ARTICLES
Art Around Adams: Art Evolved! 2011
The 8th Annual “Art Around Adams: Art Evolved,” was a two-mile arts and music
walk held on Saturday, June 4th. It took place along Adams Avenue and spanned
from Oregon Street in Normal Heights to Vista Street in Kensington. The event was
family friendly and free to the public. Over fifty locations along the avenue hosted
art showings and musical performances. A comedy trolley shuttled guests and
entertained throughout the entire event. In all, there were more than seventy-five
performers. Over two hundred and fifty artists displayed their art, some are well
known artists others novices.
This year’s Art Around Adams was the first for Michelle L. Gregoire. She showcased
her work on the corner of Mansfield and Adams, near the Adams Avenue Recreation
Center. Her preferred medium is acrylic paint on canvas, but dabbles in oils
occasionally. Her first showing was at a local coffee shop a few years ago. She
learned about Art Around Adams from San Diego Art Link’s booth at the Healing
Arts Festival in May. Michelle quit her job in pursuit of creating art full-time. She
only had a month to prepare for the art walk, but her pieces displayed true talent.
By the early evening she had sold a few prints, making it a successful day. Michelle
took part in a show at Queen Bee’s cultural center the day after Art Around Adams.
In the near future, she will be included in a book of local artists.
The Arara Retail Center, in front of the store Back from Tomboctou, a group of
artists displayed their pieces and also did some live art. One such artist from
Talento Hispano has been painting since she was five years old. Her name is Marisol
De Las Casas. She uses both oil and acrylic paints on canvas. Her pieces include
vibrant colors and range from women with large eyes to abstract works as well as
some still life.
Six artists collaborated on a mural located on the side of Visual Art Supply. Their
names are Gloria Muriel, Dave Persue Ross, Michael Monstrinho Amorillo, Maxx
Pose2 Moses, Isaias Crol Crow and Leon Rainbow from New Jersey. It is an
underwater scene which includes a large purple whale, an octopus with a third eye,
a scuba diving bunny kitty, a human couple and a yellow submarine. The artists
began at noon. They used both spray paint and acrylic paint. They all have different
styles including pop art, abstract geometric shapes, characters and graffiti. The end
result of hours of work is a colorful whimsical scene. It’s a definite must-see mural
in San Diego.
Outside of Visual Art Supply, a few artists were displaying their work. One artist,
BD Dombrowsky, showcased dark pop art paintings. He uses oil paint on canvas
and birch panel. Gary Busey was the inspiration for one piece, titled “Unification.”
It shows Jesus riding a unicorn while crossing over mountains. It’s reminiscent
of David’s “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” painting. Another piece, which was very
comical, is titled “Mass Extinction.” A tyrannosaurus rex priest is giving first
communion to a raptor in a veil. The backdrop has stained glass windows and an
altar. He will be showing in Pop Apocalypse: A Pre-Comic Con Comic, Vinyl Toy and
Pop Art Show at Industry Show on July 1st.
Adam Rosen of Exodus Studios is one of the organizers of Art Around Adams. He
estimates more then twenty thousand people attended the event throughout the
day. The art walk was a great success. Adam states, “Most people I spoke to thought
this was the best Art Around Adams to date.” If you’ve missed this event in the
years passed, you don’t want to miss it again. Just like this year’s art walk, next
year’s will be a sight to see.
-Shanna Maschmeier
The 8th Annual “Art Around Adams: Art Evolved,” was a two-mile arts and music
walk held on Saturday, June 4th. It took place along Adams Avenue and spanned
from Oregon Street in Normal Heights to Vista Street in Kensington. The event was
family friendly and free to the public. Over fifty locations along the avenue hosted
art showings and musical performances. A comedy trolley shuttled guests and
entertained throughout the entire event. In all, there were more than seventy-five
performers. Over two hundred and fifty artists displayed their art, some are well
known artists others novices.
This year’s Art Around Adams was the first for Michelle L. Gregoire. She showcased
her work on the corner of Mansfield and Adams, near the Adams Avenue Recreation
Center. Her preferred medium is acrylic paint on canvas, but dabbles in oils
occasionally. Her first showing was at a local coffee shop a few years ago. She
learned about Art Around Adams from San Diego Art Link’s booth at the Healing
Arts Festival in May. Michelle quit her job in pursuit of creating art full-time. She
only had a month to prepare for the art walk, but her pieces displayed true talent.
By the early evening she had sold a few prints, making it a successful day. Michelle
took part in a show at Queen Bee’s cultural center the day after Art Around Adams.
In the near future, she will be included in a book of local artists.
The Arara Retail Center, in front of the store Back from Tomboctou, a group of
artists displayed their pieces and also did some live art. One such artist from
Talento Hispano has been painting since she was five years old. Her name is Marisol
De Las Casas. She uses both oil and acrylic paints on canvas. Her pieces include
vibrant colors and range from women with large eyes to abstract works as well as
some still life.
