Remember when Corona was a Cigar or a Beer

by Patricia Frischer

A few private musings this March 2020.

Part 1

·  I latch on to any good news to balance the bad news. How wonderful that we have a factory in Carlsbad ramping up to make COVID 19 test. How crappy that we have to take the test.

·        I am considering canned hearts of palm to be a fresh vegetable.

·        After canceling 6 meetings the last 2 weeks of March, I felt more stress free than I had in ages. 

·        We are quarantined by decree of the governor. I love my home so it is like being given sick days without being sick, a little like snow days from my youth.


·        When you go on a three week vacation, the first week is all wide eyed, taking in all the new sights and sounds. The second week is really the relaxing week. You read a whole book in one day. You aren’t impatient with the 2 ½ minutes it takes to use your electric toothbrush. You write shorter sentences as you take the time to put in a period and then a capitol letter instead of just a comma. As I remember the third week is a frantic mind set into what you have to do at work when you get home. I am in the second week and it appears I may linger here longer than a vacation. 

·         I find myself counting squares of toilet paper. Do I really need five? 3 is enough. If you use nasturtium leaves as loo paper should they be fresh or dried? Now I am really glad we got the extra dry feature on our bidet.

·        Although I love all the new online resources, I think the beauty of online stuff is that you don’t have to be there a specific time. I don’t want my calendar filled up again with online meetings, video dates, webinars just when I got it so nice and clear. I like the breathing room for out of the box thinking. 

·        The first week at home, I slept late and sometimes didn’t dress. But now I find I am getting up at the regular time and wearing good clothes. Why be a slouch around the house. It makes me feel better and even though it is just for myself, maybe my husband appreciates it. 


·        Now that everything has slowed down, what about slow food instead of fast food. Is now the time to try those 3 page recipes….as long as you can get the ingredients.  And now we have Slow Looking which is suggested by the Tate in England. Slow down and look longer at one art work you own. 

Gold Standard for Hand Washing: Pinnacles by Patricia Frischer

Part 2

• I have never looked at so many links to jokes and virus reports and even a site to build your own virtual museum. I usually never check Instagram or Facebook. They have always been a one way street out for me. But now I am directed there often as a way to exchange information. Text messages and even WhatsApp and Skype are now checked daily. We have had a couple of virtual cocktail parties on zoom with close friends here that we are used to seeing regularly. It was actually a hoot. My 8 month-old grandniece is on the edge of walking and there is a constant stream of video from her proud parents.
  
  Here is a few picks of interesting sites I have found: 
  #subwayhands  is as describes by Hannah La Follette Ryan on Instagram: I have had a long fascination with hands and you can see a lot of them on my website especially the new Not Your Mother's Fingerbowls which is growing with a series of Gold Standard of Hand Washing. 
  
  A poignant series called Leaving and Waving by Deanna Dikeman. I now know personally someone that had COVID-19. He is a dear friend who lives on his own in London. He has made it through but this makes it even more real for me. We will all be in this position eventually
• Many years ago during a brainstorming for the future dinner party, I suggested a band aid that took all your vital signs each day. You then deposited into a device that sent it to your doctor. Now we have fitbit watches and the info can go by Bluetooth anywhere automatically. So it was great to hear about this thermometer that crunches data all over America and can pin point virus hot spot symptoms at the beginning stages. After this crisis, maybe information about heart rate and temperature can be gathered world-wide so that we are all safer, individually and as a community.
  
  
• A scary thought: what happens when all new programming of movies and TV episodes has aired?  Will we have 6 months of repeats? A comforting thought: at this stage I can watch a silly movie from last year again and barely remember any of it.
  
  
• This is a time to slow down and take a few breathes. I wake up in the morning and am whim driven. That might mean maybe reading a book the whole day. If my attention span is short then a break for the puzzle of cupcakes set up on the dining room table, create a new cracker recipe or do a de-stressing meditation with Insite Timer.
  
  
• Everything is being delivered to us and goes straight to a sanitation station we have set up outside in our courtyard. I guess I will now have to bedazzle some sort of cover for the mask we are now instructed to wear.
  
