Best of SA 2005: And the Winners Are…

Best Art Teacher: The Lubberings

“They call him the Monet of Texas!” Paul Lubbering's wife shouted in the background as we talked by phone about the crowning of the Lubbering Family Art Dynasty. No less than four family members were mentioned in this year's Best Of ballots, and three of them placed in two different categories. First place went to Louis, the patriarch. “Dad is the one that started it,” says Paul. “His father bought him a painting kit because he kept doing graffiti everywhere.” The elder Lubbering studied at Trinity University after the Vietnam war and teaches at Incarnate Word High School, where Paul was his student. “Ever since I was a kid, I was like, Can you make a living at this?”

Apparently so. The Lubberings operate a gallery on Myrtle Street next to San Antonio College and in addition to school duties — Paul is on staff at the charter San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity — on the weekends they offer small-group classes in painting, drawing, and art history. All hail the Land(scape) Lubberings!!

Best One-Person Show: Karl Lubbering

In this category there seemed to be more confusion, this time over the terms “one,” “person,” and “show.” But after we sorted through the detritus that confusion left in its wake, Karl James Lubbering — who last year was the readers' pick for Best Struggling Artist — emerged victorious. The musician has an on-going show in the Cove's bar, and was also featured at the New Braunfels Museum of Art and Music. Second place went to Tim Lapping, perhaps for his photography exhibit, Los Músicos.