Art and harmony on the South Side

Local ceramics artist infuses the vision of Brooks into her new art installation

The wall installation going up on the exterior wall of the new VIA Transit Center is much more than just a beautiful site to gaze upon while waiting for your bus to arrive. The ceramic flowers designed and created by local ceramics master Diana Kersey embedded into the brick wall communicate the cyclical nature of Brooks’ development and aims to excite others about the future of the growing community.

The installation features plants native to South San Antonio like Coneflower, Milkweed, and Agarita and each ceramic flower ranges from 2×8 feet to 4×12 feet each. The effect of the glazed ceramic flowers on the white brick wall is a vibrant explosion of color that is sure to turn the heads of everyone visiting the VIA Transit Center.

When researching the history and impact of Brooks, Diana met with stakeholders, walked the trails, enjoyed the green spaces, and visited the historic buildings. She saw firsthand how optimistic and excited everyone was for the future of the development.

“I got a better understanding of what Brooks is and what it wants to be,” Diana said. “The leadership team is really interested in prosperity for all. I was very inspired by that.”

With this in mind, Diana set out to create an artistic metaphor that conveys how the changes at Brooks benefit everyone involved. She started with the butterflies found in the public art at The Greenline. The butterflies pollinate the flowers, and in turn, the flowers provide the nectar vital to a butterfly.

“That’s a functioning ecosystem,” Diana said. “I wanted to complete the cycle with my installation.”

Diving even deeper, Diana chose medicinal plants to feature in her work, as it speaks to the history of Brooks. Brooks, which is the former site of Brooks Air Force Base, became the home of the School of Aviation Medicine in 1927.

“Brooks has such a strong history of aviation medicine and the Air Force Base was so innovative,” she said.

Diana has been making a name for herself in the San Antonio art community for decades. Her public art pieces can be enjoyed on every side of the city, from her installation at VIA San Antonio in Five Points to her bridge art along the San Pedro Creek Culture Park.

“Public art unites us all,” she said. “It’s owned by the public. We all own a little part of it.”