SAN DIEGO A DIVERSE AND UNEXPECTED ART SCENE

Ca ndice Ele y ( 61 9) 57 -2 889 ce le y@s a nd ie go o rg Sa h We inbe rg ( 61 9) 57 - 838 s we in be rg@s a nd ie go o rg Edna Gutie rre z ( 61 9) 57 - 887 e gut ie rre z@s a nd ie go or g Robe r t Are nds ( 61 9) 57 -2 834 re nds @s a ndie go or g Tw i t t e r @ V i s i t S D _ P R w w w s a n d i e g o o r g JANUARY 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SAN DIEGO: A DIVERSE AND UNEXPECTED ART SCENE From major museums highlighting the region’s multicultural visual arts to works by big name artists nestled unassumingly along public streets and parks, San Diego’s vibrant and diverse art scene provide an inspiring and unexpected counterpoint to the world-famous family attractions and sun-kissed setting for which San Diego is best known In addition to housing the nation’s largest urban cultural park and dozens of museums large and small, San Diego is home to a network of vibrant neighborhoods where visitors can discover local street art, hidden galleries and cultural events that paint a portrait of a creative city that’s more than just a beautiful beach town BALBOA PARK Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2915, Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States and often referred to as the "Smithsonian of the West" for its impressive collection of cultural institutions Adjacent to downtown San Diego, more than 1,200 acres comprise a number of attractions, including museums, art galleries and the Tony Award®-winning Old Globe theater Especially striking are the museums located along the park's El Prado walkway and housed in beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival-style buildings, built during the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 www.balboapark.org Balboa Park’s Museums  Marston House: Famed architect Irving Gill designed this historic Craftsman period mansion with an elegant English garden http://sohosandiego.org  Mingei International Museum showcases folk art from around the world, from African quilts to delicate dollhouses and much more www.mingei.org  Museum of Photographic Arts presents photography from leaders like Ansel Adams, as well as cutting edge new artists An intimate and elegant, state-of-the-art movie theater screens film classics and cult classics alike www.mopa.org  San Diego History Center showcases San Diego’s history with artifacts, costumes, art and one of the largest photograph collections in the western United States www.sandiegohistory.org  Reuben H Fleet Science Center features hands-on science exhibits, the world's first IMAX theatre and a motion simulator ride www.rhfleet.org  San Diego Air & Space Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, presents aviation history from first flights to space travel www.sandiegoairandspace.org  San Diego Automotive Museum displays classic automobiles and motorcycles from yesteryear, including an annual lowrider display and motorcycles owned by Steve McQueen www.sdautomuseum.org  San Diego Hall of Champions boasts three levels and is the nation’s largest multi-sport museum www.sandiegosports.org  San Diego Model Railroad Museum showcases the largest indoor model railroad display in the world www.sdmodelrailroadm.com  San Diego Museum of Art hosts prominent national touring exhibits and displays Old Masters, Asian art, 19th century European paintings, 20th century paintings and sculpture, and contemporary California art www.sdmart.org  San Diego Museum of Man, a Smithsonian affiliate, features anthropology discoveries from around the world, including Egyptian mummies, a traditional Kumeyaay house and exact replicas of Mayan monuments www.museumofman.org  San Diego Natural History Museum highlights regional environments and fossil finds in the San Diego region, and includes a giant-screen theater “Al,” a full-size allosaurus skeleton, welcomes visitors in the atrium www.sdnhm.org  San Diego Art Institute's Museum of the Living Artist displays works by San Diego artists www.sandiego-art.org  Timken Museum of Art displays European and American masterworks, including Russian icons, and admission is free every day www.timkenmuseum.org  Veteran's Memorial Center Museum honors the men and women who served in the U.S armed forces www.sdvmc.org Balboa Park’s Ethnic Diversity:  Centro Cultural de la Raza showcases the art and culture of Mexicans, Chicanos and Native Americans www.centroraza.com  House of Pacific Relations represents 30 different nations in 19 cottages, with open houses and lawn programs on Sundays, featuring crafts, costumes, dance, ethnic foods and more www.sdhpr.org  Japanese Friendship Garden features tranquil strolling paths, a koi pond, tea pavilion, zen garden and activity center www.niwa.org  Spanish Village Art Center is where more than 50 local artists create, display and sell