Vernacular Systems: the 2024 CAM Perennial exhibition

Mar 1–Jun 9, 2024

Image Gallery

A bright green field of trees with a path down the middle and hills in the background. A cropdusting plane flies above a couple of female workers in the trees. Rainbows and a line of cooke bottles decorate the left side of the canvas. In the middle a man sprays a toxic chemical on the field. — Nela Garzón, "Things Go Better with Coke," 2023. Acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

A tightly cropped photograph of an installation work of interlocking brown roots and rope — Detail of Vernacular Systems by Zulma Vega, courtesy of the artist.

Vernacular Systems: the 2024 CAM Perennial exhibition

Mar 1–Jun 9, 2024

Curated by Christopher Blay

Featuring: Ricky Armendariz, Nela Garzón, Jennifer Battaglia, Juan Carlos Escobedo, Preston Gaines, Raul Rene Gonzalez, Mark Anthony Martinez, Shavon Aja Morris, Marc Newsome, Alán Serna, Monique Garza, and Zulma Vega.

Vernacular Systems highlights themes of interconnectivity from personal and globalized perspectives. The artists reflect on the human nature to connect to the world around us–from nature, to family, to work, and the day to day. They also critique histories and systems which thrive on disconnection, yet resolve in knowing that even when connection is not visible, there exists networks of systems linking humanity, roots that may unify.

Contemporary Art Month and the Contemporary at Blue Star partner to bring you the 2024 CAM Perennial exhibition. The Perennial will take open March 1, 2024 at the Contemporary at Blue Star and is curated by Houston curator Christopher Blay.

Currently serving as Chief Curator at the Houston Museum of African American Culture, Christopher Blay brings his extensive experience as an artist and curator to the role as the 2024 Perennial Curator. Blay has a history of bringing communities together as an artist with a robust practice and as a leader of a respected organization in Houston.