Six artists collaborated on a mural located on the side of Visual Art Supply. Their
names are Gloria Muriel, Dave Persue Ross, Michael Monstrinho Amorillo, Maxx
Pose2 Moses, Isaias Crol Crow and Leon Rainbow from New Jersey. It is an
underwater scene which includes a large purple whale, an octopus with a third eye,
a scuba diving bunny kitty, a human couple and a yellow submarine. The artists
began at noon. They used both spray paint and acrylic paint. They all have different
styles including pop art, abstract geometric shapes, characters and graffiti. The end
result of hours of work is a colorful whimsical scene. It’s a definite must-see mural
in San Diego.
Outside of Visual Art Supply, a few artists were displaying their work. One artist,
BD Dombrowsky, showcased dark pop art paintings. He uses oil paint on canvas
and birch panel. Gary Busey was the inspiration for one piece, titled “Unification.”
It shows Jesus riding a unicorn while crossing over mountains. It’s reminiscent
of David’s “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” painting. Another piece, which was very
comical, is titled “Mass Extinction.” A tyrannosaurus rex priest is giving first
communion to a raptor in a veil. The backdrop has stained glass windows and an
altar. He will be showing in Pop Apocalypse: A Pre-Comic Con Comic, Vinyl Toy and
Pop Art Show at Industry Show on July 1st.
Adam Rosen of Exodus Studios is one of the organizers of Art Around Adams. He
estimates more then twenty thousand people attended the event throughout the
day. The art walk was a great success. Adam states, “Most people I spoke to thought
this was the best Art Around Adams to date.” If you’ve missed this event in the
years passed, you don’t want to miss it again. Just like this year’s art walk, next
year’s will be a sight to see.
-Shanna Maschmeier
Chor Boogie Mural Project – Curated by Alexander Salazar Fine Art
Three days, ten panels, eighty feet, dozens of spray cans and one artist. The
Chor Boogie Mural Project was a first for San Diego’s art scene. Curated and
sponsored by Alexander Salazar Fine Art; no other gallery has housed such a large
project of completely original work.
Chor Boogie is originally from Oceanside and is a popular muralist, who
recently completed a project in Horton Plaza. Alexander Salazar invited him to do
this mural project because he wanted to challenge Chor Boogie. “I wanted to see if
he could create a mural in three days of that substance. Instead of shipping in
paintings, I wanted it to be completely new,” the gallery owner explained.
The main piece is composed of six panels, each measuring eight feet long;
thus making the entire mural forty-eight feet in length. The medium is spray paint
on canvas. It is visually striking with bright colors, geometric shapes, drips as well
as large hypnotic eyes. Four other panels were also painted at the time but are not
connected to the main mural. Since most urban artists and muralists work outside;
for example painting on the street, sometimes the pieces are painted over. Yet this
project is on canvas, therefore making it permanent and something you can take
away with you.
A unique aspect of this project is that the artist was in a five thousand square
foot space which was completely bare; solely white walls and a cement floor; it was
a “white box.” The downtown location of the space allowed onlookers to sneak a
peek while the artist was at work. Some people talked to Chor Boogie and asked
questions. “You don’t see that downtown. Very rarely you do you get to see an
artist in action,” Alexander Salazar explained. “It was my first time to ever see an
artist do something of that scale.” Altogether, Chor Boogie worked for three days;
sometimes until four in the morning, creating art pieces that span across eighty feet.
Chor Boogie’s Mural Project will be on display for a few weeks. If interested
in viewing the exhibit, call the gallery first. It is awe-inspiring and a worthwhile
visit downtown.
-Shanna Maschmeier
-Photography: Don Schneck
Three days, ten panels, eighty feet, dozens of spray cans and one artist. The
Chor Boogie Mural Project was a first for San Diego’s art scene. Curated and
sponsored by Alexander Salazar Fine Art; no other gallery has housed such a large
project of completely original work.
Chor Boogie is originally from Oceanside and is a popular muralist, who
recently completed a project in Horton Plaza. Alexander Salazar invited him to do
this mural project because he wanted to challenge Chor Boogie. “I wanted to see if
he could create a mural in three days of that substance. Instead of shipping in
paintings, I wanted it to be completely new,” the gallery owner explained.
The main piece is composed of six panels, each measuring eight feet long;
thus making the entire mural forty-eight feet in length. The medium is spray paint
on canvas. It is visually striking with bright colors, geometric shapes, drips as well
as large hypnotic eyes. Four other panels were also painted at the time but are not
connected to the main mural. Since most urban artists and muralists work outside;
for example painting on the street, sometimes the pieces are painted over. Yet this
project is on canvas, therefore making it permanent and something you can take
away with you.