  
• I finally got over my initial block…you wait for time to do your art and then all of the sudden you have it and it looks like a black pit. But then the light shines and I am working on 5 new sculptures now and so happy to move forward again. Have you made any art lately? 

Part 3

Image by Dale Lazone

• Some of the best one liners:

Boarder police have just seized 2 tons of toilet paper hidden in cocaine.

I'm trying to make protein shakes, but they keep coming out as margaritas.

Your grandparents were called to war.  You’re being called to sit on the couch.  You can do this!
Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.

My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.

• With everything proceeding at a molasses pace, I have noticed more what I am eating and how it affects my body. With less exercise we are not eating at night and my indigestion has gone away. No more pills for heartburn. And as I experimented with almond flour, my body seems happier so maybe gluten free is a way to stay healthier for me.
   
• I find myself thinking about a bucket list of things I want to do before I die but I think this has been influenced by the isolation. I never even thought of a bucket list before and some of these are things I have done before but want to do again. I want to ride on a Ferris wheel. I want to go to a restaurant and have dessert first. OK, there are only 2 things on the list, but I just started.
  

• My husband chooses what we are ordering for online delivery and I think that is why I am losing some weight, no impulse buying. I made matzoh today to celebrate Passover...no leavening as this was the bread the Jew made as they were escaping Egypt. So it is bread on the run...or for isolation. It will go perfectly with our ham on Easter Sunday!!!  And yes, I now have 10 pounds of sliced ham in the freezer and ham soup for eternity.

• I am enjoying isolation so much I realized I might be a “closet” agoraphobe. I am starting to worry that I won’t want to go out when and if this isolation decree is over. Having food delivered, no doctors appointments, no rushing to return overdue books, no make up (except for Zoom meetings), no traffic, really no schedule, maybe this is what retirement is all about instead of the way I was doing it. 

• Carlsbad survey of concerns included this information:

Top programs/services the city could provide

•           50% Fitness classes

•           39% Musical performances

•           36% Learn to paint, draw, other art making

Top ways the community would like to stay connected

•           56% An online exchange where people could ask and offer help with things like grocery shopping

•           51% Sharing good news stories
*          28% Pen pal program for seniors

Constance White: Effigies of Beauty at The Residency Project in Pasadena

By Patricia Frischer

Sarah Umles, The Residency Project, Constance White, Gerda Govine, Pasadena Poet Laurate and Jamul resident. 

Many of you know Constance White from her years of dedicated service at the San Diego International Airport which, after the installation of dozens of art works, was declared the Art Airport of the year. But you may not know that Constance is an artist. After leaving San Diego she eventually return to her home town of Dallas. She works as an art consultant and also gives workshop on the subject of body image. She was chosen by Sarah Umles for The Residency Project in Pasadena because of the community nature of this work Effigies of Beauty. 

White worked with 7 artists during her residency to help them express the angst and joy of having the body of a women. In this phase of the project, the participants shared some of their stories while Constance endeavored to make a personal background for each them with a favorite flower and color. They took a digitized copy of this background and coupled it with a personal silhouette of their own bodies.

The basis of the healing process was an ancient Japanese technique called Kintsugi. Cracks were filled with lacquer mixed with powdered gold. By placing words on the body and covering them, the women in the project were able, in some instances, to give voice and closure to some of the pain associated with poor body image while at the same time celebrating the wonders of our flesh.

White herself has produced a whole series of works about her own body as you see in the video below. She will go back to Dallas for a 3 month residency and take this project to a further level, combining more medium (like fabric and acrylic plastic) to transform the project into the third dimension. 

The Pasadena retreat is a hands-off residency program, built to give the artist the time and space to think and work first and foremost, with the opportunity to present  work to new audiences. Retreat residents are not required to end the residency with a finished "product."  But like the final artist talk that I attended they are asked to present to the public. This could be an open studio, exhibition, performance, screening, or some other format. Emerging, mid-career, and established professional artists, as well as students in degree-seeking programs are all welcome to apply. Sarah and Matt Umles open their home and are to be congratulated on this wonderful innovative way for a young couple to support the arts. 

