State of Mind, State of the Arts, 2019

top: Belize Iristay, bottom: Irene de Watteville

State of the Arts 2019

As the daily crises reported on the media continues to escalate, and affects our mood and optimism, I see art as a way to tune out and refresh ourselves for more and more people. And the threat of financial crisis, which has hung over us for the last years, it is nice to know that there are things of great value that are not tied to money and available to all.

If you are like me, you listen to the news and end up with raised blood pressure and wondering if there is an end to the struggles around the world. I found the elections a way to feel as if I did have a part to play, and was relieved with a certain progress in our country’s politics. Now I feel I need to back away from that stress and find a daily way to chill out a bit. I do my walks and yoga and dance class, I alternately watch my diet and over-indulge…seems like I have been full since Thanksgiving!  But the most effective way I have to calm and validate myself is by making art and viewing exhibitions.

Working with your hands is a special activity, whether you are repairing an appliance, baking a special meal, or like me, working with wax to create glass sculptures. Time slows down and you feel centered and the worries of the world fade away. Knowing how satisfying that is gives me great security as I know, even with a market crash, there are these special activities that will continue.

And when I am not making, I can be engaging in viewing exhibitions or theater or dance as we have such a wonderful cultural community here in San Diego. As transport might become more difficult, I am delighted to concentrate on my local North Coast Rep and New Village Arts and looking forward to Passport to Dance in the spring organized by the Encinitas Friends of the Arts.  Open Your Hearts to North County Arts helped to bring our northern neighbors together.  We are looking forward to seeing Ann Mudge, Erin Dace Behling, Bob Matheny and Max Daily, SD Art Prize recipients at the Athenaeum in May of 2019 and Irene de Watteville and Belize Iristay opening there on Jan 12. County-wide collaborations make it possible for events to travel and I love it (especially on a Friday night!) when I don’t have to go too far afield to have experiences that inspire me.  

I am having a big adventure as we leave for India for a wedding at the end of the year. But horizon are ever widening for those with an imagination. So sharpen those brain cells and get on the roller coaster of arts events where ever you can.

Politics and Art: Don't forget the we are human seeking connections

Economic Romance by Patricia Frischer showing at the North Coast Rep during the run of Always...Patsy Cline from Dec 12-30  as part of the Encinitas Friends of the Arts Board Exhibition 

We so often have to think about the economic advantages of the arts for our community but it is nice to be reminded of the following sent to us by Lonnie Burstein Hewitt.

 “Artists are truth-seekers and storytellers. They create, translate, and illuminate. They influence, inspire, and build movements. When we need to escape the news and the day’s events, we sink into a moving work of art or performance or film or book and it restores us. When we need to find a way to process what’s happening in the world, we look to the artists who transport us. They remind us that we’re human and they connect us to one another again.” Suzy Delvalle, President and Executive Director of Creative Capital

California leads, as identified in the 2018 Otis Report, in the Creative economy output which totaled $407.1 billion (direct, indirect, and induced) and generated 1.6 million jobs (direct, indirect, and induced), and those wage and salary workers earned $141.5 billion in total labor income. With 789,900 direct jobs in the creative economy, California surpasses New York State which has 477,300 jobs followed by Texas at 230,500. If you want to check the similar figures for city of San Diego then take a look at the  2017 Arts and Culture Economic and Social Impact Report just releases from The San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture which, by the way, has now appointed Jonathon Glus as the new executive director. Glus was recruited from the City of Sacramento where he served as the Director of Culture and Creative Economy.  He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Houston Arts Alliance and held similar positions in Pasadena, and Evanston, Illinois. Glus studied urban economics and public policy at Indiana University and art history at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Ballot Proposition E in San Francisco asks voters to allocate a small portion of an existing hotel tax to support the arts, but it will take a whopping two-thirds vote to pass. This same ballot measure almost passed in 2016, but came up short by just a few votes. We are pleased to share that it passed overwhelmingly by 74% of the vote, which will direct millions of dollars in hotel tax revenue to support the nonprofit arts and culture in San Francisco.  Additionally, pro-arts ballots in Tempe, AZ; Culver City, CA; and Tacoma, WA all passed.

