to the indigenous way of life and I am excited for people to connect with the land by viewing and interacting with the artwork while standing in the center of an area so important to indigenous culture and heritage.” - Doroteo Garza “It is inspiring to use the skills passed down to me from my father, who learned from my great uncle, to honor and reflect on the ancestors and heritage of this land.” “The use of trabajorustico for this project is meaningful and intentional, as both the technique and symbols of indigenous culture represent deep and rich traditions,” Cortés said, a third generation trabajo rustico concrete artisan.

“Najo Jām” marks the first temporary districtwide connectivity piece to debut at the park. The pattern is often found on ceremonial rattles used in sacrament. The monument also includes a peyote stitch pattern made of tile reminiscent of beadwork from various tribes including South West and Plains tribes.

According to legend, where the deer steps peyote cacti grow. An important food source for indigenous cultures, deer were also revered in spiritual traditions. What I’m building with Doroteo is going to be his canvas, too.”Ī central piece of the “Najo Jām'' installation is the monument, which features a half-moon and deer imagery carved in the faux stone. I think that one of the most interesting things about trabajo rustico is that you can pretty much create anything, and you can imitate stone, wood, metal, whatever you can imagine can be done. “I am continuing a tradition that was started, well at least, in my family, by my great uncle and my father. “I am a trabajador rustico sculptor,” Cortés said. Meaning “Our Home” in the Coahuiltecan language Pajalate, the artwork pays tribute to indigenous ancestors of South Texas as well as future generations. “ very excited that we have a partnership between two San Antonio artists, paired together to work on a beautiful project that celebrates the Native American culture in San Antonio,” Director of the City of San Antonio’s Department of Art & Culture Debbie Racca-Sittre said in a promotional video for the artwork. These pieces were created with a signature style passed down from generations called trabajo rustico, which uses reinforced concrete to artistically imitate wood and stone. The installation features stylized benches, a planter, and a monument that symbolize peyotism used as part of indigenous religious ceremonies. Sitting at the peak of Comanche Lookout Park, “Najo Jām” is considered pan-Indian, relating to the multiple indigenous tribes including those that call San Antonio home. 13, the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture and its Public Art Division unveiled “Najo Jām”, a new public art installation at Comanche Lookout Park, created and designed by local artists Carlos Cortés and Doroteo Garza. Local artists Carlos Cortés and Doroteo Garza designed and created Comanche Lookout Park’s newest public art installation, “Najo Jām.” Courtesy Images: City of San Antonio.īy: Valeria Torrealba - Staff Intern, San Antonio Sentinel

Comanche lookout park