The Saga

The Saga is playing at Main Plaza this Thursday, October 15, as part of its nightly run. It's a 24-minute video art projection that tells the story of San Antonio, the Lone Star State, and the United States, all cast across the facade of San Fernando Cathedral.

The show covers 7,000 square feet of light, color, and visual narration. The cathedral itself is the oldest continuously operating sanctuary in North America, and critics have called this one of the best projection shows in the United States—the only one showing on a cathedral as a permanent installation. It's a big, bright way to see the city's history played out on one of its most recognizable landmarks.

Behind it is French artist Xavier de Richemont, born in Algeria and now living in Angers. He studied at the National Fine Arts School of Aix-en-Provence and has spent more than 20 years creating monumental video installations. In 2002, he founded the first festival of lights in Chartres, France, where he served as the sole artist and artistic director for a decade. In 2010, the Mexican government commissioned him to mark the bicentenary of independence and the centenary of the Mexican Revolution across seven major cities.

The projection runs nightly, Tuesday through Sunday, at 9 PM, with dark dates during Easter weekend, Fiesta, and the Feast of Corpus Christi. You'll find it at Main Plaza, home of San Fernando Cathedral, 115 N. Main Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78205. It's free and open to the public.