Once again, and for the eighth time, the San Diego LGBT Pride festival will be hosting the Art of Pride, a popular open air art galley and a great opportunity for local LGBT artists to share their work with thousands of people enjoying the weekend.
Under the continuing direction of Mandy Huyler and John Keasler, Art of Pride will feature the works of more than 60 local visual fine artists. Participating artists this year include: Jonathan Williams, Lee Sie, Francisco Medavog, Dennis Metivier, Mollie Kellogg, Lisa Bebi, Petyr Cirino, Bonnie Stager, Derek Voien, Maryann Luera, Moni Blum, Eric Cantrell and Gibran Barrack. Kudos to you all!
Artist, and Art Guild co-chair Mollie Kellogg will be performing double duty as she and I will be serving as jurors of this year’s festival exhibition. The public is invited to meet the artists, organizers and jurors at a free festival reception Friday, July 20 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. The Art of Pride festival exhibition will be open both Saturday and Sunday.
Art of Pride is not just a one-time a year event. The volunteer driven enterprise seeks to promote and encourage the work of emerging and established LGBT artists and their allies. Besides the annual festival display, Art of Pride hosts a monthly show at the Pride offices at 3620 30th Street with a reception on the second Saturday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. coinciding with Ray at Night.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Pride weekend, and if you see any piece of art that appeals to you give some thought to purchasing it. Artists are vital to our city, our community and the economy. A purchase keeps these tireless cultural observers stocked with paint, clay and photo paper and it makes them feel pretty good too.
Footnote: It is my great honor to inform you that I have been nominated for a Nicky Award in the category of Outstanding Writer/Columnist. I have never been to the Nicky’s, let alone been nominated, so I am truly excited. If you would like to vote for me and make your voice heard as far as the ongoing importance of local LGBT arts and arts coverage are concerned I believe you can do this online at nickyawards.com right up until Aug. 15. In the meantime, I’ll start practicing my speech!
