Curator Casie Lomeli Discusses San Antonio's Collaborative Art Scene and CAM's 40th Anniversary Exhibition

In an interview conducted by Vincent Solis, curator Casie Lomeli reflects on her career and the 2026 Contemporary Art Month Perennial Exhibition titled 'The Things We Carry.' The exhibition marks CAM's 40th anniversary and is presented across five artist-run spaces in San Antonio, featuring eight artists and co-curated by Leslie Moody Castro. Lomeli, who holds multiple roles including Exhibitions Manager at Sala Diaz and New Media Coordinator at Contemporary at Blue Star, discusses how her positions complement each other within the city's supportive art community. She notes that the exhibition theme emerged from studio visits, exploring concepts of memory, place, and personal history through diverse media. Artists include Adrienne Simmons, Eva Gabriella Flynn, Daniela Oliver de Portillo, Brenda Melgoza Ciardiello, Yuliya Lanina, Matt Rebholz, Jesselyn Gordon, and Tina Linville. Lomeli emphasizes the collaborative nature of San Antonio's art scene, where resources and spaces are often shared, and highlights how the exhibition connects artists from Texas and New Mexico. The interview also touches on Lomeli's background, having started her career at Ruiz-Healy Art gallery after studying at Trinity University, and her hope that the community's welcoming atmosphere continues as the city evolves.