California Arts Advocates is planning to bring back arts advocacy day but renamed as Arts, Culture and Creativity Month (ACCM) because one day to celebrate the power of the arts is simply not enough! ACCM will be a series of activities developed throughout California in April of 2019. CAA has has helped restoring funding to the California Arts Council (CAC) that peaked in 2001 at $32M. California is still ranked 28th out of 50 states in per capita state arts funding for 2018-19. With all sources combined, the Arts Council’s total 2018-19 budget will be approximately $27.53 million but only $15.1 million is permanent general fund allocation. 

Here is some analysis by American for the Arts executive director Nina Ozlu Tunceli of how the midterm election will impact the arts in the future.

• House Democrats will become the new chairmen of the various appropriations subcommittees and policy and tax committees, including Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) becoming chair of Interior Appropriations overseeing arts funding, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) on Labor-Education Appropriations, and Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) on the House Ways and Means tax committee, all of whom earned an “A+” in the American for the Arts 2018 Congressional Arts Report Card.
• Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will likely become the Speaker of House. She also earned an “A+” arts voting record.
• It’s interesting to note that 86% of the 36 House seats that went from Red to Blue were Republican members with a good arts record of “B” or better.
• The Arts Action Fund PAC supported a total of 64 congressional candidates and one ballot measure this election cycle. 95 percent of the pro-arts incumbents that were supported did win.

VOTE Like your life depended on it

Everyone is allowed to support whatever party they want this November. We at San Diego Visual Arts Network, (SDVAN) join with North County Arts Network (NCAN) and the San Diego Regional  Arts and Culture Coalition (SDRACC) to encourage you to find out which candidates support the arts in your community, your city, your county, your state and nationwide. And then VOTE for them.  

The Candidates' Forum for District 5  County Supervisor race with  Michelle Garcia and Jim Desmond is presented by North County Arts Network and moderated by the League of Women Voters. It will occur on Friday Sept 21 from 6 to 7 pm at Miracosta Community College, the Oceanside Campus at 1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056 at the Little Theatre (OC3601) 

This is a county wide race and it is very important that we have a winning candidate that supports the arts. Watch for a time and place to be announced for this event. Also watch for a list of candidates that support the arts to be prepared by SDRACC. 

I want to make a final plea for everyone, no matter who you vote for, to cast a ballot and be part of the process. Since only a bit more than 50% of American actually vote, that makes your vote doubly important.  

Ten Reasons to Support the Arts in San Diego

Patricia Frischer, The Sooner, the Better, gouache on paper, handed painted frame

The Arts:

1. Contribute to our Economic Success: According to Americans for the Arts, 4.3% of our GDP is derived from the arts, which is more than tourism, more than transportation, more than agriculture. Arts events affect communities positively by attracting cultural tourist who spend more per day and stay longer than other tourists.
   
   
2. Help to Recruit Talent: Employees want to live and work in a vibrant community where culture is thriving.
   
   
3. Put the city in the spotlight: The arts help businesses build market share, enhance brands and reach new audiences. The arts help get the message across in engaging ways.
   
   
4. Foster critical thinking: Creativity is among the top applied skills sought by employers and innovation is the most valuable resource we have. 
   
   
5. Engage our Citizens: Sitting on an art organization’s board is great training for city government, taking art classes, attending performances and exhibitions, expressing oneself in creatives way enlivens our community.
   
   
6. Embrace diversity and team building: The arts create an environment that blends backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures.
   
   
7. Ensure Safety: The arts engage young people, keep them off the streets and decrease vandalism. They increase academic performance shown through higher test scores and higher grade averages.
   
   
8. Say thanks and best wishes: The arts are a great way to show you appreciate your staff and friends by providing tickets to events or maybe a museum memberships.
   
   
9. Contribute to the Health of Community: The arts are essential to the health and vitality of neighborhoods, cities, states and our nation. Nearly half of the health care institutes nationwide provide arts for healing programs.
   
