Last week we shared the first part of San Diego CityBeat’s two-part series on how the county does and doesn’t support the arts. Advocates are pushing for arts funding to become more transparent and give equal opportunity to all organizations applying for funds.
In Part 2 of the series, CityBeat highlights the now-defunct San Diego County Arts Advisory Council and how resurrecting it, or creating a council similar to it, could improve our local cultural landscape.
CityBeat reports that while the idea has been discussed, county supervisors who currently control who or what gets funded are happy with the process as it is, even though many others are not.
Would an arts council really bring about some change to our city? Should supervisors consider changing their funding decision process? What do we as an arts community stand to gain?
You’re reading the Culture Report, Voice of San Diego’s weekly collection of the region’s cultural news.
Psychedelic Mural, an Official Appointment and More Visual Art News
• Mathew Cirello and Jasmine Lee, owners of commercial art store and gallery Positive Space, are looking for creative types to take over. (CityBeat)
• An amazing mural by artist Kelsey Brookes has gone up in La Jolla as part of the Murals of La Jolla project. Check out “One Pointed Attention” at 7835 Ivanhoe Ave., and trip out on its hypnotic, psychedelic coolness, man!
• Speaking of Brookes, he and fellow local artists Adam Belt and David Adey were chosen to be part of the “State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now,” exhibition at Arkansas’ Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which will showcase the most compelling art being created today. (U-T)
• Asian art will play a more prominent role at the San Diego Museum of Art. (U-T)
• Dana Springs has officially been named executive director of the Commission for Arts and Culture after serving as the interim director since last August. (U-T)
• Sound artist (and past Meeting of the Minds headliner) Margaret Noble took the top prize at the Athenaeum’s 23rd annual Juried Exhibition, which featured work by 43 artists. Get it, girl! (U-T)
• Tijuana’s kitschy border murals are getting disrespected and I don’t like it. (Reader)
• The San Diego Museum of Art is extending its hours until 8 p.m. between Aug. 23-26 in celebration of the success of its exhibition “Sorolla and America.”
Adams Avenue Street Fair, a Theatrical Comeback and More Music and Performance News
• The U-T says La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest needs to get down with the funky fresh sounds of new music. That’s how the kids talk these days, right?
• The Adams Avenue Street Fair has a lineup! Check out Pato Banton, The Album Leaf, The Burning of Rome and many more at the music fest in Normal Heights. (U-T)
• San Diego Opera’s former director, Ian Campbell, gets another round of hate, this time from Opera News magazine. (Reader)
• The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library is also getting in on the lineup fun, announcing the roster for its 25th season. (U-T)
• The Lyceum Theatre will stage a Latino version of “The Odd Couple” starring Paul Rodriguez and William Virchis. I, for one, cannot wait to count all the no mameses that will undoubtedly get dropped. (U-T)
• The OB Playhouse will stage a one-man show about 1970s spiritual teacher and author Ram Dass, who guided his followers on far-out spiritual journeys before becoming paralyzed. (U-T)
• Is the Starlight Theatre making a comeback? (U-T)
Eating Through Convoy, Summer Fun and More Culture News
• Two women have set forth on a personal challenge to eat at every single restaurant on Convoy Street, documenting the grub on their blog Convoy Conquest. Let us all begin a slow clap for these two awesome eaters for doing God’s work.
• Making moonshine is the new “Breaking Bad,” ‘round these parts at least. (Reader)
• The Mass Creativity project will continue for a third year thanks to a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. (Times of San Diego)
• Summer is almost over. Booo! Here are some fun, last hoorah things to do before it’s time to break out the fall coats and pretend it actually gets cold in San Diego. (U-T)