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Welcome
to the
Nuevo Santander Gallery website!
If you see something that interests you,
please don't hesitate to
contact us. |
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Che Guerra & Becky Guerra
Nuevo Santander Gallery Owners
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In
1998, Che and Becky Guerra celebrated the opening
of Nuevo Santander
Gallery in McAllen, Texas - turning their collecting hobby into a full time
business. Both
felt that opening the art gallery was the next
step
to take as antique and art collectors. About twenty
years ago, Che
started collecting old west antiquities -
old guns, saddles, spurs,
anything having to do with
the great American West. He would travel
a lot,
buy private collections that had been held for decades
by families,
and (after selecting a few jewels from these collections for himself) sell
the pieces to other private
collectors and museums. Eventually, Che
and Becky
knew that they wanted to design an art gallery to house
their
historical artifacts.
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many of their artifacts tell the story borderlife on the Rio Grande and of
Colonial Mexico, they designed their gallery to have the warmth and charm
of a Spanish Mission. The
grand entryway to the gallery is graced by doors and colonial ironwork
from Mexico - all over 150 years old. Caliche caprock
native to the area was used for the stone facade. Mesquite wood also
native to the area was used for the interior floors and interior
doors. Talavera tile and Saltillo tile add additional beautiful
touches to the inside of the gallery. Custom made stained
glass windows depict the original map that the Spanish Conquistador,
Don Jose de Escandon, used when he colonized Southern Texas and
Northern Mexico. The gallery's name also reflects this bit of
history as Escandon named the area of his discovery Nuevo Santander.
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Stained Glass Window
Nuevo Santander Gallery
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1809 Proclamations from the
Province of Nuevo Santander
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The
antique collection in the gallery includes guns, military uniforms,
furniture, and religious pieces dating from as far back as the
1700s. The Guerras select artwork for the gallery that has been
exhibited nationally or published in art digests. A few well
established artists from the local area are also represented.
Traditional realism is the theme at the gallery. Wildlife,
landscapes, and figures compose the majority of the collection of oil,
pastel, and watercolor paintings. Today, a constant stream of
local, national and international artwork makes its way through Nuevo
Santander Gallery.
The Guerras take great pride in their collection, in their gallery, and in
the fact that they are able to share art and history with others.
"Whether it's a person visiting their first gallery or an experienced
collector discovering something that captures their heart, it's a pleasure
to share the experience," says Becky Guerra. |
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Click
Here for Map
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McAllen
is the largest city in Hidalgo County - approximately three miles west of
the intersection of US Highway 83 and US Highway 281. San Antonio is
approximately 230 miles north of McAllen; Laredo is 100 miles northwest of
McAllen; and Corpus Christi is about 150 miles northeast of
McAllen. McAllen's attraction actually lies in its geography as well as its
history. The city enjoys an average yearly temperature of 74° and
annual rainfall is just over 20". The relaxed tropical setting
makes a unique place filled with opportunities. McAllen is served by McAllen Miller International Airport providing jet
service via American and Continental. Direct Flights to Mexico are
also available.
Nuevo Santander Gallery
After Dark
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Nuevo Santander Gallery
is proud to have given its support to:
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The Stained Glass Windows
The design theme of the
stained glass windows expands around the
two establishments
of Nuevo Santander to the north of the
Rio Grande River:
Laredo and Dolores.
The central stained glass
panel bears the coat of arms of Don Josè de Escandòn y Helguera;
on it are combined the heraldic symbols and colors of his two
last names. From end to
end of the panel, the river extends and
golden circles represent the roads as they were depicted on maps
of the time period. On
the top, a count's crown appears,
a title that was given to Escandòn by Fernando VI.
On each side
appear six symbols of population representing the six cities of
the north: Camargo,
Laredo, Revilla, Reynosa, Dolores & Mier.
On
the bottom, the name of the province appears in the style of writing
found on the map of "Sierra Gorda".
The south stained glass panel
represents La Misiòn de Dolores with the symbols of town and
mission. The river
follows the one on the map of the area.
Underneath,the year of the establishment of the mission
is
present. To the right is
the north parallel which reaches as far as
Spanish settlement extended.
On the top, the "rose of the winds" is present
which symbolizes
and commemorates Spanish exploration all the way to
Alaska
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The north stained glass panel represents
Laredo
with its mission
symbol and its date of founding.
The river follows the one on the
map of the area. The
circles represent the roads and the "rose
of the winds" is also present.
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