   
10. Are Fundamental to our Humanity: The arts ennoble and inspire us.

North County Arts Events: Lux Art Couture and SD Botanic Gardens

by Patricia Frischer

We will be featuring lots of North County arts events leading up to the arts month in October Open Your Hearts to North County Arts promoted by SDVAN and NCAN.

Lux Art Institute made a call for 5 artists to be selected to exhibit during Lux Art Institute’s Art Couture event. Artists were asked to submit an art piece for competition and this was the fun cocktail party that celebrated those artists and their completed works inspired by 5 fashions. The 5 chosen artists were give the fashion outfit just two weeks before the party and asked to complete the work on the night so the audience was able to see some live art creation.

Lux will be the host on Oct 13 to the San Diego Fashion Week catwalk show for all the designer  K2, HiM Brand, HMO by Harumi Momota, Hulabelle, I Am Sublime, Irina Madan, Leili Meshki, LyCass Classic Design, Sierra Mitchell, Uqsha, VaughnBerry. They will also host two other event on Oct 12 and Oct 14, a backstage experience before and a trunk show after. 

Cat Chiu Phillips

Michael Amorillo

Frieda & Jason Gould

Scott Shoemate

Wren Polansky

Cat Chui Phillips

Scott Shoemate

Michael Amorillo

Wren Polansky

Jason Gould

Open from now, through October to next May is the new group of sculptures at the SD Botanic Garden in Encinitas. Naomi Nussbaum is responsible for this changing exhibition where art works are sited throughout the lovely gardens. 

Andrew Carson - don't miss this delightful work right at the entrance which is kinetic and moves in the breeze. 

All the artists that were present at the opening celebration. 

Elon Ebanks

Cheryl Tall

Cheryl Tall

Peter Mitten - a breaking seed pod with life springing forth.

Charles Snowden

Tracie Monk - this photo lines up so perfectly as to make the foliage and background of the central work look like a full face.. 

Becky Guttin - three homes set in the bamboo forest.  

Becky Guttin

Becky Guttin

Jon Koehler 

Julia Rasor

Other artists with links to their include the following:

Yuriy AkopovLaurenn BarkerEv Bessar 
Buzz BlodgettMary Buckman David Campbell
Lynn Forbes
Sergey Gornushkin
Syd Harris 
Bobbi HirschkoffIlya Idelchik 
Cherrie La Porte
Benjamin Lavender 
Kim Ogburn
Patty Palenschat
Bob Petrello
Mark Rafter
Marsha Rafter
Gail Schneider
Hans Tegebo
Ed Whitmore
Donna Wood

Look at #MeToo

Maybe my antennae is super sharpened right now, but an off shoot of the attention that women in general are getting right now seems to manifest itself in a series of exhibitions of women in America.  

Here is San Diego there are three shows featuring women of color.   Alanna Airitam has made a series of works called the Golden Age which places black portraits in historical context. The result is a lush, proud and generous view of a people who were made to feel less than for far too long. The Artist Odyssey commissioned David and Barbarella Fokos to create From Haarlem to Harlem: short film about the Golden Age which is well worth the 20 minutes. Her work will be featured in About Face from April 21 until June at the San Diego Art Institute. You need to see these works in person as they seem to straddle a line between photo and painting even through they are printed images. 

Alanna Airitram, works on loan to the exhibition by Larry and Debra Poteet

Alanna Airitram

Basically working with the same issues, “It is hard for me to recall seeing a Black person represented in a museum or contemporary space as a young person,” reflects artist Erica Deeman, showing her photo series Silhouettes and Brown at the Museum of Photographic Arts as part of its “Artist Speaks” which started at the end of April. “I reflect back upon this and wonder upon the impact for me personally. I think one of the reasons I make the work I do is to address this absence.” This show is on until September. 

The color of the background matches the color of the skin in this Brown series

Notice the reflection of the artist in the eye of the sitter

Silhouettes are very large images and are not just the outlines but subtle highlights revealing contours. 

The artist herself speaks directly to you about both series on display. I loved this very large video which made me feel she was in the room with me. She was raised in England but noticed the strong difference in how people of color are treated in the US when she moved here. 

