Author's Note

Through my window onto San Antonio, there was a triangle giving historical meaning to this city: Nature on a national scale, Missions on a State Scale, and People on a Local Scale.

Nature. as Michael Pollan has stated in his article named "Nature Abhors a Garden". in American states there should not be something like fences between the lands; it seems dividing lands with fences is like throwing the concept of Sacred land and space away America is a liberal democratic country where no border in the land is accepted in the mindset of the nation to clarify this debate better, he brings out some writings and poems that show how Americans, have different approaches to gardening in comparison with other places like England.

for instance, as Frank J. Scott mentioned in his writings," to narrow our own or our neighbor's view of grace's nature was selfish and undemocratic", in another part, he exemplifies the Massachusetts colony's first poet, Anne Bradstreet who tore down the conventional garden wall in a writing about a traditional English garden ode “The American Landscape is considered God’s second book (Pollen,2003)

Missions. The site encompasses a group of five frontier mission complexes situated along a stretch of the San Antonio River basin in southern Texas, as well as a ranch located 37 kilometers to the south It includes architectural and archaeological structures, farmlands, residencies, churches, and granaries, as well as water distribution systems The complexes were built by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century and illustrate the Spanish Crown’s efforts to colonize, evangelize, and defend the northern frontier of New Spain The San Antonio Missions are also an example of the interweaving of Spanish and Coahuiltecan cultures, illustrated by a variety of features, including the decorative elements of churches which combine Catholic symbols with indigenous designs inspired by nature (UNESCO2015).

People. San Antonio is a City Made by People, For People.

Based on the book, Business That Built San Antonio, people have been building the city through business which are highlighted as Military, Medicine, Education, Tourism, Real Estate, Oil and Gas, Communications, High Technology, Service, Retail, Agriculture, Banking, Manufacturing, Insurance, Research and Education. behind the scenes of all these business activities, there are actual people who not only play their role to progress the city but also make social bonds. Social bonds refer to the connections and relationships that individuals form with others in society. Social bonds play a crucial role in shaping social structures and maintaining the fabric of societies. They contribute to individuals' sense of belonging, identity, and overall well-being. the products of the social bonds are Emotional Support, Trust and Cooperation, Sense of Belonging and Identity, Socialization and Learning, Collaboration and Collective Action, Physical and Material Support, and Shared Experiences and Enjoyment.

Nature, Missions, People

I was seeking to find Someone/Something with heritage potential as a representative of San Antonio and the capability to be displayed as a part of the Local Markers Program.

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"Step in the way, don't ask how to go through

The path itself will show you the route"

Attar Neyshabouri, an Iranian poet and Sufi who lived in the sixth and seventh centuries of Hijri (1145 A.C.)wrote this verse, which has served as one of my life's compass points throughout the years. In Brother Cletus's project, I believe it was him and his priceless artwork that found me rather than the other way around.

On a hot, humid June day in San Antonio, I woke up overthinking about: "I know what I am looking for but can not find it"! Spending days getting to know San Antonio's past and present, I spent two weeks seeking an artist, a cultural activist, or someone who could be the representative of the city's various qualities at the same time. Despite the fact that I really simply wanted to head to the office right away, I ended up joining a meeting with another intern. When we got to the Mission San Jose Pilgrimage Center, I was already exhausted, heat-overwhelmed, and car-sick. I said to myself, "I should just take a bus from here to the office." I was unintentionally exploring the center when I noticed a poster in the gift shop. A print of a watercolor painting of missions of San Antonio. all I wanted to know was:

Who Is the Artist?!

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Brother Cletus a local artist based in San Antonio, Texas had a colorful and vibrant style of painting and made hundreds of artworks not only in different kinds of painting including oil painting, watercolor, acrylic, etc., but also had outstanding works in ceramic, tiling, sculpture and so on.

to categorize his artworks into subjects, San Antonio Scenes, Missions inclusively, abstract shapes, figures, and wildflowers can be mentioned beside the religious concepts and natural objects.

though all his artworks are significant in their status; the paintings of missions are so impressive and outstanding, especially because, considering the missions was inscribed in the World Heritage list of UNESCO in 2015 one year before Brother Cletus said goodbye in 2016, it shows how an artist can be precisely aware of the surroundings unique exquisite qualities and can transfer it through the art.

Currently, Lisa's Mexican restaurant in San Antonio is one of the only places where you can see many of Brother Cletus's paintings as a collection that is open to the public and people can feel the joy of life that Brother was trying to show in the various artwork there.

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Brother Cletus, not only was a study project that I had the opportunity to work on, but also played as a spiritual guide to me to find the path of my life.

living as a local artist while you have a religious side which carries a lot of perceptions to be rigid and closed, is a sign of life for everyone who looks through it carefully to illustrate how we can walk beyond the borders and relate to the place we live and people we interact with in a more deep and inclusive way.

Though I gathered many pictures and information about Brother Cletus's Artworks, I am aware that still there are many of them somewhere that no one could find out about unless the owners publish some information about them. That's the way local artist play their role to make and tighten social bonds; we might live different lives, jobs, and mindsets, but in his zone, all we know is Brother Cletus and his artworks have a strong bond together; Bold, Vibrant, Colorful and outstanding as the Brother Cletus's Art demonstrates.

It was one of the very only times of my life that I desired to have an artwork and not kist enjoying it by watching it; I deeply wanted some suviniour from Brother Cletus; but something came to my mind like: You have the very best heritage of mine in your heart! :)

local artists play a role more than making social bonds; they have the quality to become a symbol of practicing life, including Brother Cletus.

my very best wish is to one day come back to San Antonio again and see an interactive museum of him that touchs the people's heart with his artistic soul.