their works in a charming and colorful Spanish-style village www.spanishvillageart.com  WorldBeat Center celebrates cultures of African origins www.worldbeatcenter.org UNIQUELY SAN DIEGO MUSEUMS Beyond the borders of Balboa Park, San Diego's museums explore the everyday and the unexpected  California Surf Museum in Oceanside preserves the legacy of pioneering legends of the surfing world www.surfmuseum.org  Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego displays modern masterpieces, including multi-media exhibits from worldrenowned contemporary artists, in two locations, downtown San Diego and La Jolla www.mcasd.org  Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad features more than 450 musical instrument displays and interactive areas to listen to music, ranging from ragtime to rock 'n' roll www.museumofmakingmusic.org  The New Children’s Museum in downtown San Diego encourages children to think, play and create with innovative, hands-on art activities and exhibitions designed by emerging and established contemporary artists www.thinkplaycreate.org  Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in downtown El Cajon pays tribute to artist Olaf Wieghorst with dozens of his paintings portraying the 19th century American West www.wieghorstmuseum.org  Maritime Museum of San Diego in downtown San Diego along San Diego Bay offers one of the world's finest collections of historic ships, including the famous Star of India—the world's oldest active tall ship www.sdmaritime.com  Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo in San Diego’s East County displays railroad history of the Pacific Southwest and features train excursions from its depot www.sdrm.org  Also in Campo, the Motor Transport Museum is home to more than 200 antique trucks and other motor transport vehicles, plus an eclectic collection of industrial equipment and photos/memorabilia related to the trucking industry and automotive pioneers www.motortransportmuseum.org  The Firehouse Museum in downtown San Diego features antique fire engines, firefighting equipment and memorabilia in San Diego's oldest firehouse www.sdfirehousemuseum.org  Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at MCAS Miramar presents U.S Marine aviation history and aircraft tours www.flyingleathernecks.org  San Diego Sheriff's Museum honors local law enforcement and includes a real jail cell, courtroom, helicopter and motorcycle www.sheriffmuseum.org  USS Midway Museum is a decommissioned aircraft carrier museum along downtown’s San Diego Bay waterfront, featuring aircraft displays and interactive exhibits honoring the U.S military www.midway.org GALLERIES AND ART DISTRICTS Hidden amongst the boulevards and back alleys of San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods are galleries and artists collectives showcasing a broad spectrum of work, ranging from under-the-radar photographers and street or graphic artists to the big names sought out by the country’s leading collectors  Set on a secluded hillside in a bright, modern structure that resembles a tiny Getty Center, the LUX Art Institute in Encinitas maintains an artist-in-residence program offering upclose opportunities to view international artists at work www.luxartinstitute.com  The SDSU Downtown Gallery is a program of the San Diego State University College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Housed on the ground floor of the recently renovated historic San Diego Gas and Electric power plant building, the gallery showcases works from students in the college’s fine arts programs  The posh seaside village of La Jolla is home to some of San Diego’s hippest galleries Thumbprint highlights the urban art movement that stems from outsider art, low/new brow art, street art and graffiti The elegant Scott White Contemporary Art gallery is committed to the promotion of emerging and midcareer artists, as well as showcasing renowned modern and contemporary artists like Willem deKooning, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti and Robert Indiana Quint Contemporary Art brings in big names like Ryan McGinnis and Manny Farber to an intimate gallery setting  Little Italy’s north end is home to the Kettner Art & Design District, where visitors will find galleries like JDC Fine Arts, dedicated to the best works from both emerging and established photographers Noel Baza Fine Arts displays original paintings, sculpture and prints The gallery’s primary focus is on local artists of the San Diego bi-national border region and Latin American Art, but big names like Picasso and Chagall have been known to appear on the walls  Young urbanites and artists are spurring a creative renaissance in Barrio Logan, a historic Latino neighborhood just outside of downtown Opened in 2013, Bread & Salt is an experimental art space located in a former