Venture Into an Intimate World of Sight, Sound, and Touch with Jason Willome, Nadia Botello, and Fabiola Menchelli: Three Solo Shows at The Contemporary at Blue Star

Immerse yourself in the world of the unknown at The Contemporary’s three solo gallery exhibitions, where life meets uncertainty and the human mind seeks answers. Jasone Willome, a 2024–2025 Berlin Residency artist, presents his new body of work When a Mind Wonders, alongside Nadia Botello’s Theophany and Fabiola Menchelli’s Ombre. Each artist invites audiences to explore moments and emotions tied to the human experience: fear of the unknown, the value of what lies beyond the mundane, and the complexity of vulnerability. The works challenge viewers to engage their senses through sight, sound, and touch.

Upon entering the gallery, guests are warmly greeted at the front desk and immediately encounter the group show In the Shadows, Our Ghosts Lurk (En Las Sombras, Nuestros Fantasmas Acechan) in the main space. To the left, black curtains in a square corner mark the entrance to the solo exhibits. As visitors pass through, the atmosphere shifts to one of intimacy and introspection. The first doorway on the right leads to Jason Willome’s works, including paintings, mixed-media pieces on paper, and sculpture exploring the conditions of the human mind and body. Much of the work is shaped by his experiences and research in Berlin.

Installation of Jason Willome’s When a Mind Wonders, Woodstack (She’s Always in the Corner of My Eye), at the Contemporary. All photos are courtesy of Contemporary at Blue Star/Photo Credit: Jorge Villarreal.

Willome’s work conveys the human drive to understand the unknown, particularly as he witnesses his father face the challenges of Parkinson’s disease. In First Light, a sculpture of a skull peers from the wall. A drilled hole near one eye allows viewers to look inside and discover a galaxy of stars and blue sky. Willome references Neolithic trepanation, the ancient practice of drilling into the skull both as a medical procedure and a spiritual pathway to higher consciousness. His work continues this exploration of how humans have historically sought to heal and comprehend the mind.

Installation view of Jason Willome’s When a Mind Wonders at the Contemporary. All photos are courtesy of Contemporary at Blue Star/Photo Credit: Jorge Villarreal.

Continuing inward, the second curtain opens onto sound artist and composer Nadia Botello’s Theophany, which treats the San Antonio River as a central character. A fourth-generation San Antonian, Botello has long been connected to Texas waterways. In an interview for the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, she reflected on her background as a synchronized swimmer, sharing, “I spent half my life underwater.”  In the the press release,  she invites viewers to consider “what the river might be saying about herself.” This dialogue shapes What the River Says, a 16mm film submerged in the San Antonio River to allow images to form without manipulation. The absence of intervention suggests an authentic exchange between artist and water, echoing Botello’s deep sense of connection.

 Nadia Botello’s projection of What the River Says at the Contemporary. All photos are courtesy of Contemporary at Blue Star/Photo Credit: Jorge Villarreal.

Her second work, Bodies of Water, offers a more interactive encounter. Two glass tanks sit atop white pillars on opposite sides of the room, each containing water illuminated from below. Field recordings and U.S. Geological Survey data are incorporated into the work by releasing compressed air to create sound waves that reflect off rock layers. These become audible when visitors place an ear against the glass. Listening this way feels intimate, like hearing the river’s pulse. The work emphasizes water’s connection to the body, as humans are composed of 60% water, and every exhale returns moisture to the air. Theophany ultimately reframes sound, urging us to listen not only to the artwork, but also to the living voice of the river itself.

Installation view of Nadia Botello's Bodies of Water I at the Contemporary. All photos are courtesy of Contemporary at Blue Star/Photo Credit: Jorge Villarreal

The final gallery features Fabiola Menchelli’s Ombre, a photographic exploration using nontraditional darkroom techniques. The dimly lit space isolates nine folded photograms across the far wall, their surfaces alive with subtle gestures of light. Menchelli experiments with photograms rather than traditional negatives, using translucent objects, multiple exposures, and solarization. Her process embraces spontaneity, often guided by senses beyond sight, such as touch.

Installation view of Fabiola Menchelli's Ombre. All photos are courtesy of Contemporary at Blue Star/Photo Credit: Jorge Villarreal

In an era of instant photography and editing, Menchelli embraces a slower, more deliberate process. As she notes in the press release: “Working with color photography in complete darkness requires a reorientation of the body.” Visitors entering the gallery are encouraged to extend their arms to guide themselves in the dim space, paralleling the darkroom experience and heightening their reliance on touch and sound. In Ombre, perception becomes multisensory, redefining how photography can be experienced.

Together, the solo exhibitions of Jason Willome, Nadia Botello, and Fabiola Menchelli at The Contemporary at Blue Star create a dialogue between art and the complexity of human existence. Each artist individually explores vulnerability, the unknown, and our connection to nature and the mind. Collectively, they invite audiences beyond observation into interaction and reflection, leaving visitors with a deeper appreciation for the intricacies that shape our lives.

The solo shows are currently on display from July 11, 2025 to October 5, 2025 and open to the public. Please check their website for operating hours.