Art works made by Constance White for this body image series.

Darwin Slindee, Constance White, Patricia Frischer

A selection of the backgrounds and flower created by White for the participants

View of one of the background before the silhouette is added. 

The Role of the Arts in Defining Democracy

WRDSMITH from Sidewalk Activism at the Oceanside Museum of Art

Random thoughts from February 2020

I was taught early in my art career to use the technique of compare and contrast to help me make decisions about art works. To me, this means looking at how things are similar, aligned, symmetric, balanced and how are they different, exciting, challenging.  In my own head, this debate is constantly happening.

I know it is irrational but I honestly want conflicting things to happen. For example, I don’t want urban sprawl or high rises, but I do want affordable housing. I want to feel stimulated by beautiful images, but I also want content that sustains my interest. I want to see art on the streets, but I respect people’s property rights.

I realize that I have avoided having political discussions with certain friends as the disagreements are so uncomfortable. But I realize that uncomfortable is sometimes necessary to prevent another holocaust or be ruled unfairly.  

I use my yoga breathing to accept that these are times that are troubling and confusing and know because of current circumstances that is the correct way to feel.

I am not a historian or a philosopher, but as a spunky little American, I feel it in my gut that democracy is a good thing. I just need to define what I mean by democracy. Maybe the struggle to define democracy is a role for art. Maybe democracy is the right to compare and contrast.

State of the Arts California, 2020

The California Arts Council (CAC), which is headquartered in Sacramento, holds its board meetings in different cities throughout the state. In December, it was Oceanside’s turn and a number of us attended for a variety of reasons.  I wanted to make sure that the CAC was aware that we are trying to bring back the San Diego County Arts Council*.  Others were recipients of grants like the Oceanside which got recognition as an official cultural district which comes with a two year stipend. They were there to demonstrate how they used the money and how appreciative they were of the award. Other organizations wanted a chance to be seen by this important state board.

Although I could not stay for the entire meeting I was very impressed with the chair of the CAC, Nahomeh Lindo. She served as an independent museum consultant for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Oakland Museum of California, specializing in African-American cultural history. Her work is as a photographer, printmaker, and painter. She transfers her photographs on to textiles. A native of Philadelphia, Lindo received her M.S. from Pennsylvania State University. She was appointed to the California Arts Council by Governor Jerry Brown in October of 2014 and reappointed in February 2017. From April 22, 2016 to January 25, 2018, Lindo served as Vice Chair. On January 25, 2018, she was elected 21st Chair of the Council. Her current term expires on January 1, 2021.

Lindo spoke about the wonderful Increase in public funding toward goals of shared ideals and identity. This funding has enabled the CAC to grow and broaden scope instead of just surviving. She seems especially interested in promoting National Health programs for the healing arts. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. It seems that grants that incorporate these sorts of goals will be favored because as she commented, “Every voice matters.”

The thrust here is for the arts to work with other government and non-profit agencies. In this regard and many others, the CAC is seen by other states to be an art council model. We are not just talking at the healing arts, but STEAM with the sciences, veterans, emerging leaders of color and native Americans. I was so impressed that every Indian nation in California was acknowledged and thanked at the beginning of this meeting.

My personal hope is that Larry Baza, a long time San Diego art activist and current vice chairman of the CAC will step smoothly into the chairman position at the beginning of 2021. At that time, our hopes are to have at least three county supervisors in favor of a SD County Arts Council.

* I am Patricia Frischer, founder of San Diego Visual Arts Network. I got my master’s degree in Art in the early 70s from CCAC in North CA. Art Education was in good shape at that time and the market for art was strong. I left America to work in the arts in London England for the next 30 years and returned 20 years ago.

San Diego County is larger than Delaware or Rhode Island. We have 18 incorporated cities. There are also 18 Indian reservations, 16 naval and military locations and a whopping 64 unincorporated areas. What I found when I returned was the wild west!

