René Guzman is a features reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. “When things do get better in the long run we can show everyone else around the country what San Antonio has to offer.” “Right now we’re pretty much building our foundation to get things rolling,” said Villanueva, who’s long been active in the comic con industry. They also hope to take their art show on the road to other conventions should conditions allow. Roberts and Villanueva plan to expand on their mini comic con experience with special guests such as voice actors. On : New Netflix series ‘Warrior Nun’ based on comic book series launched in San Antonio Those who’d rather own a copy of the art for less can purchase prints of some of the works, which sell for $20 each.Īrtwork by Kristina Cantu at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. Lvl Up sells original works at gallery prices, with many retailing for several hundred dollars apiece. Otherwise, Roberts and Villanueva prefer that they take in the wall art with their wallets instead of their phones. Visitors are free to snap selfies with the walker as well as take shots of the ceiling-mounted toilet from “Rick and Morty,” a cheeky nod to the hit animated series. Then there’s the big “chicken walker” in the middle of the room.Ī giant replica of an AT-ST, the bipedal armored transport from the “Star Wars” franchise, looms large at the center of the gallery thanks to the model-building skills of Johnny Dominguez.Ī hand-made “Star Wars” All Terrain Recon Transport at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. The gallery also features Niki Lucio’s homages to sci-fi weapons such as the “Star Trek” phaser and the “Star Wars” blaster, and David Soto’s shiny skateboard art, which includes the video game icon Mario and sugar-skull versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The former game room for video games is now an art gallery featuring comic con-like art by San Antonio artists. On : San Antonio doctor writes viral Twitter science fiction story about COVID-19Īt Lvl Up, those works include the Dungeons & Dragons-influenced fantasy paintings of Alfredo Lopez Jr., the Marvel movie portraiture of Kristina Cantu and the movie poster-like art of Justin Chase Black.Īrtwork by Jose Guadalajardo at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. When the ongoing pandemic forced him to pack up the game controllers and other gear, he and Monique “Momo” Villanueva transformed the Lvl Up space into a sort of artist alley, a familiar comic convention area where artists showcase and sell their works. Roberts got the idea from staring at his shop’s blank walls. Then the game room got an extra life as a geeky art gallery. After all, playing console video games just wasn’t an essential business during a global pandemic. Two months ago, it looked like game over for the Lvl Up Gaming Lounge at Rolling Oaks Mall. William Luther /Staff photographer Show More Show Less William Luther /Staff photographer Show More Show Less 6 of6Īrtwork by Chey at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. William Luther /Staff photographer Show More Show Less 5 of6Īrtwork by Michael Verastigui at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. William Luther /Staff photographer Show More Show Less 4 of6Īrtwork by Justin Chase Black at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. William Luther /Staff photographer Show More Show Less 3 of6Īrtwork by Justin Chase Black at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. at Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall. René Guzman /Staff Show More Show Less 2 of6Īrtwork by Alfredo Lopez, Jr. Lvl Up was a video game lounge but is now a geek art gallery that sells and showcases original works by San Antonio artists. Lvl Up co-owners Monique “Momo” Villanueva and Ray Roberts offer a thumbs up at the Lvl Up Gaming Lounge in Rolling Oaks Mall.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |