Nadia Botello, What the River Says. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Experience Three Immersive Solo Exhibitions at Contemporary at Blue Star
📍 San Antonio, TX – Contemporary at Blue Star invites the community to experience three new solo exhibitions opening on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 6–9 p.m. Featuring artists Nadia Botello, Fabiola Menchelli, and Jason Willome, each exhibition offers a unique, sensory-driven experience where the audience is invited to interact with the art through touch, movement, and presence. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2025)
🎉 Opening Events
Taco Talk with the Curator 🗓 Friday, July 11 | ⏰ 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Register Here
Public Opening Reception 🗓 Friday, July 11 | ⏰ 6:00–9:00 p.m.
🖼 On View: July 11 – October 5, 2025
✨ Featured Exhibitions
Nadia Botello
Theophany
Sound artist and composer Nadia Botello explores the San Antonio River as a living entity—a shaping force with a voice of its own. A native Texan and fourth-generation San Antonian, Botello presents multimedia works in sound, sculpture, and film that ask: What might the river be saying for itself?
Her 16mm film series What the River Says reveals images formed solely by submerging film into the river—no human intervention, only the language of water.
Fabiola Menchelli
ombré
Blending photography with painterly process, Fabiola Menchelli introduces a new body of work from her Parallelograms series. Created in total darkness, her photograms are both intentional and accidental—revealing the mystery of creation when sight is removed.
In a fast-paced world of constant imagery, Menchelli’s slow, sensory process challenges viewers to pause and reflect.
Jason Willome
When a Mind Wanders
Jason Willome delves into memory, transformation, and the unknown through his deeply personal drawings. Sparked by the final moments leaving his father’s home and witnessing his father’s decline from Parkinson’s disease, Willome uses gouache, charcoal, and cattle markers to render consciousness in flux.
These abstract, layered drawings mirror the haze of memory and perception—reflecting both confusion and care.
This body of work was developed during Willome’s residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin through the Contemporary’s international residency program.
🏛 About Contemporary at Blue Star
Contemporary at Blue Star showcases artists from San Antonio and across the globe, presenting innovative exhibitions that spark empathy, action, and understanding. As a non-collecting contemporary art space, the Contemporary fosters fresh perspectives and cultural dialogue.
🎟 Admission is always free. 📍 116 Blue Star, San Antonio, TX 78204 📞 (210) 227-6960 🌐 Contemporary at Blue Star
En Las Sombras, Nuestros Fantasmas Acechan, Installation View, 2024. On view at Laguna, Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by Rubén Garay, used with permission.
Contemporary at Blue Star Announces Summer Exhibitions
Exploring the Body, Perception, and the Unseen Through Conceptual Art
San Antonio, TX – Contemporary at Blue Star is excited to present a compelling lineup of summer exhibitions that spotlight artists from Mexico and San Antonio. Through conceptual practices, these artists create work that transcends the physical, exploring how space, technology, memory, and sound influence the human body. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2025)
🌑En Las Sombras, Nuestros Fantasmas Acechan
(In the Shadows, Our Ghosts Lurk) Curated by Fabiola Iza On View: June 6 – October 5, 2025 Opening Reception: Friday, June 6 | 6–9 p.m.
Taco Talk with Curator Fabiola Iza Friday, June 6 | 10:30a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Kick off the exhibition with “Taco Talk,” a curator-led walkthrough paired with breakfast tacos and coffee. Learn about the works and themes with guest curator Fabiola Iza, and engage in an open conversation about the ideas behind the show.
Featuring Artists:
Alicia Ayanegui, Enrique Arriaga Celis, Daniela Bojórquez Vértiz, Virginia Colwell & Raquel Bañón Sodini, Manuela García, Leo Marz, Jonathan Miralda Fuksman, Daniel Monroy Cuevas, Paloma Rosenzweig, Oswaldo Ruiz
Inspired by the design of the panopticon, this exhibition examines the evolution of surveillance and the “omniscient gaze” in the age of modern technology. Originally exhibited at Laguna in Mexico City, the show has been reimagined for Contemporary at Blue Star by independent curator Fabiola Iza.
✨ Jason Willome
On View: July 11 – October 5, 2025 Opening Reception: Friday, July 11 | 6p.m. – 9p.m.
Fresh from his residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, Jason Willome debuts a new body of work that delves into the cosmos, consciousness, and personal mythology. Incorporating a wide range of media, this exhibition invites viewers to examine our relationship with the universe and the stories we tell ourselves.
🌊 Nadia Botello: Theophany
On View: July 11 – October 5, 2025 Opening Reception: Friday, July 11 | 6p.m. – 9p.m.
Sound artist Nadia Botello presents a site-specific installation from her Bodies of Water series. Listeners must physically engage with translucent tank sculptures to activate the audio compositions—sonic works created from field recordings of the San Antonio River and original choral arrangements. Botello’s work invites reflection on the body as both listener and vessel.
📸 Fabiola Menchelli
On View: July 11 – October 5, 2025 Opening Reception: Friday, July 11 | 6p.m. – 9p.m.
In complete darkness, without even the glow of a safelight, Fabiola Menchelli constructs photographs that unfold like sculptures. This immersive, darkened gallery experience mimics her creation process, allowing viewers to “discover” the artworks just as the artist did. Her work challenges and expands the limits of photography, light, and perception.
About Contemporary at Blue Star
Contemporary at Blue Star presents exhibitions by artists from San Antonio and around the world. Through a focus on global perspectives, we foster empathy, innovation, and action—fulfilling our mission to inspire, nurture, and innovate. As a non-collecting contemporary art space, we engage with current social and cultural issues through art.
Teen Night at Contemporary at Blue Star is this Friday March 21, 2025. Photo: Contemporary at Blue Star.
Join Contemporary at Blue Star for Teen Night on Friday March 21 from 6p.m. to 8p.m. Admission is free. Participants can view our exhibitions, enjoy artist-led art activities, perform at our open mic and mingle with other art-minded San Antonio teens. Teen Night is scheduled in conjunction with our exhibition, Mosh Now, Cry Later, reflecting on San Antonio’s love for sad rock music and its influence on visual culture and community building. Register for Teen Night here.(Contemporary at Blue Star, 2025)
Teen night activities:
One aspect of alternative and independent rock genres, which you can also find in the artworks of Mosh Now, Cry Later, is the use of DIY aesthetics.
For Teen Night we’ll be exploring various methods of art making that align with this tendency. Some of the staff lead activities include creating zines, buttons, and screen printing.
Open Mic! Express yourself through poetry, music, and more. The stage is yours, literally. Bring your friends to cheer you on or come solo and make new connections with fellow creative teens.
Make a collage with Christie Blizard!
Led by Mosh Now, Cry Later exhibiting artist Christie Blizard, teens will take magazines, paper scraps, and other materials to create a unique artwork.
Blackout Poetry with Lilith Tijerina and Sarah Tijerina
In this activity, led by artists and performers Lilith Tijerina and Sarah Tijerina, teens will create a poem by taking found writing (from books, articles, etc.) and use a marker to blackout some of the words on a page. The words that remain will create a finished poem.
This event is exclusively for teenagers. In an effort to maintain a safe and relaxing environment for San Antonio teenagers, school IDs will be needed to enter. There will be Contemporary staff chaperoning, as well as two security officers for the duration of the event. Visiting hours during this time will also be exclusively for Teens.
More aboutMosh Now, Cry Later: San Antonio’s love of sad rock and its impact on visual culture. It is on view through June 8, 2025.
Featured Artists: Christie Blizard, Justo Cisneros, Joe De La Cruz, Juan Flores, Angela Fox, Brian Gonzalez, Nick Hay, Dom Jimenez, Ashley Mireles, Charlie Morris, Theresa Newsome, Ashley Perez, Kristy Perez, Anthony Rundblade
Mosh Now, Cry Later is an exploration of alternative and independent rock genres—from punk and post-punk to new wave, emo, screamo, hardcore punk, goth, and more—and their effect on San Antonio’s visual culture.