Another women of color speaking out is Sadie Barnette: DEAR 1968,… In Dear 1968,… artist Sadie Barnette has taken  the file that the FBI amassed after her father joined the Black Panther Party in 1968. She was born in 1984, thus the title refers to a large drawing in graphite, “Dear 1968,” “Love, 1984” Barnette got  her father’s 500-page FBI file through the Freedom of Information Act which she has decorated in various glittery vinyl and rhinestone stickers.

What appears black printing in this photo is dark graphite pencil hand drawn.

On another wall, she has transformed the file’s official stamps into a domestic-style wallpaper. On top of the wallpaper, a pair of photographs show her father in his Army uniform after being drafted to fight in Vietnam in 1966, and just two years later in his Black Panther uniform, fighting against racism on his own soil.

I have recently written Picked RAW Peeled blogs about the following exhibitions:

SD Art Prize 2017 at the Athenaeum and 2018 announcement Picked RAW Peeled by Patricia Frischer

Artist Eleanor Greer selected as 2018 Business of Art Scholar Picked RAW Peeled by Patricia Frischer
Gabrielle Bakker at Lux Institute Picked RAW Peeled by Patricia Frischer 

Seventeen on Being 17 at the Cannon Art Gallery Picked RAW Peeled by Patricia Frischer

I would be remiss not to mention the women of the 2017 and 2018 SD Art Prize at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla.  Rizzhel Mae Javier and Victoria Victoria Fu with Mathew Rich are showing May and June 2018 and Anne Mudge with emerging artist Erin Dace Behling will be showing in 2019 along with and established artist Robert Matheny with emerging artist Max Robert Daily 

Rizzhel  Mae Javier and Fu/rich in the background. at the Athenaeum. Please Note{ Rizzhel Mae Javiar is also artist in residence at the New Children's Museum currently. 

Ann Mudge

Erin Dace Behling

Artist Eleanor Greer selected as 2018 Business of Art Scholar  and was featured at Mission Federal ArtWAK as part of her scholarship sponsored by SDVAN. She was also part of the SDSU student award exhibition that is on at the same time as the SD Art Prize at the Athenaeum. 

Gabrielle Bakker is artist in residence at Lux Institute and the work will be on view during Lux at Night on May 19th, 2018 

Prom Dresses: Seventeen on Being 17. Seventeen female artists evoke and interpret being 17 years old through the great American Prom. In their work, the artists explore this girlhood rite of passage and all its uncertainty, excitement, doubt and hype. Why does Prom still carry such meaning for many, even years later? Featuring the work of Maite Benito Agahnia, Manuelita Brown, Diana Carey, Bronle Crosby, Susan Darnall, Ellen Dieter, Kaori Fukuyama, Julia C R Gray, Diane Hall, Kathleen Kane-Murrell, Kathy McChesney, Lori Mitchell, Gillian Moss, Alison Haley Paul, Julia San Roman, Christine Schwimmer, Gail Titus, Theresa Vandenberg Donche, Brenda York. Cannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad End June 17 and showing Tuesday - Saturday 11 am - 5 pm Sunday 1 - 5 pm

Christine Schwimmer

In just reading 2-3 editions of the New Yorker Magazine in the last month, I have noticed the following exhibitions.

Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil at the Museum of Modern Art in New York was the inspiration for my own set of banners painted as the backdrop for the Passport to Brazil event produced by the Encinitas Friends of the Art.

Tarsila

Encinitas Friends of the Arts Presents Passport to Brazil Picked RAW Peeled by Patricia Frischer. Four banners by Patricia Frischer

Shelia Hicks from Nebraska at age 83 is and has a show at the Pompidou honoring seven decades of work in Paris.

Francesca DiMattio has a solo show at Salon 94 Bowery in New York of her amazing ceramic works described as “a rollicking revenge fantasy for every women artist who has ever been dismissed as de trop.”

Radical Women; Latin American Art 1960-1985 is showing at the Brooklyn Museum with a theme of resisting oppression. We loved the photograph by Liliana Porter called Untitled (hands and triangle) from 1973.