The Sudden Art Gallery in the Industry Showroom (345 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp) has held a few low-key art shows to date, but Rex Edhlund, the space's project manager, says the upcoming show is "the inauguration of consistency."
From 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, the cooperative retail and office space will kick off a monthly first-Friday series of shows focusing on local artists. They've hooked up with a group called Honeypot for this first show, and the lineup looks good (I'm especially excited about seeing street artists Thatkidpeep and Chandu Reading on the bill).
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Plus, I dig the motivation behind the opening of the art space:
"This should be a very cool collision/cross pollination of cultural groups," writes the show's promoters. "More art in downtown San Diego! We've perfected the 'eating and drinking' part of the downtown San Diego lifestyle. We've absolutely mastered the art of yelling 'WOOOOO' in the streets at 2 a.m. in downtown San Diego. Now we can work a bit on accentuating our personal living spaces with original art."
I'm seriously fist-pumping to that sentiment right now. And now I'm wooooing loudly because I just checked my email and got another invite to an art-centric event in the Gaslamp—Affinity. This one's happening Sunday, Oct. 24, at Se San Diego (1047 Fifth Ave.) and it involves DJs, bands and art by Hannah Cowan, Mofo, Gumaro Pina, E-Man, True, and Sabrina Sade. East Village Productions, the promoters of the event, tell me, "this will be the first of many," so keep an eye on this here blog.
While the Gaslamp continues to struggle to add art and culture to its offerings, its neighbor to the east is becoming an arts hub. Tonight, you have your pick of three art shows to attend—The Periscope Project's Good Mourning California, Arte Fresca III at Suture and The Machine Shop Gallery's Art Art Drink Drink. All of the openings are conveniently happening from 6 to 10 p.m.
In other art news
An art space that might not be on your radar yet is the nice wooden walls of Blind Lady Ale House (BLAH). The BLAH shows are casually curated by Joshua Krause and he kicked things off with a showing of his new works a few months ago. On Monday, Krause opened a show by Jason Sherry. The show will be up for at least a month, so stop by the next time you want to sip a beer and see some hilariously-titled, provocative art by Sherry. By the way, there's a story behind the above photos, but you'll have to ask Sherry or Krause about it.
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) recently announced the creation of a new super secret society by the name of the Avant Garde. There will be no sacrificing of small mammals, however; instead, there will be opportunities for young collectors and art lovers to rub elbows with artists, curators and attend museum events in style. The first shindig held with Avant Garde is the official TNT After Party from 9 p.m. to midnight at Vin de Syrah (901 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp). To find out more about the club's goings-on, email avantgarde@mcasd.org.
This weekend marks the opening of the 2010 California Biennial, and, this year, San Diego artists are well-represented. David Adey, Agitprop, Brian Dick, Electronic Disturbance Theatere/b.a.n.g lab, Andy Ralph, Glenna Jennings and Nina Waisman are among the local artists selected for the show. Click here for a list of opening-day events.
Artsy bits
The above mural by artist Mark Richmond (aka Skidone Art) can be seen at Pancho Villa Farmers Market (3245 El Cajon Blvd.).
Roman de Salvo's "Legways" are back at the New Children's Museum. When asked if it was too soon to roll the leg-powered devices back out, considering the Segway inventor's freakish death and all, a spokesperson for the museum responded, "A little eerie, isn't it?"
Vote on your favorite or most-despised architectural projects in town in this year's Orchids & Onions Awards. The People's Choice Awards voting is on now through next Wednesday, Oct. 27.