“The exhibition pinpoints the shared sensibilities of a cultural undercurrent within the visual art and music scenes of San Antonio and explores parallels in emotional undertones.” – Curator and Exhibitions Director Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray
In this exhibition, fourteen San Antonio-connected artists work with an array of media to create artworks that echo these musical subgenres, either through their emotional undercurrents or aesthetic approaches.
Emerging from a rebellious response to mainstream music and practice, these subgenres embrace an ethos of DIY principles that challenge conventional methods of music-making. Similarly, the featured artists operate within counterculture, deviating from mainstream practices in subject or material.
This exhibition also examines how San Antonio’s Latinx youth are especially connected to these subcultures, drawing parallels between DIY aesthetics and rasquache, counterculture and machismo, and vocal techniques like screaming and the grito—a traditional emotional outcry in Mexican culture.
Central to this exhibition is the community archive and listening room or Mosh Pit, an interactive installation of photographs, ephemera, records, tapes, and more lining the walls. The Mosh Pit will highlight musicians from major and indie labels, local bands, and mixtapes and playlists contributed by the exhibiting artists. The inclusion of this installation serves to emphasize the dialogue and intersection of disciplines in San Antonio’s artistic community.
Contemporary at Blue Star 116 Blue Star San Antonio, TX 78204 (210) 227-6960
Mujer-Eres: Raíces is currently on view at the San Benito Cultural Center until June 7. Photo: Sandra Cruz
Art plays a vital role in fostering community, especially when created by women artists who bring diverse perspectives and unique storytelling to the canvas. Their work highlights social issues, cultural heritage, and personal narratives that resonate deeply with audiences. For art lovers, these creations offer not only beauty but also a meaningful connection to different experiences and viewpoints.
Public art, galleries, and community exhibitions provide spaces for dialogue, inspiration, and empowerment. By supporting women artists, communities enrich their cultural landscape, encourage creative expression, and promote inclusivity, ensuring that art continues to be a powerful force for unity and change.
The current exhibition at the San Benito Cultural Center, Mujer-Eres: Raíces, features women artists and their diverse experiences, both personal and societal. It runs until June 7 and admission is included with your visit to the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum. Exhibits include mixed media, ceramics, and paintings. If you’re an art lover, make plans to see this exceptional exhibition that will no doubt resonate with you, especially if you’re a woman. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this exhibition to San Benito.
Mujer-Eres: Raíces is a contemporary art group exhibition that showcases the diverse talent of women artists and is currently on view at the San Benito Cultural Center. The exhibition was coordinated by RGV artists Sam Rawls and Ceci Sierra and curated by Aleida García and Joaquin Castillo. (San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, 2025)
The well attended opening of Mujer Eres: Raíces was held on Saturday March 8 and coincided with the International Women’s Day celebration. The evening’s event brought together art lovers, family, friends, and community leaders to celebrate the diversity of women artists and their contributions to the art community. It consisted of special speakers, snacks, and best of all, live DJ music by Queen Killa Bee.
The exhibition is divided as such:
Exhibition Room 2: Fragments of Youth and its Discomforts – these works explores the concept of youth in all its intricacies.
Works: “Ice Cream Cone” “Learn from MeMe” “Tequila Sunrise (undone)” “Buried Under Conformity and Obligation” “Uneven Lines” “Dyed Hair”
Exhibition Room 1: Sacred Self, Self Aware, and Ritual Healing – an amplification of the societal demands of works in Room 2.
Works: “Sumision” “Prickly” “Whispers of the Unseen” “Pray With Me” “Recetas, Remedios y Raices” “Memory Weaving: Mi mama y yo y el arbol grande”
Exhibition Room 3: Snapshots in Approach of Resolution – explores the capacity to exist in and commit acts of softness and harshness.
Works: “Disquietude” “Untitled” “War” “Sunrise” “Abridged” “Impression: Sunrise at a Restaurant”
Museum Hours: Monday through Thursday 10a.m. to 4p.m. Fridays 10a.m. to 1p.m.
