Like Haley’s Comet, the Olympics and a compromise in Washington politics, a concentrated cluster of innovative art activity happens once in a blue moon in San Diego. I am not thinking about the monthly art walks here, there and everywhere, but rather a set of independent art activities arranged by the small, non-profit art organizations that dot the downtown environs.
By sheer coincidence and for one night only the East Village will come alive with art this Saturday night. San Diego’s leading and most interesting art spaces will be exploring their divergent visions for contemporary art in San Diego. That alone would be worth noting but all this will happen within walking distance which is something rare in our fair city. More than 30 artists will be showing their work at four locations between Ninth and 15th Streets. Here they are:
Immaterial Ergonomics is a group show at Space 4 Art at the foot of 15th Street. Check out the open studios while you are there, then walk across the street and see what’s going on at The Periscope Project (located in a stack of old cargo containers). Meanwhile, Helmuth Projects is showing Hyperstudio over at 920 E St., near the central library and post office. Then finally, Sezio moves temporarily from its Golden Hill home and teams up with the LWP Group to present Collide, a one-night takeover of a newly-renovated 1912 apartment building on Ninth and Broadway. Art, music, craft beer and cocktails will fill the hallways and rooms of the five-story Community @ Carnegie Building.
There is a burgeoning indy, underground (kinda) art world here in San Diego involving a disparate array of artists, many linked to the Visual Art Department at UCSD. More and more artists are making work, showing work and contributing to a vital cultural community so if you are stuck for something new to do on Saturday night park someplace convenient and help make these efforts take root.
