I’m back from a brief drive up California’s spectacular central coast just in time for this year’s Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair. The weekend-long event (Sept. 1-4) that aims to put San Diego artists and galleries on the national radar has grown significantly since it’s inception in 2009, becoming a cultural highlight in our perfect albeit provincial city’s social calendar.
Based out of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront this year’s fair, subtitled The Forum for Art offers a marketplace of over 60 national and international contemporary art galleries and a forum for dialog covering current topics in the art world. Essentially the Hilton will turn into a rabbit-warren of far flung art galleries brought right to our door buzzing with conversation about anything and everything art-related, particularly how art can be used as a tool for transforming cities.
In addition, ART SD11 includes a VIP opening night, distinguished guest speakers, a young collectors event and exclusive wine and food events amongst many other things.
Perhaps the most interesting element of ART SD11 is the approximately 19 “Art Labs” programmed throughout the four day weekend. Most, if not all, of the small independent art spaces around town and many of San Diego’s young and emerging artists are involved in these pop-up projects, scheduled to happen from San Ysidro to the East Village to a virtual world online. Although tickets are necessary for access to the fair (where the art booths and speakers are located) and the VIP events many of the visual art and performance projects taking place at the Art Labs around the city are free.
Also notable is the San Diego Art Prize that coincides with each year’s Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair. The prize involves both cash and exhibition opportunities but beyond that each season spotlights three established San Diego artists and three emerging artists whose outstanding achievements in the field of visual art merit recognition. The six artists are paired up and work with each other in a mentor/mentee fashion showing work together throughout the year leading up to the fair and the awards.
As you can imagine the city will be buzzing with art activity. I hope to see you there!
Go to artsandiego-fair.com for a complete list of all the participating galleries, local art partners and events.