A unique aspect of this project is that the artist was in a five thousand square
foot space which was completely bare; solely white walls and a cement floor; it was
a “white box.” The downtown location of the space allowed onlookers to sneak a
peek while the artist was at work. Some people talked to Chor Boogie and asked
questions. “You don’t see that downtown. Very rarely you do you get to see an
artist in action,” Alexander Salazar explained. “It was my first time to ever see an
artist do something of that scale.” Altogether, Chor Boogie worked for three days;
sometimes until four in the morning, creating art pieces that span across eighty feet.
Chor Boogie’s Mural Project will be on display for a few weeks. If interested
in viewing the exhibit, call the gallery first. It is awe-inspiring and a worthwhile
visit downtown.
-Shanna Maschmeier
-Photography: Don Schneck
Speaking in Tongues Mark Jesinoski and David Gough Collaboration
Mark Jesinoski and David Gough collaborated on two four by eight foot panels.
These two artists joined together to experience the process of painting. They did
not concentrate on the finished product; rather they focused on the process. The
process was the practice of dialectics through art. Dialectics is based on a dialogue
between two or more people who hold different ideas and wish to persuade each
other. Dialectical thinking is a balance between the intellectual and emotional
mind. The collaboration was an attempt to create harmony between the artists’ two
different styles of art.
Mark Jesinoski’s style is abstract, meaning his work departs from reality in the
depiction of images. Many of his pieces have abstract figures of people. David
Gough’s style is surreal, meaning his work features mythical creatures and are
somewhat dreamlike. Many of his pieces feature skulls and skeletons, which cause
the viewer to think of his own mortality.
Mark Jesinoski believes that art, as a form of communication, exists on a continuum.
Abstract and surrealism are simply two different forms of communication. Jesinoski
and Gough were striving to find balance and harmony with their differing styles.
The piece is on two four by eight foot panels that are mounted back to back. They
each started by painting a figure on one side and rotated sides every hour. After the
first week they had painted for three hours and had the basic structure, but it was
very disjointed. Their styles were in conflict and it pushed both artists outside of
their comfort zone.
A week later they came back with different ideas. Jesinoski added more depth to
his side, “which I normally don’t do. And I picked that up from his (Gough) work.”
By adding a sky behind and water below the figure on his side. Jesinoski also added
abstract figures to Gough’s side. Gough added depth to his side as well as surreal
figures on both sides. After three more hours the paintings had some harmony. In
the third week, the final three hours of painting, the goal was to try to refine the
pieces and get them as close to finished as they could.
On Jesinoski’s side, there is an abstract figure floating over water, which he believes
represents God. “So God is this abstract figure to humanity” Jesinoski explained.
Bubbles come out of the abstract figure’s head and descend to the water. The
bubbles came from a dream Jesinoski had ten years ago. In his dream he was falling
through the sky and there were glass bubbles, with a mile long diameter, filled with
water and whales floating in the sky. In his side of the painting there is an abstract
figure creating out of his mind in the moment. Gough painted a surreal skull to the
gut of the abstract figure. More surreal images spill out of the gut and surround the
floating abstract figure.
Gough’s side has a figure that is coming out of a tree and reaching into his gut. The
head of the figure is a cracked egg with different animals, such as a snake, a horse
and a dog, seeping out of it. Jesinoski added abstract figures spilling out of the tree
trunk and floating all around the painting. Gough focused on the details while he
painted.
If they had another twenty hours they could finish the paintings, at the moment they
are only half done. Jesinoski said, “It was more of a practice. Maybe we will come
back to it some day, maybe not. It wasn’t about finishing so much as the process. So
more process oriented rather than final product oriented.”
When they decided to collaborate together, they had the idea that abstract comes
from the gut and surrealism comes from the head. “Abstraction is a more intuitive
kind of process. And surrealism is more cerebral. And ironically what we found
through this is surrealism can be very from the gut and abstraction can be very from
the head. It depends on the artist and the process. Just because the content and the
image that you see is different, it doesn’t mean the process is different.”
At the end of the nine hours of painting, the dialectics won. The artists found
balance and harmony between abstraction and surrealism.
-Shanna Maschmeier
-Photography: Jeff Donndelinger
ART SHOW AT MEE SHIM!!!
On “Festa” weekend in Little Italy, I decided with all the cool art receptions going on. I wanted to see
what “the brothers of creativity,” Mark Jesinoski and Shay Davis were up to. My first time in the gallery
of Mee Shim impressed me greatly. Thoughtfully placed art work from a grouping of artists formed a
show that included the exciting portraits of Mee Shim; abstracts from Rich Walker and Mark Jesinoski
and the compelling fantasies of Shay Davis. The powerful and attractive pieces beckoned to all to enter
and appreciate the fine artistry. Many of San Diego’s thriving culture scene was there on opening night.
I was glad to see all of the artists engaged in dialogue with others who were captivated by their talents.
The contrasts of styles would make one think they were not just in a gallery, the show was a piece of art
itself and we were all lucky to have been our part in its creation.
-Cynthia Gaddes
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
EASEL San Diego Art FAIR September 2-6, 2010
EASEL San Diego Art FAIR was hosted by the Alexander Salazar Fine Art Gallery.
