SAN DIEGO – Get your culture on this summer with a drive, or walk, across the refurbished Cabrillo Bridge. As the bridge re-opens to vehicles today, all of the sensational shows, exhibits and events from Balboa Park’s west end institutions are now easily accessible by car, and the recently renovated Alcazar Garden Parking Lot – conveniently located next to the Plaza de Panama – is open and better than ever. New extended summer hours also mean guests can experience arts and culture well into the evening.
Visitors can learn about the history of beer, or attend a craft beer tasting; experience gravity-defying artwork from a renowned Russian artist; discover the evolution of surf board design and culture; enjoy theatrical productions ranging from acclaimed dramas, hilarious comedies and celebrated musicals; and view masterworks from a famous Spanish painter, making their only West Coast debut this summer.
Here are some of the happenings to discover this summer:
Mingei International Museum
SURF CRAFT – Design and the Culture of Board Riding
Opening June 21, the first day of summer, SURF CRAFT will be a unique surfboard exhibition curated by local surf historian Richard Kenvin. Featuring over 60 boards, SURF CRAFT will capture the influences behind design in board riding, from the alaia boards of ancient Hawaii, to obscure surf bathing boards of England, Japan and Africa, to post-war hydrodynamic planning hulls from Southern California.
*New summer hours: open until 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning July 10.
El Lissitzky: Futurist Portfolios
Two portfolios of prints by Russian abstract painter, designer, teacher and graphic artist Lazar Markovich Lissitzky, better known as El Lissitzky (1890-1941), will be presented by the Timken Museum of Art in “El Lissitzky: Futurist Portfolios.” Created in 1923, the two print portfolios, comprised of 20 total prints, are among the greatest achievements in graphic art from the 20th century. Guests will learn about the inspiration behind these modernistic masterworks and experience them in whole new way in the Timken’s “Proun Room,” where Lissitzky’s gravity-defying geometric shapes and linear vectors come to life. On view May 15 through September 7.
BEERology
Modern civilization is beer civilization! Agriculture, cities, writing and religion all have ties to early craft brewing. Ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Chinese and others each perfected the brewing arts in interesting and strange ways. BEERology features fascinating stories and phenomenal artifacts that reveal the links between beer and culture, such as the solid gold beer cup of an Inca king. Next tasting is June 19. Exhibit on view through summer 2014.
*New summer hours: open until 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, beginning May 26.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
The hilarious winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play! Audience’s hearts will go out to three siblings whose artsy parents named them after characters from Chekhov. Vanya and Sonia have lived at home while sister Masha has travelled the world starring in B-movies. Now Masha is back, with her boy toy Spike in tow, and she’s intent on selling the house. Farce ensues. Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang is in sidesplitting top form with this riotous Broadway smash. May 17 – June 22.
Dog and Pony
From the award-winning talents behind Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Altar Boyz, Dog and Pony is a romantic musical comedy that follows Mags and Andy, a successful screenwriting team, as their professional relationship evolves into something more. Tony Award winner Roger Rees (The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, “Elementary,” “Cheers”) returns to the Globe to helm the premiere of this delightful new musical. Dog and Pony will run May 28 – June 29, 2014 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run May 28 – June 4. Opening night is Thursday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m.
Othello
Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his debut on the Globe’s outdoor stage with one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, with Blair Underwood in the title role, Richard Thomas as Iago, and Kristen Connolly as Desdemona. Despite the prejudices in Venice, the brilliant general Othello excels both on the battlefield and in the halls of state. But when he marries Desdemona, his envious lieutenant Iago sets in motion a diabolical plan to destroy him. Edelstein gives us a riveting, intense, and intimate production where poetry soars and swords clash, where true love and wrenching jealousy collide. June 22 – July 27
Sorolla and America
The first retrospective to focus on Spanish Post-Impressionist Joaquín Sorolla’s relationship with the United States, Sorolla and Americamakes its only West Coast stop at The San Diego Museum of Art. Organized by the Meadows Museum, SMU; The San Diego Museum of Art; and FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE, in collaboration with the Hispanic Society of America, Sorolla and America is curated by the artist’s great granddaughter, Blanca Pons Sorolla. Featuring Sorolla’s sun-soaked landscapes, beach scenes, portraits, and prominent commissions, this landmark exhibition features more than 150 of the artist’s masterworks.
An audio tour, catalogue, and programs will accompany the exhibition. After-hours programs include Culture & Cocktails on July 10, and Film in the Garden on select Monday evenings in the May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden.
The San Diego Art Institute
Summer C-Note
It is time once more for the most anticipated, lively and capricious of events – C-Note consists of original artwork by regional San Diego artists, sold right off the wall for $100, $200 or $300. It gives new and experienced art collectors alike an opportunity to purchase original works at affordable prices, with funds going to support numerous programs at The San Diego Art Institute. On view through June 8.
San Diego Regional Exhibition
This juried exhibition by Amir H. Fallah features work by living, regional artists from Los Angeles to Tijuana. Also on view are solo exhibitions by Gail Rogers and Ellen Dieter. Opens June 13.
For more about summer exhibits, shows and happenings at Balboa Park West End, visit http://BPWestEnd.org.