I asked at the MOCA for a guide to the arts and they laughed at me. Eventually I found a very rich population of arts and culture here but it took work….tremendous teamwork that resulted in the SDVAN directory and events calendar where we promote the 2500 visual arts resources of our site.

There are other strong county wide umbrella arts organizations like Synergy Arts Foundation that aids artist in needs, The Performing Arts Leagues, San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition plus of course the city of SD  Commission for Arts and Culture, 5 or 6 other paid city arts administrators and some good volunteer city commissions. There is now a North County Arts Network and organizations forming in the south and east countries.

I, along with many of my colleagues, am an advocate for bringing back the SD County Arts Council as a state local partner for the CA Arts Council. At the most basic level we need some sort of Chamber of Commerce for the Arts and a way to promote the arts as an economic driver. We need someone to wake up every single day whose job it is to administer the Arts in San Diego….County Wide.

Who wants to be a millionaire artist?

Patricia Frischer Not Your Mother's Finger Bowls, glycerin soap sculptures, 2019

Encinitas Friends of the Arts ARTIST COLLECTIVE Artist Salon

Sat. Nov 16, 2019, 2 to 4 pm Encinitas Library

I can honestly say that not all meetings I go to are great fun. Most have an element of good will, sometimes an occasional joke. On rare occasions there is actually tension in the air. But the first Encinitas Friends of the Arts Artist Collection Artist Salon was a hoot. That was not because of the brown bag wine that was smuggled into the library, or the delicious food that everyone contributed (death by chocolate cupcakes, amazing cheese, tajin flavored chocs). It was the humor that bubbled up from the creative energy in the space contributed by all those that attended. Thanks go to Lisa Longsworth, Naimeh Woodward,  Angela Jackson, Laura Diede, Kristen Francis, Debbie Schaefer, Genine O. Rainbeau-Heart, Portia La Touche, Rosemary KimBal, Molly Webb and the sole and much appreciated male attendee Zigaloe. We roared with laughter when the out of the box thinking gave us the permission to break a few rules.

The title of this Artist Salon was Who wants to be a millionaire artist? Moderated and introduced by Dr. Lisa Longsworth and our focus was How does the sale of your art work affect your artistic and creative production and content of your work?  This was not a workshop or lecture about selling your art to become a millionaire. Nope, Lisa started us with a stretch and a meditation to get in touch with what might be weighing us down (cocooning us) and how it would feel to be more free (turn into butterflies). We did a very short hands on drawing challenging us to be as abstract and expressive as possible. Then as a twist, we put a word title to each page. These beginning tasks served to disconnect us from the outside world and at the same time seemed to connect us all together.

We discussed what it would be like to be given an annual living wage as a designated official artist. There would be something so freeing about this recognition and about the release from some basic money worries. For some this was a thought experiment and that was very freeing. Not having to make something for sale meant ideas flowed about renegade art or art that was community themed.

For some, sales means validation. But at what point toward millions of dollars is the content of the work affected? And how far does $1 million dollars really go nowadays?  We had a laugh about combining all of our millions together to rescue the Pacific View Art Center. And what about the burden of responsibility that millions of dollars bring? The accountant artists have no trouble with this, but for others is was a step too far.

It turns out that we all have different benchmarks of success. Just having the time, energy, ideas to make art is success. Taking your art out of the closet and putting it on display is success. Communicating your ideas successfully and having someone recognize the value either in admiration or with a purchase is success.

Personally for me, I recognized that that I don't put myself forward as an artist as much as I should. I discovered this during the meditation. I also have my own challenges at an age when I start to think about what happens to the art that I have made for the last 50 years which has not yet sold. I took two years with the help of master glass artist Michelle Curtis Cole to learn the process of making cast glass sculptures. I love the light, weight and details that can be achieved with this medium. But two years just to begin to learn about this medium! My solution is to use the molds I have made and cast glycerin soap sculptures. I get the same wonderful light but with immediate gratification. And no problem with storage as these work are consumable and will, with luck produce bubbles of delight. Plus, clean up is a breeze!