The event was held in a commercial space on 7th Avenue in Downtown San Diego.
There were rows of easels embracing adorned canvases created by one hundred
artists. Student artists, from elementary to high school ages, were able to display
their work and compete for cash prizes. Most of the artists who showed were San
Diego locals. The variety of styles was extensive and art lovers were able to take
their time while viewing the pieces.
Alexander Salazar was kind enough to answer a few questions about the event.
When asked why he organized the fair he simply answered, “It was necessary.”
Salazar believes that an event such as EASEL should take place every year. He
wanted to make the event accessible to all. “Artists get a lot of no’s from galleries.”
he explained. Any artist who wanted to participate in the fair paid a fifty-dollar
entry fee per piece, up to two pieces, and was required to provide the easels. One
hundred percent of the entry fees and ten percent of sales went to the charity, “It’s
All About the Kids” Foundation. Salazar will host the fair next year and hopes it will
grow, thus allowing more artists to participate.
-Shanna Maschmeier
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Flesh and Fetish Show at Bar Basic, Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Flesh and Fetish was the title and theme for this month’s Thumbprint Gallery show
at Bar Basic. Once again the drinks were cold, the pizzas were hot, and the tunes
were banging.
In the gallery, the theme was prevalent but not hypersexual. All the pieces were
excellent examples of the beauty of the human form and sex. Most of the pieces
featured the female figures, because let’s face it the female body is lovely while the
male body is utilitarian.
Monique Jenkins was one of the few artists to feature men in her work. The gallery
showed three of her pieces in her “Fetish Fashion” series. The largest painting
caught a lot of people’s attention. It is of a man with glasses eyeing a pair of Chuck
All-Stars.
Franky Agostino had a few pieces up in the gallery. “Butterfly” blended nature and
the female form. Green vines highlight a woman’s figure, and a white outline of
a butterfly is placed over her most intimate body part. In the corner of the piece,
we see the green butterfly with labia as its body. When asked about his piece and
the meaning, the artist said that as a child he was told the vagina is a butterfly.
The gallery also featured a trio of paintings by SPIC titled “Eye, Heart, _ _ _ _ _ _.”
There was an eyeball taped open, an anatomical heart, and a vagina. Each of
the pieces had dripped red paint, very similar to blood. The pieces were straight
forward and bewildering.
Body painting by MOFO and E-MAN was the combining of art and flesh, where
skin is the canvas. Two models were painted and the beauty of their bodies was
enhanced by the images painted on them. A large crowd gathered to marvel at the
creativity of the artists and the beautiful women.
Thumbprint Gallery’s monthly events at Bar Basic pulsate with art. You don’t want
to miss the next one, Tuesday September 14th.
-Shanna Maschmeier
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edgeware – Out from Underground
Some of you may have visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown
recently to see Viva la Revolucion: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape exhibit,
which features urban artists from all over the world. A local art gallery is showing
an exhibit that is along those same lines. Edgeware Gallery in Kensington is
featuring a show titled Out from Underground: Street Art/Modern Pop. It features
over 30 artists from San Diego, Los Angeles, and London.
There is art everywhere in the gallery, on the walls, ceiling and floor. The types of
art are eclectic and include stencil art, collages, sculptures, paintings, photographs
of murals, and photographs of cityscapes and city life. The pieces are painted
on different types of material: cardboard, paper, wood, canvas and metal. A
lot of the pieces are mixed mediums; artists used oil, acrylic and spray paints.
Many pieces had a political message. “Visibly Transparent”, a stencil art piece by
Bryan Snyder, shows a group of officers surrounding a lifeless body laying on the
ground. He is a local artist with a studio in Carlsbad.
Two stencil art pieces by Grand Larsen are commentary on the battle over the La
Jolla Children’s pool. One has the phrase “Tell It To Your Lawyer” and a man in
beach attire holding a beach ball while staring down at a seal. The other has the
phrase “It’s Mine Now” and smiling boy in board shorts holding a beach ball while
seal looks at him.
Many pieces feature famous faces such as Shakespeare, Frida Kahlo, Bob Marley,
Muhammad Ali, Aunt Jemima, Cher, Che Guevara and Confucius. There is a
sculpture with a sign that reads, “Do NOT feed pigeons or other birds.” Above the
sign are decoy pigeons, some of which have spray paint cans for heads.
The show runs until September 17th and it is one you don’t want to miss. Visit
EdgwareGallery.com for hours and location.
-Shanna Maschmeier
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Samurais and School Girls, Thursday, July 22, 2010
Samurais and School Girls was my very first Comic Con after party. It was also the
first event I have attended produced by Silk Road Productions. I was interested
in the party because of the number of artists displaying pieces and painting live.
Although their business cards and flyers have the titles cartoonist or illustrator, they
are all artists to me.