San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum 250 E. Heywood St San Benito, TX 78586
Sizhu Li’s site-specific exhibition at HoCo Arts Council. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
San Antonio, TX – Contemporary at Blue Star is happy to announce our next exhibition, a site-specific installation of Sizhu Li’s Moonment. Moonment is an ongoing installation project inspired by a Chinese ancient poem “海上生明月，天涯共此时” by Tang poet Zhang Jiu Lin. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2025)
Sizhu Li’s Moonment at the Contemporary Opening First Friday, February 7, 2025 6p.m. – 9p.m Free admission
This work describes a surreal and poetic night-sea view that resonates with people of different locations. Aluminum sheets and programmed fans create a live moving percussive environment of waves. These constructions become a contemporary landscape where space is a physical material as much as a piece of metal or wood etc.
Li’s works are animated, poetic, and tell a story. Materials, though often unrefined, are treated as fleshy, melancholic, nostalgic characters. Their movements are direct, satisfying, repeated, comforting, and mesmerizing. Together, they immerse viewers in an echo of simplicity within the chaos of modern life—evoking live phenomena like moonlight on the flowing water or wind on young leaves. Li is influenced by Minimalism, Futurism, and Chinese painting, poetry, and philosophy. In ancient times, people lived simpler lives, but still had rich intellectual and spiritual experiences. Li believes that we have something to learn from a spirit of wonder that feeds the human soul and brings communities together.
Before the opening:
Taco Talk with Sizhu Li
Friday, February 7, 2025 10:30a.m. – 11:30a.m. Free with registration
The Contemporary welcomes visitors for breakfast tacos and a gallery walk through with exhibiting artist Sizhu Li.
Sizhu Li is a Chinese-born kinetic installation artist based in New York and New Jersey. She holds a BFA from Central Academy of Fine Arts and an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art with the Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship.
Also at Contemporary Blue Star
San Antonio, TX – Contemporary at Blue Star seeks applications from artists living and working in Bexar County for three-month residencies in Berlin, Germany. In 2013, the Contemporary began sending San Antonio artists to Berlin and we are excited to embark on the 11th cycle of the program. Deadline to Apply: Monday, February 10, 2025 at 12p.m. (Noon) CST. Learn more and register here.
In partnership with Künstlerhaus Bethanien, the Contemporary awards four artists annually the opportunity to live and conduct their studio practice in one of the world’s most significant art centers, Berlin, Germany.
The four selected artists will be awarded one of four residency slots at Künstlerhaus Bethanien as a grantee of Contemporary at Blue Star and a $2,000 stipend to aid with travel to the residency and living costs. The Contemporary covers costs of all program fees associated with residency: studio and living space, inclusion in the internationally distributed BE magazine, curatorial visits, workshop access, etc. With support from the City of San Antonio’s Global Engagement Office, resident artists will also travel to Darmstadt, Germany (a sister city of San Antonio) to meet with fellow artists and cultural leaders and visit cultural institutions. An additional stipend is provided for this trip. Each selected artist will participate in a public program following the completion of the residency.
Contemporary at Blue Star established the Berlin Residency Program to connect Bexar County artists with the international art community and enrich their artistic practice through their experiences in Berlin. Contemporary’s 2024-25 Berlin Resident Artist Jason Willome reflected on his creative evolution: “Being in Berlin has forced me out of my comfort zone – encountering new materials leads to shifts in the work, as you get to know the material and how it behaves.”
The selection process is highly competitive, with a panel of jurors evaluating a pool of talented Bexar County artists. Interested artists can learn more and apply at the Contemporary’s website. Selected artists will be announced on March 7, 2025 at 6p.m., during the Contemporary’s exhibition opening and the Contemporary Art Month Kick-Off.
Artist Eligibility
Artists must currently reside in Bexar County and conduct a significant portion of their artistic practice/outreach in San Antonio. Artist must have established residency for 12 months prior to application period.
Artists must have at least five years of relevant work experience and/or specialized arts training, such as a degree or certificate, or intensive period developing their skill and knowledge base.
