Q&A with CAM co-chairs Ben Judson & Roberta 'Nina' Hassele

Tell me about the logo and how it's developed.

Nina: It's still what Chuck (Ramirez) created. … We just changed it a little bit.

And then Miss CAM Antonio came out of that?

Nina: Callie Enlow (a former Current staffer who now handles public relations for CAM) actually planted the seed about feminizing the tractor and we all jumped on board. There was this great dialogue going on about it, and at the end we were like, 'Hell yeah! Wouldn't it be great if we could do this? And then crown Miss CAM Antonio?' We wanted to make sure that everyone knew that they could be Miss CAM Antonio.

And the crowning will take place at…

Ben: The kickoff party's on March first at Blue Star, which is where CAM started in the first place. There'll be several food trucks, music, a cutting of the ribbon for CAM, lots of beer and wine. Nina: And for the exhibit that's opening ("Passage to the Future: Art from a New Generation in Japan"), some Japanese dignitaries will be there. And we're going to have a tractor that's being donated for a couple of hours by the San Antonio River Authority.

What shows are you two most excited about?

Nina: "Seven Minutes in Heaven" at the Fox Motel. I can't wait. Jessica Garcia and Linda Arredondo are curating it and every room will have an artist.  Ben: There are a lot of things that I think'll be really cool, like "Franco and Friends." I love these kinds of things during CAM that happen a lot — like the Fox Motel — where people use spaces that aren't traditional gallery spaces. So [Franco Mondini Ruiz] is going into Antiques on Hildebrand and curating a show of I think like 25 artists and it's just all his friends. Yeah, so they'll have like a sausage party and you're supposed to bring your own mustard.

What can you tell us about the Cammie Awards, which honor the most exceptional art during Contemporary Art Month?

Ben: Like in previous years, there will be a specially curated exhibit from the Linda Pace Foundation collection. I'm kind of excited about having a special performance by Ernest Gonzales. He came out with a new album about a month ago or so and he's doing a performance with video that he's put together specifically for the album.