The event took place at an old warehouse in an industrial neighborhood wedged
between the convention center and Chicano Park. The crowd was eclectic. The
people who came were a variety of ages and races. Some were hard-core Comic
Con attendants, while many were everyday people. Lots of partygoers dressed up
as either samurais or schoolgirls. A costume contest was held in the night, and the
crowd cheered for its favorite. Dance music blasted throughout the night.
All of the artists were local and the quality of their pieces ranged from amateur to
professional. Their works included paintings, sculptures, drawings, clothing, and
jewelry. Even hair was formed into art pieces inspired by the characters created by
Billy Martinez.
One artist new to the field is extremely creative. Chris Terry painted a storm
trooper helmet to have gold teeth, a red bandana and old English lettering that
said “d-side” and “troop life.” His work is character based with a lot of urban
influence.
I recognized one of Kai Martin’s pieces at the party because the original is up at U-
31, a North Park bar. He worked on a painting at the show of a sad samurai being
mocked by a young schoolgirl.
Randy Renaud also painted live. His paintings were both character based and
original art. I really liked his interpretation of classic characters such as the Tin
Man and Harlequin. His untitled painting, which is original artwork, is surreal. It’s a
strange figure that stirred unsettling emotions within me. It seemed like an alien, or
maybe a disfigured human. His ironic name for it is Fluffy.
Sam McInvale is a kind artist who worked quietly on a new piece as I perused his
portfolio of beautifully detailed drawings. My favorite was one of people in an
observatory in outer space gazing at a strange planet. Sam was kind enough to
display some of the pieces created by his under aged brother Nick. There is a lot of
talent in the McInvale family.
David Goff showcased both his wire and life sized sculptures. My favorite was the
bootylicious Spiderman.
Samurais and School Girls successfully showcased the works of several artists and I
hope to attend a similar event next year during Comic Con.
-Shanna Maschmeier
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Cultural Transformation of San Diego
Having arrived ten years ago to San Diego, now the beginnings of culture are emerging.
In 2000, newly arrived from Rhodes, Greece I was surprised to see so few galleries in
what was touted as a “thriving downtown.” For downtown the only ones; were Tim Cantors’,
Wyland, a few in La Jolla and the museums. Living many places and contributing to the art
scene such Athens, Greece, Houston, Texas (I worked at the MFAH) and Hartford, CT. I was
the first artist to rent a space there in the newly renovated for artist/living spaces in 1987 in the
Colt Gun Factory building. In my early days in Worcester, MA where I attended painting classes
both with private instruction and at the Museum School. I feel I have a broad experience that
helps me to critique fairly.
My first contact with local art was at Café Lulu in the Gaslamp quarter in 2001. As the
food manager a new artist to San Diego, Nathan Horner, asked to exhibit there. I was totally
impressed with his work and made a suggestion to the owner. This began a great friendship and
collaboration. Nathan is now in LA with his realistic style of painting being purchased by the
likes of Wes Craven. The year 2010 finds some of his art to be displayed at the John Singer
Sargent house in NY. I was lucky to have one of his paintings of the LA Jolla Pink mansion
in Bird rock for a year at my Designer Tastes Gallery in Normal Heights (2006). It was finally
auctioned off for the Surf rider foundation.
With an eye for style and trendsetting, I became employed at the Athens Market Taverna
and was commissioned to paint a series of mural between buildings at the Senator Hotel. Slowly
as the pulse of art was quickening in the city, 2002 marked my return to the culture scene where I
once again found my voice for poetry, making the rounds of coffeehouse shows of art, music and
poetry.
In 2003, I was a frame designer for Gallery Scene which at its heyday had three locations.
With this position, I heard for the first time of the now classic event “Ray at Night,” helped up
and coming artists find a style for presenting their work. A movement began to emerge; San
Diego is home to so many creative individuals and groups, why did it take so long for it to get
recognized? This question I have asked myself over and over for many years. The answer
being that San Diego creates art but buying art is more of a pastime of those not from here!
Slowly groups began to form and other art happenings like Kettner Nights and Art around
Adams began to be regular features. Locations citywide that were accepting art and music began
to be the rule, not the exception. With this type of movement, of course there have been many
promoters and organizers passionate and dedicated to the arts. This is a general statement as the
sheer number of locals that have taken on the promotion of art and the list is extensive.
Knowing artists soul side out since I am one myself, coupled with my brain for business,
rigorous cross discipline training, I became an agent for artists and musicians. My ten year
full time occupation in the world of handmade rugs properly prepared me to negotiate, barter
and sell all invaluable skills. Working with design clients to locate art, helping businesses find
the right art for the offices, jury art competitions, spoken at career day at schools have made
me appreciate over the years all I have done for art. Alex Salazar’s recent show incorporating
famous artist with a heavily attended show is a reflection of where art has elevated itself to the
top of San Diego’s lists, on the tip of everybody’s tongue and to brightly fill homes with beauty
and wonder. I know the upcoming Spaghetti Socials will be even better attended by such a
divine mix of creative folks and their appreciators all in an efforts to advance the arts to their
proper elevated status in our culture.