Artists should demonstrate a clear investment of time and resources into their artistic practice and/or derive a portion of individual earned income from their artistic practice or areas related to the field.
Artists must have a professional portfolio that includes publicly displayed and possibly published works.
The four residency cycles are July 15–October 8; October 15–January 8; January 15–April 8; April 15–July 8. Applicants must be able to attend during ANY of these time periods. Artists should not apply if their schedule does not allow them the flexibility to attend during any of these time periods and/or for the duration of the residency. Cycles are assigned after residents are selected and through group dialogue.
Students are not eligible to apply.
Artist collaborative teams/collectives not eligible to apply.
Literary artists are not eligible to apply.
Curators, arts writers, and critics are not eligible to apply
Workshop space at Künstlerhaus Bethanien. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Events include Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West, Native American Film Series, and Día de los Muertos activities. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
San Antonio, TX – Opening a window into the rich history, culture and landscapes of the Southwest, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is proud to host Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West, an exhibition that reveals the breadth of narrative art produced in the Southwest from the early twentieth century to today. The exhibition features more than 70 remarkable works curated from the prestigious collections of the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Briscoe, and private lenders. Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West will be on view October 4, 2024, through January 19, 2025, and is included with museum admission. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2024)
“Narrative art tells a story. It can illustrate historic events or bring the imagination to life. The traditions of storytelling in the Southwest go back to ancient times and the Indigenous populations of the region. From the simple carved forms of Helen Cordero to the narrative realism of Martin Grelle and Navajo artist Ed Natiya, the exhibition celebrates the intricate tapestry of the American Southwest’s artistic heritage. We’re proud to share these works and the stories they tell.” – Liz Jackson, President and CEO of the Briscoe Western Art Museum
The exhibition explores the various ways artists have told stories about the Southwest in their work, including illustrations of historic events such as Diego Romero’s image of the Pueblo Revolt and paintings of local religious ceremonies such as William Penhallow Henderson’s “Holy Week in New Mexico” and ruminations on spiritual traditions as in Partocinio Barela’s “Last Supper,” as well as reflections on modern art and iconic images of the West inspired by pop culture, including Andy Warhol’s “Geronimo” and Billy Schenck’s “Cliff.”
The range of artists and the stylistic variation represented in Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West offer a variety of lenses, allowing audiences to engage with the region’s complex and evolving history and culture. Storytellers showcases the talents of renowned artists like Fritz Scholder, Gerald Cassidy, Alan Houser and Henry Balink, who bring diverse perspectives on cowboy, Native, and Spanish cultures, alongside works by Frederic Remington, Andy Warhol, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Martin Grelle and Mark Maggiori.
Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West was organized by the New Mexico Museum of Art. The exhibition is sponsored in part by The City of San Antonio, Jan McCaleb Elliott, Jessica Elliott Middleton and The Texas Commission on the Arts.
Storytellers: Conversation with the Curator Exhibition tour with guest curator Christian Waguespack Friday, October 4, 2p.m. – 3p.m., included with museum admission Saturday, October 5, 2p.m. – 3p.m., included with museum admission
Talk with a leading expert in the field of narrative art and enjoy a tour of the exhibition with curator Christian Waguespack as he provides unique insight into the art and discusses the special connection Storytellers has with New Mexico.
Community Ofrenda, Art and Día de los Muertos: Sharing the Stories of the Departed Ofrenda: October 3 through November 4, included with museum admission Painting with DiZurita: October 19, 6p.m. – 8p.m., $45, $25 for museum members Sugar Skull Pinatas: October 27, 1p.m. – 2:30p.m., 3p.m. – 4:30p.m., $20, $15 for museum members Calaveritas: October 27, 1:30p.m. – 4:30p.m., included with museum admission
In celebration of Día de los Muertos, the community is invited to participate in the Briscoe’s community ofrenda honoring influential figures in Western art and the American West. Everyone is welcome to add photos of lost loved ones and personal offerings to help celebrate their lives. The ofrenda will be on display in the museum lobby and free Día de los Muertos-themed crafts will be available for those who would like to participate. The Briscoe’s Hendler Family Museum Store will have Día de los Muertos items available for those who wish to add to their offerings.