I am including  two videos that I created of works I shared with the group. 

Would you like to get involved with this group? Contact Naimeh Woodward, director of Encinitas Friends of the Art friendsofthearts1@gmail.com. There is a special discounted EFA $15 artist membership which means you will be invited to the end of the year  party on Thursday, Dec 5 from 4:30 to 6:30, Encinitas Library Community Room, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas 92024. 

But member or not you should save the date Sat. Jan 11 at 2 pm for the next Artist Salon at the Creative Renewal Center moderated by  Ellen Speert where we will explore art which deals with environmental issues. We also have a topic for Sat March 14 at 2 pm moderated by Portia La Touche: The Good, Bad and Ugly of art criticism.  

Request for future artist salon topics. Please send to patricia@sdvisualarts.net 

Dr. Lisa Longworth is giving a lecture on the Art of Transformation on Sunday Jan.18 from 3-4 pm with a chance to se the art exhibition from Jan 11 to Feb 2020 at the Solana Beach Library. More info: dr@lisalongworth.com

EFA Artist Collective Mission Statement: Encinitas Friends of the Arts Artists Collective’s mission is to provide a positive force for visual and performing artists to support each other, create community, identify resources, and aid collaboration while giving back to our city.

EFA Artist Collective Vision Statement: To create a series of events and projects based on our current goals of creating an Artist Salon, a directory of venues that showcase visual and performing art including procedures for being involved and an EFA Artist Collective Instagram page documenting the stories of Encinitas artists through images.

I am adding this small video of 1000 origami cranes that my yoga group made to honor and help heal our yoga instructor Emmy Garnica. She has instructed me for more than 15 years and is fighting her 3rd round of cancer. These are displayed at the Cardiff by the Sea Library with every hope that when the spring comes, she will have regained her strength. She inspires us everyday.

Immigration, Migration, Integration: SD Chinese Historical Museum

by Patricia Frischer

Chinatown and a fishing village was established between 2nd and 4th avenues.

I have lived in San Diego more than 23 years, but there are still many, many art resources that I have never been able to visit. Once of those, until last week, was the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum. I was told about the Museum by Philip Swenson (some may remember ArtRocks Radio and Philly Swendoza!) a few years ago as he lives near by and ever since, I have looked for an occasion to visit.   Located right in the Gaslamp district and not far from the Convention Center, this museum is small but packs in such quality and so many fascinating artifacts that I am happy to report on it this month. 

What I found was a story of immigration, then migration and finally integration. The museum was only established in 1996. In the 1990’s, the local Chinese community learned that the building that had served as their church and school was slated for demolition. In response, the Historical Society rallied to save the historic mission building. Finally, the City approved plans to relocate the building to the heart of old Chinatown, at the corner of J Street and Third Avenue. They offers exhibitions, events and children and adult education.


What you will find is a treasure trove of 3-d dioramas of scenes preserving historical moments along with a selection of object of art and craft. A delightful small garden in back includes a koy pond and some lovely sculpture. Across the street is a special exhibition themed on Dragons. In the added extension  some contemporary art by a local Chinese artist is on view.San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is open 6 days a week: Sunday: 12 PM-4 PM Monday: CLOSED Tuesday-Saturday: 10:30 AM-4 PM

Between 1860 and 1890, the Chinese fished from Cabo San Lucas in Baja  in the South to Monterrey in the north, settling in Point Loma in San Diego.  Chinatown and a fishing village was established between 2nd and 4th avenues with junks harbored in the bay. There were drying racks, shanties and salt tanks where the SD Convention Center now stands.

Woo Chee Chong Store in miniature above and below. These charming reproductions are a delight.

An ornate carving depicting a scene from a book Romance of the Three Kingdoms 

An ancient stone with a natural floral design created by thousands of years of compression. 

