SAN ANTONIO \u2013 More than 20 galleries and studios at the Blue Star Arts Complex are getting ready for \u201cFirst Friday,\u201d a monthly celebration of local art. <\/p>\n
Business owners are hopeful for continued success despite a recent controversy involving one of the complex\u2019s event spaces. <\/p>\n
Residents in Southtown have voiced concerns after a popular event venue within the complex admitted that it has fallen behind on payroll. <\/p>\n
In a statement posted to social media on Jan. 21, Brick acknowledged that six employees had not been paid in full. <\/p>\n
Employees shared on social media that they protested and boycotted the venue. They urged their employers for transparency and adequately pay their staff. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs these people have walked out, who\u2019s getting hurt? The artists. Well, what does that mean? The art community,\u201d said Maria Williams, the owner of In the Eye of the Beholder Art Gallery at St. Paul Square.<\/p>\n
Williams described the Blue Star Arts Complex as \u201cthe hub of the art scene in San Antonio.\u201d She recalled her own experiences attending events at First Friday before becoming a gallery owner herself. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a go-to where you take your children, your family, your grandchildren, yourselves \u2014 just to see the vibrancy of the city that you live in,\u201d Williams said. \u201cThat\u2019s what Blue Star started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jill Quick-McCroskey, owner of King William Wine Company, emphasized that Brick is only a small part of what Blue Star represents. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of First Friday, there\u2019s a lot here. There\u2019s a lot we want to continue to support,\u201d Quick-McCroskey said. \u201cThe only way that\u2019s going to happen is if people continue to turn out and visit the other spaces that are available while Brick works on making sure they\u2019re supporting their artists and bringing everything that we can to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
On social media, Brick said that it is committed to paying its employees back and has events scheduled for the rest of the month.<\/p>\n
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