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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – “He came into class and couldn’t control his tremors.”
That’s how Dr. Kellen Kee McIntyre, executive director and co-founder of Bihl Haus Arts, described her first interaction with U.S. Army veteran Dan Gamez.
However, within just a couple of months, McIntyre noted “remarkable progress” in Gamez, who at first, struggled to hold a paint brush in class due to problems caused by trauma experienced in the military.
“He wasn’t trembling in the same way and after a year and a half he became a really proficient artist,” McIntyre said.
Time spent in the gallery inspired the former soldier to seek a bachelor’s degree in art and teach his new craft to differently abled students. Gamez is one of the many people whose lives have changed through working with Bihl Haus Arts and without McIntyre, the organization would not exist.
Inspired by her passion for art and dedication to the community, McIntyre continues to face the challenges of running a nonprofit and puts others’ needs ahead of her own.
Born in the “Sun City”, life got a little brighter when she earned an undergraduate degree in both education and fine arts at The University of Texas at El Paso. McIntyre was an instructor in a public school for a few years before she decided to further her career at The University of New Mexico. There, she pursued her master’s and eventually acquired a PhD in Art History, specializing in Latin American and Spanish Colonial Art and Architecture. In addition to her studies at UNM, McIntyre taught art in Albuquerque for close to a decade and during this time, met her husband, Eric Lane.
Upon her return to the “Lone Star” state, she and Eric settled in San Antonio because of its architectural diversity. They unpacked their bags near Fredericksburg Road, where they would discover the Bihl house, located on the premises of The Sorento senior apartments.
“You never know what’s around the corner,” said McIntyre. “And the Bihl house was literally right around the corner.”
The historic structure is said to be the only authentic German stone residence that remains on Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio. In 1920 it was constructed by George David Bihl, using stones that originally came from a barricade built by American military members around The Alamo. The Bihl house passed through several owners and served various purposes, but after years of neglect and vandalism, its fate was uncertain.
“A ‘for sale’ sign had gone up on the property,” said McIntyre. “I’m an art historian, so I could see its historical value and that it deserved to be saved. We went to a neighborhood meeting to talk about it and that’s when I brought up the idea of a gallery. Six months later, they gave me the keys.”
That was 17 years ago and since then, McIntyre has organized over 100 art exhibitions and other programs at Bihl Haus Arts. She credits her life partner Lane, who services alongside her as president of Bihl Haus Arts, for much of the nonprofit’s success and is grateful for the support from instructors, artists and of course, the community.
Head Docent Emeritus, Yolanda Leal, has known McIntyre and been a part of the organization for six years.
“You feel very comfortable with everyone here,” said Leal. “You feel welcomed, and you feel like you belong.”
She sees art as therapy and believes it’s the best way one can ground themselves and unwind, so when she was approached by someone who wanted to take classes, McIntyre saw an opportunity to make a difference. She noticed that the senior community was underserved, and they became her primary focus. When McIntyre first opened Bihl Haus Arts, it was the only organization in the San Antonio area exclusively for older adults.
“Retirees and even veterans can get isolated in homes,” said McIntyre. “Comforting them through hard times and using art to help them heal is an incredible feeling of accomplishment.”
McIntyre’s commitment to Bihl Haus Arts has not wavered, and though she plans to retire soon, she still considers what’s best for the organization and the artists who showcase their work. She hopes her replacement is just as dedicated to the growth of Bihl Haus Arts and is mindful of its importance.
“You can tell the health of a city by looking at the health of its artistic community,” said McIntyre. “If your artistic community is thriving, then your city is thriving. Art heals. Art saves lives.”

(Created during the 2022 Department of the Air Force Storytelling Workshop. Teams had three production days to tell a multimedia story that included a written, photo and video story. Each team of four was led by an Air Force mentor. The workshop hosted 32 attendees and was hosted by the 3d Audiovisual Squadron in San Antonio, Texas.)