Bedchamber with carved wood walls and inset chairs and embroidered bed linens

Hanjialin Bao : Between Black and White  The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is proud to host a solo show featuring the works of Hanjialin Bao, a local graphic artist, comic artist, and illustrator, and student at California State University Long Beach currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. Bao’s kaleidoscopic works embrace both East Asian folk art traditions and American comic aesthetics. On show are works from her two series, Liao Zhai Zhi Yi (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio), 2016, and Gui (Ghost), 2019-Present. “I love traditional Chinese culture. I would be proud to become one of the artists who introduces it to the rest of the globe while contributing to the diversity of the illustration world. Ideally, my works would make traditional Chinese mythology more accessible and entertaining for people of various cultures.” - Hanjialin Bao. On extended exhibit until Jan 26, 2020. More info: Natalie Zhang

Isolationist or Globalist?

I have been thinking a lot about the divisions in the world today. At this point in time one is asked to choose between being an isolationist or a globalist. This makes for a very polarized atmosphere. I seem to walk on egg shells with some people and rant in unison with others.

People are entrenched in their views. We don’t seem to be able to hear what the other side is saying. Someone told me recently that in advertising, if the message is confusing, then the first reaction is NO. Our minds become shut and once closed, it is difficult to open them again.

Art is often used to express a passionate point of view.  We know that a picture can bear a potent message.   But I can’t help thinking there is a role for art to play to reduce tension and not just contribute to it.  

I think it could be very important to use art to clarify situations. This means asking questions and getting beyond the superficial answers. We need to stop thinking about art as branding and think of it more as education, clarification and enlightenment.   

So do we tuck away our prejudices in a safe box so that we can co-exist? Perhaps this is not as good as getting rid of our prejudices and helping other to get rid of theirs

Ocular Artist

I have a little story of rebirth for you.  I just finished  cataract operation for both my eyes. My cataracts were bad enough to have them paid for by Medicare, but not really stopping me that much. However, I decided that fear was holding me back from doing a procedure that everyone who had it, said changed their lives. So I mustered all my courage and went forward. The first eye for the first 15 hour was surprisingly painful but after that I saw without glasses for the first time in 65 years. Because of the pain, the second eye took even more courage. But it was less painful and now I can declare that my doctor is an ocular artist.

This is really a story about overcoming fear. I think there is so much fear in the world right now…so much unpredictability, that being able to control your own fear is one way not to get overwhelmed. It is easy to feel there is nothing that you can do and that freezes you from taking any action. The obvious answer is courage. We all have it but we don’t all utilize it. By calling upon my own courage, I was able to overcome not just that particular fear of losing my sight, but I gained a new perspective on how courage can empower us in general.

My ophthalmologist gave me a huge gift. He allowed me to see without glasses. But the vision that I gained was a future where we can all overcome our fears and have a world of harmony.  

Birthing a New Art Organization

On July 6, 2019 a fairly large group (36) of East and South County visual and performing arts leaders gathered together at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center to give birth to a new organization. It is not named yet, nor does it have a logo, but the energy and enthusiasm was more than apparent. It may end up with a very noble mission and vision and it may even set lofty goals, but this particular birth bodes well as it has already established an attitude of positive progress.

The people who attended had lots of needs and wishes, but I think the most important ones were to be heard and to be understood and most important to be appreciated. You may think that sounds pretty basic. What about programs and funding and promotion!  But learning about our neighbors in a respectful way is actually key to future connection and to building an arts community that has power not just in its size but through its common beliefs. 

Blanca lucia Bergman photo by Anna Siqueiros

Blanca Lucia Bergman of Art Unites introduced herself as the Executive Administrator of this group (name yet to be determined but probably ESCAN or SECAN). She was hired by San Diego Visual Arts Network to launch this much needed hub.

Anna Siqueiros - Siqueiros Foundation spoke about the importance of being a united front and artists as visionaries. She was passionate about laying a path for future generations and the need to make a commitment to move forward together.

Lynnette Tessitore -  Cultural Art Manager for City of Chula Vista reminded us that each part of the county has its own dynamic personality. This grass roots approach is a good way to build community.