- Cynthia Kosciuczyk Skarlatos Gaddes
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Weapon of Mass Production: Stencil Art Show at Bar Basic, Tuesday, July 13,
2010.
Tuesday night, July 13th, I headed to a popular pizza place downtown called
Bar Basic. Thumbprint Gallery was hosting their monthly off-site show titled
Weapons of Mass Production: Stencil Art Show. It featured stenciled art made
with a variety of mediums. The pieces depicted images that ranged from
jamming monkeys to Jimmy Hendrix to flowers. Most pieces popped with
vibrant colors while others were more subdued in earth tones or black and white.
The pieces were painted on a variety of items, including canvas, skateboards,
records, wood, cutting boards and some Louis Vuitton material.
The monthly show at Basic is very inviting. The beat of the hip-hop the DJ is
spinning draws you in from the street. People are there for the art or the pizza or
the drinks or the music. The crowd is eclectic, people range in age, ethnicity and
profession. Most patrons viewed the art in the gallery and some became buyers.
I had the pleasure of meeting one happy buyer at the show. He lives in the
neighborhood and was passing Bar Basic after having dinner. He decided to
check out the show and in the end purchased two pieces. When I asked why he
chose those particular ones he explained his reasoning; he identified with both of
them. For one of the pieces he simply said, “That was me.” The painting was of
a young man holding a gun. One great aspect of art is the connection you feel
to the piece or the artist. Art stirs something within you, makes you feel different
emotions. It’s a visual doorway into humanity. The artist hopes someone
connects to his work.
Curious about the process the artist goes through? At the monthly show, you
can connect with the artists and watch as they paint live. You can witness each
painter transform a piece of canvas or wood into a beautiful painting. You can
meet the artists and ask them questions. You might even be able to get your
portrait painted.
The monthly art shows hosted by Thumbprint Gallery at Bar Basic are always a
delight for the eyes.
-Shanna Maschmeier
On “Festa” weekend in Little Italy, I decided with all the cool art receptions going on. I wanted to see
what “the brothers of creativity,” Mark Jesinoski and Shay Davis were up to. My first time in the gallery
of Mee Shim impressed me greatly. Thoughtfully placed art work from a grouping of artists formed a
show that included the exciting portraits of Mee Shim; abstracts from Rich Walker and Mark Jesinoski
and the compelling fantasies of Shay Davis. The powerful and attractive pieces beckoned to all to enter
and appreciate the fine artistry. Many of San Diego’s thriving culture scene was there on opening night.
I was glad to see all of the artists engaged in dialogue with others who were captivated by their talents.
The contrasts of styles would make one think they were not just in a gallery, the show was a piece of art
itself and we were all lucky to have been our part in its creation.
-Cynthia Gaddes
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
EASEL San Diego Art FAIR September 2-6, 2010
EASEL San Diego Art FAIR was hosted by the Alexander Salazar Fine Art Gallery.
The event was held in a commercial space on 7th Avenue in Downtown San Diego.
There were rows of easels embracing adorned canvases created by one hundred
artists. Student artists, from elementary to high school ages, were able to display
their work and compete for cash prizes. Most of the artists who showed were San
Diego locals. The variety of styles was extensive and art lovers were able to take
their time while viewing the pieces.
Alexander Salazar was kind enough to answer a few questions about the event.
When asked why he organized the fair he simply answered, “It was necessary.”
Salazar believes that an event such as EASEL should take place every year. He
wanted to make the event accessible to all. “Artists get a lot of no’s from galleries.”
he explained. Any artist who wanted to participate in the fair paid a fifty-dollar
entry fee per piece, up to two pieces, and was required to provide the easels. One
hundred percent of the entry fees and ten percent of sales went to the charity, “It’s
All About the Kids” Foundation. Salazar will host the fair next year and hopes it will
grow, thus allowing more artists to participate.
-Shanna Maschmeier
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Flesh and Fetish Show at Bar Basic, Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Flesh and Fetish was the title and theme for this month’s Thumbprint Gallery show
at Bar Basic. Once again the drinks were cold, the pizzas were hot, and the tunes
were banging.
In the gallery, the theme was prevalent but not hypersexual. All the pieces were
excellent examples of the beauty of the human form and sex. Most of the pieces
featured the female figures, because let’s face it the female body is lovely while the
male body is utilitarian.
Monique Jenkins was one of the few artists to feature men in her work. The gallery
showed three of her pieces in her “Fetish Fashion” series. The largest painting
caught a lot of people’s attention. It is of a man with glasses eyeing a pair of Chuck
All-Stars.
Franky Agostino had a few pieces up in the gallery. “Butterfly” blended nature and
the female form. Green vines highlight a woman’s figure, and a white outline of
a butterfly is placed over her most intimate body part. In the corner of the piece,
we see the green butterfly with labia as its body. When asked about his piece and
the meaning, the artist said that as a child he was told the vagina is a butterfly.