Enjoy a Día de los Muertos painting session led by energetic and charismatic international artist Gio DiZurita. Based in San Antonio, DiZurita tells stories through her art, an everlasting transformation of life experiences. Create your own Catrina or sugar skull masterpiece while sipping beer, wine, or prickly pear margaritas. You’ll create an acrylic painting on an 11 x 14 canvas in a hands-on session with Gio as she guides guests through a take-home work of art. Registration for this 21+ event is per person and includes beer, wine and all supplies. Class size is limited, so register today to secure your spot.
For more Día de los Muertos celebration, join local artist Adriana Gamez as she leads guests through a sugar skull piñata class, sharing cultural insights and crafting techniques while helping everyone create a sugar skull piñata filled with Mexican candy. Light refreshments and all supplies needed to create an 11” inch piñata, as well as the candy, are included. Participants also receive admission to the museum. One ticket per person, both adults and children, is required. Two sessions are being held to accommodate everyone, but spots are limited so register now to avoid missing out.
Stop in on October 27 as artist Renée Letapi-Gamez leads everyone in painting miniature sugar skull canvases you can take home to commemorate Día de los Muertos. A student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Renée Letapi-Gamez draws inspiration from Latin culture and is a Día de los Muertos aficionado. Her focus is on small works inspired by catrinas, calveras and alebrijes. She’ll share her passion for these traditional elements of Día de los Muertos and help everyone create their own miniatures. The drop-in activity is included with museum admission and all materials are provided.
Native American Film Series Returns
Storytelling is a vital tradition in Native American heritage, serving as a powerful way to pass down knowledge, history and cultural values from one generation to the next.
As part of the Storytellers exhibition, the Briscoe is proud to announce the reboot of its Native American Film Series, a celebration of Indigenous storytelling through the lens of contemporary cinema. This series spotlights films created by Native American filmmakers and artists, offering audiences a unique opportunity to engage with the stories, cultures and histories of Indigenous communities from the American West.
All films were directed, written, produced by and/or star Native Americans. Matthew Davila, a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe, curated the series and will lead a short presentation before each film. The films are included with museum admission and are free for members. The series includes:
“Rez Ball,” Sunday, October 20, 2p.m.
“Windtalkers,” Sunday, November 17, 2p.m.
“Indian Relay,” Sunday, January 12, 2p.m.
Storytellers: Sculpture Demonstration and Conversation with Artist Ed Natiya Meet the Artist – Thursday, November 14, 6p.m. – 8p.m., included with general admission
The Contemporary at Blue Star is excited to announce three new exhibitions, The C&s Center of Unfinished Business, Kaysaypac: Portraits and Figures by Leeanna Chipana, and Cheng Xinhao’s Silver…and Other Elements. The summer exhibitions weave an unavoidable thread that sparks conversation around the history of colonialism, its presence in contemporary life, and encourages education and dialogue. They are currently on view until October 6, 2024. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2024)
The C&s Center of Unfinished Business Contemporary is thrilled to partner with C&, a multimedia platform for contemporary visual arts, to present the Center of Unfinished Business, a reading room that encapsulates an array of books that explore the persistence of colonialism in various ways, from its origins to how it effects people and places today. You’ll find texts on the way land and culture have been forcibly stripped from native people due to colonialism alongside texts that explore how empire-building also connects to fashion, 21st century capitalism, and more.
Launched in 2017, the Reading Room has traveled to institutions around the world. As it travels, the room integrates books from each of its host venues (and their collaborators), who add text that is relevant to the place the Reading Room inhabits. For the Contemporary’s iteration of this installation, we have partnered with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Latino Bookstore to include texts that touch on the themes of colonialism and borders that are present in the exhibitions in the surrounding galleries.
Kaysaypac: Portraits and Figures by Leeanna Chipana Born in Long Island, New York to an immigrant Quechuan-Peruvian father and American mother, Leeanna Chipana draws from her Quechuan and American identity by incorporating Incan, Aztec, and Mayan iconography with classical European oil painting techniques and approaches. The blending and blurring of indigenous figures and Western techniques is an effort of disrupting colonial erasure by placing Indigenous-Latinx figures at the forefront of a very Euro-centric style of painting.