Weber bakery building that features exhibitions throughout the year Voz Alta, a grassroots Chicano arts organization and artists’ collective, presents multidisciplinary art exhibitions throughout the year along with regular open-mic nights and jazz jam sessions at their gallery and workspace The Roots Factory on Main Street is part artist collective, part screenprinting shop and part performance art space; innovative visual arts exhibitions are also presented throughout the year at their onsite gallery  A revitalized warehouse district in downtown San Diego, the East Village neighborhood offers unique art-viewing experiences Composed of three former warehouses, the East Village’s Space Art offers a variety of programing throughout the year at its 32 artist studios, live/work artist studios, two-room exhibition gallery and outdoor performance stage At Makers Quarter, pedestrians can view a series of large-scale images by three photographers, or witness how a parking lot became transformed into a community garden The adjacent Silo space hosts a variety of arts events throughout the year At the nearby Warehouse1425, works by more than 30 of San Diego’s most innovative street artists and photographers adorn the warehouse walls URBAN AND PUBLIC ART  Since 2010, more than a dozen artists have transformed the coastal seaside village of La Jolla into an outdoor contemporary art gallery The Murals of La Jolla feature massive painted and photographic works by local artists as well as international contemporary art stars  In 2010, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego commissioned renowned street artists including Shepard Fairey and Invader to leave their mark on the city with dazzling murals hidden throughout San Diego’s downtown neighborhoods; many of the murals remain scattered throughout San Diego today  Started as a community initiative to prevent vandalism, Writerz Blok in southeast San Diego offers one of the most unexpected and extraordinary art experiences in San Diego Young San Diego street artists continually make over the park’s 10,000 sq ft., which is covered inch for inch with graffiti art  In the early 1970s, the Latino community established Chicano Park (www.chicanoparksandiego.com) beneath the San DiegoCoronado Bridge overpass, as part of a community empowerment effort The park is home to a dazzling display of colorful sculptures and political murals painted on the bridge’s pillars  Stuart Collection on the campus of the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla offers self-guided walking tours of sitespecific works by leading artists of our time http://stuartcollection.ucsd.edu More than 150 paintings, drawings and photographs from the City of San Diego’s own Civic Art Collection have been permanently installed on all floors of the newly opened San Diego Central Public Library Standout pieces include a fourpart installation of oversized lenticular prints and stacked dioramas that can be viewed through glass walls when riding the library elevator and a sculptural installation called “Hiding My Candy,” a 60 x 10 foot wall affixed with approximately 2,000 open books The 8th floor reading room features a collection of 25 unique pieces of reclaimed furniture painted bright blue and interspersed among the library’s dark furnishings, as well as a gallery space featuring rotating exhibitions   Surrounded by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and citrus groves, Galleta Meadows features 40 fantastic metal sculptures of dinosaurs, mammoths, saber-tooth tigers, sloths and other ancient former residents, as well as life-size animals of the non-prehistoric kind: camels, tortoises and wild stallions Created by artist Ricardo Breceda, his “Sky Art” project tells the tale of San Diego’s fascinating and fossilized past one free standing, steel-welded sculpture at a time ART AFTER HOURS  The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents TNT (Thursday Night Thing), an ongoing, ever-changing presentation of progressive visual arts and entertainment at the museum's downtown space on the first Thursday of every month www.mcasd.org  During Culture & Cocktails, the San Diego Museum of Art’s ongoing series premiering new exhibits, guests check out the world-class art and while noshing on appetizers and intoxicating beverages in a lively DJ-spun atmosphere Entertainment, libations and décor are themed to match the museum’s key exhibitions  POP Thursdays at the Museum of Photographic Arts offers an evening event centered around fun and photography Each event features music, drinks, interactive projects and cult films Guests can engross themselves in the film by grabbing a seat in the museum’s theater or take in the vibe and enjoy a drink from the cash bar as the film is projected on the atrium wall, while experiencing the exhibitions on display  