The gallery also featured a trio of paintings by SPIC titled “Eye, Heart, _ _ _ _ _ _.”
There was an eyeball taped open, an anatomical heart, and a vagina. Each of
the pieces had dripped red paint, very similar to blood. The pieces were straight
forward and bewildering.
Body painting by MOFO and E-MAN was the combining of art and flesh, where
skin is the canvas. Two models were painted and the beauty of their bodies was
enhanced by the images painted on them. A large crowd gathered to marvel at the
creativity of the artists and the beautiful women.
Thumbprint Gallery’s monthly events at Bar Basic pulsate with art. You don’t want
to miss the next one, Tuesday September 14th.
-Shanna Maschmeier
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Edgeware – Out from Underground
Some of you may have visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown
recently to see Viva la Revolucion: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape exhibit,
which features urban artists from all over the world. A local art gallery is showing
an exhibit that is along those same lines. Edgeware Gallery in Kensington is
featuring a show titled Out from Underground: Street Art/Modern Pop. It features
over 30 artists from San Diego, Los Angeles, and London.
There is art everywhere in the gallery, on the walls, ceiling and floor. The types of
art are eclectic and include stencil art, collages, sculptures, paintings, photographs
of murals, and photographs of cityscapes and city life. The pieces are painted
on different types of material: cardboard, paper, wood, canvas and metal. A
lot of the pieces are mixed mediums; artists used oil, acrylic and spray paints.
Many pieces had a political message. “Visibly Transparent”, a stencil art piece by
Bryan Snyder, shows a group of officers surrounding a lifeless body laying on the
ground. He is a local artist with a studio in Carlsbad.
Two stencil art pieces by Grand Larsen are commentary on the battle over the La
Jolla Children’s pool. One has the phrase “Tell It To Your Lawyer” and a man in
beach attire holding a beach ball while staring down at a seal. The other has the
phrase “It’s Mine Now” and smiling boy in board shorts holding a beach ball while
seal looks at him.
Many pieces feature famous faces such as Shakespeare, Frida Kahlo, Bob Marley,
Muhammad Ali, Aunt Jemima, Cher, Che Guevara and Confucius. There is a
sculpture with a sign that reads, “Do NOT feed pigeons or other birds.” Above the
sign are decoy pigeons, some of which have spray paint cans for heads.
The show runs until September 17th and it is one you don’t want to miss. Visit
EdgwareGallery.com for hours and location.
-Shanna Maschmeier
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Samurais and School Girls, Thursday, July 22, 2010
Samurais and School Girls was my very first Comic Con after party. It was also the
first event I have attended produced by Silk Road Productions. I was interested
in the party because of the number of artists displaying pieces and painting live.
Although their business cards and flyers have the titles cartoonist or illustrator, they
are all artists to me.
The event took place at an old warehouse in an industrial neighborhood wedged
between the convention center and Chicano Park. The crowd was eclectic. The
people who came were a variety of ages and races. Some were hard-core Comic
Con attendants, while many were everyday people. Lots of partygoers dressed up
as either samurais or schoolgirls. A costume contest was held in the night, and the
crowd cheered for its favorite. Dance music blasted throughout the night.
All of the artists were local and the quality of their pieces ranged from amateur to
professional. Their works included paintings, sculptures, drawings, clothing, and
jewelry. Even hair was formed into art pieces inspired by the characters created by
Billy Martinez.
One artist new to the field is extremely creative. Chris Terry painted a storm
trooper helmet to have gold teeth, a red bandana and old English lettering that
said “d-side” and “troop life.” His work is character based with a lot of urban
influence.
I recognized one of Kai Martin’s pieces at the party because the original is up at U-
31, a North Park bar. He worked on a painting at the show of a sad samurai being
mocked by a young schoolgirl.
Randy Renaud also painted live. His paintings were both character based and
original art. I really liked his interpretation of classic characters such as the Tin
Man and Harlequin. His untitled painting, which is original artwork, is surreal. It’s a
strange figure that stirred unsettling emotions within me. It seemed like an alien, or
maybe a disfigured human. His ironic name for it is Fluffy.
Sam McInvale is a kind artist who worked quietly on a new piece as I perused his
portfolio of beautifully detailed drawings. My favorite was one of people in an
observatory in outer space gazing at a strange planet. Sam was kind enough to
display some of the pieces created by his under aged brother Nick. There is a lot of
talent in the McInvale family.
David Goff showcased both his wire and life sized sculptures. My favorite was the
bootylicious Spiderman.
Samurais and School Girls successfully showcased the works of several artists and I
hope to attend a similar event next year during Comic Con.
-Shanna Maschmeier
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The Cultural Transformation of San Diego
Having arrived ten years ago to San Diego, now the beginnings of culture are emerging.