The exhibition title, Kaysaypac (pronounced cow-say-pak), a nod to Chipana’s Quechuan-Peruvian heritage, is a phrase often used while making a toast or a cheers and translates to “to live/to life.” Further cementing the presence of indigenous peoples, this sentiment incorporated into the title is a dedication to the descendants of the Incans continuing to live in community, surviving colonialism and violence.
Cheng Xinhao Silver…and Other Elements In this four-channel film, Cheng Xinhao investigates the Mang people’s (the indigenous people living at the border of Vietnam and China) adaptation to shifting borders and changing systems. To explore this moving borderline and the migration of its people, Xinhao follows the fluctuating use of currency.
These shifting borders create a state of in-betweenness and displacement—a sentiment many border communities around the world still struggle with, and yet adapt to. Xinhao’s video raises the question: what symbols are appropriated and survive under new regimes? Will they be incorporated into existing systems, or will new forms be created?
Contemporary at Blue Star 116 Blue Star San Antonio, TX 78204
Contemporary at Blue Star presents Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers | Soñadores + creadores del cambio. Photo: Contemporary at Blue Star
Contemporary at Blue Star is honored to present Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers | Soñadores + creadores del cambio,opening Friday, June 7, 2024, from 6p.m. – 9p.m. at the Contemporary. The opening night will also include a performance by Robert Jose Gonzalez at 8p.m. As the exhibition title suggests, the artists in this exhibition are dreamers and changemakers. Of Mexican American origin, they self-identify as Xicanx, a term that crosses national borders and gender lines to encompass a multi-generational experience. This exhibition uses the term Xicanx to refer to Chicano, Chicana, and Chicanx. The term reflects those who fought for and claim this designation and incorporates the ‘X’ from the Spanish transcription of the Nahuatl sound ‘ch.’ Nahuatl is one of the major Indigenous languages in Mexico. The ‘x’ on the end signals gender-neutral and non-binary inclusivity. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2024)
Opening Night: Friday, June 7, 2024 | 6p.m. – 9p.m. Performance by Robert Jose Gonzalez at 8p.m. | Free and open to the public On View: June 7, 2024–October 6, 2024
The original conception of this exhibition came from a desire curators Jill Baird and Greta de León had to share the overlooked histories of American civil rights, including the Chicano/a civil rights movement of the 1960s and 70s, called El Movimiento. The installation at Contemporary at Blue Star is particularly significant due to El Movimiento’s roots in San Antonio, and the West Side of the city. From fighting for labor rights to equality for students, the work of San Antonio activists (and artists) played a crucial role in El Movimiento.
Some of the artists in Xicanx, began their work as part of El Movimiento. Much of the artwork created during this time sought to do the very things that this exhibition does: educate about the social inequity of Xicanx peoples, their history, and the importance of their culture. Other artists define themselves through their indigenous roots, and a younger generation expands the idea of Xicanx Art while continuing the work of addressing personal, social, and political issues of today.
In their curatorial statement, Baird and Greta note the importance of this work, “Artists were a major and critical part of El Movimiento over 50 years ago, and they continue to be strong activists fighting for equality and against racism and discrimination. Being Chicano or Xicanx* is an identity all of the artists in this exhibition choose. It is more than being just Mexican American; it is accepting the responsibility to fight for their community, their culture and their civil rights. The artists in this exhibition are dreamers and changemakers.”
Alongside the artwork are quotes, speeches, or sayings from prominent Xicanx authors, scholars, and exhibiting artists. A projection displays the work of murals across the United States, showcasing the reach and breadth of Xicanx voices in public art.
Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers | Soñadores + creadores del cambio was originally produced and presented by the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC and The Americas Research Network (ARENET), and curated by Jill Baird, former Curator of Education, MOA + Greta de León, Executive Director, ARENET. The presentation at Contemporary at Blue Star has been organized in collaboration with Mary Heathcott, Executive Director Contemporary at Blue Star; Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray, Curator and Exhibitions Director, Contemporary at Blue Star; and Jon Hinojosa, President, CREO Consulting.