John Campbell – Offered the services of Smorgborg for a directory and events calendar plus a way to connect as communities online. This means that the new baby does not have to worry about emails and websites and can concentrate on social media.

Naomi Nussbaum –Synergy Arts Foundation volunteered the services of the North County Arts Network for advice and support. But they realize that this new east and south county organization will have different goals and will use different strategies to reach those goals.

I was particularly delighted to welcome Larry Baza, the vice chairman of the California Arts Council who attended as an observer. Larry was formerly a director of the SD County Arts Council many years ago before it was absorbed in the Commission for Arts and Culture. He is keen to see San Diego once more have an Art Council as it is the only county in California not to have one.

We see this new southern and eastern group joining with the northern group and maybe a group in central San Diego to reform such an organization. The baby would then be fully mature and ready to step into its major role as a force for arts and culture in our county.

More than 50 pages of notes were compiled from this meeting with everyone joining in to contribute an idea, a venue, or a belief. A mission and vision will surface With a clear show of hands we got the go ahead to start meeting monthly to pin down some goals and priorities. Yes, there will be much more networking but I was taken by the much stronger description by Francisco Eme, The Front Gallery in San Ysidro, “We should embrace each other.”

If you want to join in this effort to support arts and culture in the east and south  part of San Diego County, join the mailing list of this new organization by subscribing at this link.  Their next meeting will be in August. For more details, read their last email.  

P.S. I am writing this on July 9, 2019 the date that my niece made me a great aunt with a baby girl of 8 pounds and 8 oz. Blame that for the title of this article!

Three Things You Need to Know

by Patricia Frischer

Founder and Coordinator SDVAN

Nuestra Frontera: Our South Bay Families at the Border from June 29 - August 24, Gala on Sat, June 29 from  5:30pm-8:00pm  (reservations required $100.00) at Bonita Museum and Cultural Center: 4355 Bonita Road, Bonita CA. 91902

1.The Arts are alive and well in south and east San Diego counties. After a rough couple of year, James Halliday has brought Arts: A Reason to Survive back to a stable base in National City. Bonita Museum and Cultural Center is thriving under the new management of Wendy Wilson. Gerda Govine and Luis Ituarte  have come back to San Diego to build an arts camp and retreat complex in Jamul.  Lynnette Tessitore has renewed support from the city council as the cultural arts manager in Chula Vista.  Studio C run by Carlos Castrejón has a new show opening in July in El Cajon and is currently showing Street Whispers.

2.  There is a new umbrella organization forming called South County Arts Network (SCAN) that aims to pull together all the arts resources in both east and south county.  This will be a collaboration of top leaders not only to work together to promote events in this region, but to be a united voice for the arts. If you are interested in joining in there is a meeting on July 6 from 10 am to noon at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center.  

Tiffany Bociek at North Coast Rep from May 29 to June 23 

3.  North County Arts Network (NCAN) was the pilot program for this second southern network. Since 2015, NCAN has created a website with a directory and  a growing Events Calendar with 17,000 visitors and 48,000 visits;  presented the Arts & Economic  Summit in collaboration with the North County Economic Development Council and Americans for the Arts;   Received grants including San Diego County Neighborhood Reinvestment and Community Enhancement; Formed a Steering Committee of arts leaders in North County to establish 501(c)3 status: created a successful arts month called  Open Your hearts to North County Arts and is in the process of creating web hooks for 7 major art orgs to automate calendar entries.

SCAN and NCAN together with an envisioned Central County Arts Network (CCAN) could all come together someday to form a San Diego County Arts Council.  Did you know that we are the only county in the entire state that does not have a County Arts Council? Larry Baza served as executive director of the county of San Diego's Public Arts Advisory Council 20 years ago and he is now the Vice Chairman of the California Arts Council. He would like to see this happen.

At the heart of these goal is collaboration with existing organization. For example the San Diego Regional Coalition for Arts and Culture  (SDRCAC)  is a great advocate for the arts.  I believe as we are making real progress in an authentic way to serve the arts in our county, there is a possibility of a SD county Arts Council if each of these organizations grows and prospers.