In 2000, newly arrived from Rhodes, Greece I was surprised to see so few galleries in
what was touted as a “thriving downtown.” For downtown the only ones; were Tim Cantors’,
Wyland, a few in La Jolla and the museums. Living many places and contributing to the art
scene such Athens, Greece, Houston, Texas (I worked at the MFAH) and Hartford, CT. I was
the first artist to rent a space there in the newly renovated for artist/living spaces in 1987 in the
Colt Gun Factory building. In my early days in Worcester, MA where I attended painting classes
both with private instruction and at the Museum School. I feel I have a broad experience that
helps me to critique fairly.
My first contact with local art was at Café Lulu in the Gaslamp quarter in 2001. As the
food manager a new artist to San Diego, Nathan Horner, asked to exhibit there. I was totally
impressed with his work and made a suggestion to the owner. This began a great friendship and
collaboration. Nathan is now in LA with his realistic style of painting being purchased by the
likes of Wes Craven. The year 2010 finds some of his art to be displayed at the John Singer
Sargent house in NY. I was lucky to have one of his paintings of the LA Jolla Pink mansion
in Bird rock for a year at my Designer Tastes Gallery in Normal Heights (2006). It was finally
auctioned off for the Surf rider foundation.
With an eye for style and trendsetting, I became employed at the Athens Market Taverna
and was commissioned to paint a series of mural between buildings at the Senator Hotel. Slowly
as the pulse of art was quickening in the city, 2002 marked my return to the culture scene where I
once again found my voice for poetry, making the rounds of coffeehouse shows of art, music and
poetry.
In 2003, I was a frame designer for Gallery Scene which at its heyday had three locations.
With this position, I heard for the first time of the now classic event “Ray at Night,” helped up
and coming artists find a style for presenting their work. A movement began to emerge; San
Diego is home to so many creative individuals and groups, why did it take so long for it to get
recognized? This question I have asked myself over and over for many years. The answer
being that San Diego creates art but buying art is more of a pastime of those not from here!
Slowly groups began to form and other art happenings like Kettner Nights and Art around
Adams began to be regular features. Locations citywide that were accepting art and music began
to be the rule, not the exception. With this type of movement, of course there have been many
promoters and organizers passionate and dedicated to the arts. This is a general statement as the
sheer number of locals that have taken on the promotion of art and the list is extensive.
Knowing artists soul side out since I am one myself, coupled with my brain for business,
rigorous cross discipline training, I became an agent for artists and musicians. My ten year
full time occupation in the world of handmade rugs properly prepared me to negotiate, barter
and sell all invaluable skills. Working with design clients to locate art, helping businesses find
the right art for the offices, jury art competitions, spoken at career day at schools have made
me appreciate over the years all I have done for art. Alex Salazar’s recent show incorporating
famous artist with a heavily attended show is a reflection of where art has elevated itself to the
top of San Diego’s lists, on the tip of everybody’s tongue and to brightly fill homes with beauty
and wonder. I know the upcoming Spaghetti Socials will be even better attended by such a
divine mix of creative folks and their appreciators all in an efforts to advance the arts to their
proper elevated status in our culture.
- Cynthia Kosciuczyk Skarlatos Gaddes
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Weapon of Mass Production: Stencil Art Show at Bar Basic, Tuesday, July 13,
2010.
Tuesday night, July 13th, I headed to a popular pizza place downtown called
Bar Basic. Thumbprint Gallery was hosting their monthly off-site show titled
Weapons of Mass Production: Stencil Art Show. It featured stenciled art made
with a variety of mediums. The pieces depicted images that ranged from
jamming monkeys to Jimmy Hendrix to flowers. Most pieces popped with
vibrant colors while others were more subdued in earth tones or black and white.
The pieces were painted on a variety of items, including canvas, skateboards,
records, wood, cutting boards and some Louis Vuitton material.
The monthly show at Basic is very inviting. The beat of the hip-hop the DJ is
spinning draws you in from the street. People are there for the art or the pizza or
the drinks or the music. The crowd is eclectic, people range in age, ethnicity and
profession. Most patrons viewed the art in the gallery and some became buyers.
I had the pleasure of meeting one happy buyer at the show. He lives in the
neighborhood and was passing Bar Basic after having dinner. He decided to
check out the show and in the end purchased two pieces. When I asked why he
chose those particular ones he explained his reasoning; he identified with both of
them. For one of the pieces he simply said, “That was me.” The painting was of
a young man holding a gun. One great aspect of art is the connection you feel
to the piece or the artist. Art stirs something within you, makes you feel different
emotions. It’s a visual doorway into humanity. The artist hopes someone
connects to his work.
Curious about the process the artist goes through? At the monthly show, you
can connect with the artists and watch as they paint live. You can witness each
painter transform a piece of canvas or wood into a beautiful painting. You can
meet the artists and ask them questions. You might even be able to get your
portrait painted.
The monthly art shows hosted by Thumbprint Gallery at Bar Basic are always a
delight for the eyes.
-Shanna Maschmeier