Contemporary at Blue Star presents exhibitions with artists from San Antonio and around the world sharing their global perspectives that encourage understanding, empathy, change, and action, fulfilling our mission to inspire, nurture, and innovate. Like most non-collecting contemporary art spaces, the Contemporary contributes fresh insights and perspectives on larger issues affecting society and culture by highlighting trends, movements, and conversations happening in art. Admission to the Contemporary is always free.
Contemporary at Blue Star 116 Blue Star San Antonio, TX 78204 (210) 227-6960
San Antonio Museum of Art’s American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection will close on January 7, 2024. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art
The San Antonio Museum of Art’s special exhibition American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection is set to close on January 7, 2024 after an acclaimed run. The exhibition features more than a hundred artworks depicting the American experience in striking landscapes, Colonial-era portraits, still lifes, impressionist paintings, abstractions, and bronze sculptures. Spanning over 250 years of American art, American Made features exemplary works by renowned artists, including Baby Charles Looking Over His Mother’s Shoulder (No.3) by Mary Cassatt, An American Landscape by Luigi Lucioni, Elsie Wagg by John Singer Sargent, Chow Choy by Robert Henri, Seated Woman by Elizabeth Catlett, and Paris le Soir by Loïs Mailou Jones. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023)
American Made demonstrates not only how American art has changed stylistically, but also how the face of American art has changed — literally and figuratively. Though many objects from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection have been on view at museums around the country, American Made is the first exhibition to bring together highlights of this extensive private collection.
American Made was organized by The Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee.
San Antonio Museum of Art 200 W. Jones Ave. San Antonio, TX 78215
The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic former Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. The Museum hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.
Thomas Moran (American,1837-1926), Moonlight in Venice,1898, Oil on wood board. Courtesy of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Ofrenda: Juan O’Gorman and a Legacy of Muralism will be on view through November 30, 2023. Photo: UNAM San Antonio.
In celebration of Día de los Muertos, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is delighted to announce a special collaboration with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México San Antonio (UNAM San Antonio) to present Ofrenda: Juan O’Gorman and a Legacy of Muralism. The ofrenda, or altar, will pay homage to the remarkable Mexican artist and architect known for Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas, the iconic mosaic mural he created for Hemisfair ’68. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023)
The ofrenda will be on view in SAMA’s Great Hall from Thursday, October 26 to Thursday, November 30.
Five UNAM students—Jhosep Bonillas, Rodrigo Gael Martínez, Pabel Erubey Medina, Diana Valeria Nápoles, and Mariana Tovar de Alba—were part of the team that submitted the winning proposal to build an altar at the UNAM San Antonio campus in a competition at the School of Architecture at UNAM in Mexico City. SAMA then invited them to build a complementary altar at the Museum. The altar will be placed next to Carlos Rosales-Silva’s mural Pase Usted, as his practice is greatly influenced by Mexican Muralism and O’Gorman.
The students built the altar with assistance from the Museum’s staff using traditional flowers such as cempashúchil (marigolds) and incorporate beer bottles as a nod to SAMA’s history as the old Lone Star Brewery. They also created an elaborate tapete (tapestry) using traditional materials.
Juan O’Gorman’s artistic contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of muralism and architecture. In his mural work, O’Gorman depicted various pre-Hispanic and Mesoamerican cultures, as well as elements of popular culture and everyday life in Mexico. A masterpiece, Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas celebrated the historical and cultural ties between Mexico and the United States. Today, the 2,600 square foot mural adorns the façade of the Lila Cockrell Theatre at the Henry B. González Convention Center.
The UNAM San Antonio will host a series of programs to commemorate O’Gorman’s legacy, including the Altar de Muertos dedicado a la vida de Juan O’Gorman on view from October 26 to November 30 at UNAM San Antonio: 600 Hemisfair Park. San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 222-8626.
The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. The Museum hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.
SA Examiner 