The San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park presents the ongoing Tower After Hours series celebrating San Diego's unique and vibrant ethnic mix Each month the museum presents a unique opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old ones, with the vibrant mix of music, dance, food, and drink while taking participants on exciting journeys to far corners of the world  Whether hippie or hipster, San Diego's artists, locals and visitors converge on the second Saturday every month for the Ray at Night art walk In addition to nearly two-dozen North Park galleries adjacent to Ray Street that extend their hours late into the night for this free event, Ray at Night often features performance art ranging from DJs to fire dancers The event is San Diego's biggest monthly art walk, and the people watching can be just as good as anything on display at the participating galleries www.rayatnightartwalk.com  On the second Friday of every month, the Kettner Art & Design District in Little Italy hosts Kettner Nights The progressive exhibition is free and open to the public and offers attendees the opportunity to stroll through all of the district’s newest galleries and stores, where they can purchase art, home décor and gifts while getting the most innovative design tips and ideas for their homes Complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres are served FILM Film buffs can enjoy classic and independent cinema in two San Diego museums  Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents ongoing screenings of film classics and animation at its La Jolla location www.mcasd.org  Museum of Photographic Arts’ intimate modern theater in Balboa Park provides a screening space for local and regional film organizations www.mopa.org  Digital Gym, presented by the Media Arts Center San Diego, shows underground documentaries, indie projects, workshops and a media lounge for visitors to try out video games, software and more www.digitalgym.org Each year, new stars shine on the silver screen during San Diego's diverse annual film festivals  FILMOUT San Diego highlights the year's best LGBT films with special appearances by filmmakers and actors www.filmoutsandiego.com  San Diego Asian Film Festival celebrates motion pictures, shorts and animation of Asian artists from around the world www.sdaff.org  San Diego International Film Festival in downtown San Diego showcases the best in American and international fulllength films, documentaries and short films; it also features Q & A sessions with directors and guest appearances by film artists www.sdff.org  San Diego Jewish Film Festival showcases American and international feature films, documentaries and short films that explore the Jewish experience www.sdcjc.org/sdjff  San Diego Latino Film Festival features screenings of short and feature length films from across Latin America and the U.S by Latinos and about the Latino experience www.sdlatinofilm.com EVENTS  Every November, galleries from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia showcase paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, videos and cutting-edge multimedia artworks during Art San Diego The contemporary art fair serves as a marketplace for the world's leading contemporary art galleries  The Medium Festival of Photography features lectures and workshops by leading photographers from around the U.S., as well as opportunities for budding photographers to present their portfolios to gallery and museum representatives  Held every April, Mission Federal ArtWalk is a free visual and performing arts celebration that takes place in downtown San Diego’s colorful Little Italy neighborhood and is the largest art event in San Diego  The largest comics and pop culture event in the United States, Comic-Con International attracts thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture to the San Diego Convention Center in downtown San Diego every July  Every August, San Diego holds one of the country’s largest conventions devoted to Tiki-inspired art, Tiki Oasis The art and lifestyle event features a tiki marketplace, live music, an art showcase floor, burlesque performers, a custom car show and more Happiness is calling in San Diego For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org ### “Funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds.” ... the San Diego bi-national border region and Latin American Art, but big names like Picasso and Chagall have been known to appear on the walls  Young urbanites and artists are spurring a creative... sessions at their gallery and workspace The Roots Factory on Main Street is part artist collective, part screenprinting shop and part performance art space; innovative visual arts exhibitions are also... information on San Diego? ??s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org