(Don't forget - Check out the Picked RAW choices for next month)

RAW January 05

If you have not done so , make sure and see the new art mural that appeared to the south of the San Diego Visual. Artists Guild Gallery at 9 th and C in downtown San Diego. National graffiti artists WERC, CROL, MANONE, MARKA27, POSE2 painted their hearts out for us and you can see how they fit into the tradition of the famous Chicano murals on Commercial and Cesar Chevez. Victor Ochoa and Mario Torero joined them to exhibit in the gallery for just a few days, but the mural will remain until further notice. Philly and I were there and saw it all happening live and you can hear the interview on ArtRock! Watch for the next event by this group organized by Paul Vauchelet.

Fresh Ginga is on the move again, this diva fashionista has gone from painting canvas to spray painting graffiti on live models at her art shows.  You don’t want to miss seeing this for yourself; she is pictured above in the photo painting those glorious legs. .  Check out where to catch her next.

Eye to Eye features the photography of Graham Nash of the Crosby, Stills and Nash co-founder.  (I hate to give away my age, but I remember listening to this band when I little girl, back in the day, glad to know he’s going strong!).  Nash’s photography features other celebrated musicians such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, as well as other as a series of self-portraits.  The exhibition runs from January 8 – April 30, at the Museum of Photographic Arts, Balboa Park.  For more information go to www.mopa.org.

Bill Fark wrote a fabulous article in the North County Times about the visual arts in and he mentioned that Mary-Catherine Ferguson was named director of the California Center for the Arts Escondido Museum, replacing Natasha Bonilla-Martinez, who had spent four years in the position. And Catherine Gleason, a veteran of the Escondido Museum, was hired this month as director of exhibitions and collections at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Founder and longtime President of the Mingei Museum, Martha Longenecker stepped down to be replaced by James Goodwin, consulting director for the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles. He remained in the position just a few weeks before resigning for "unforeseen personal reasons." Currently, assistant director Rob Snider serves as acting director, and may be in line for the job. Read the whole article . Our thanks to the North County Times and Bill Fark for permission to link to this year end review.

The City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture just issued it’s report on the outcome of the “Many Voices – One Message “challenge to act. We applaud this effort and hope that all the action items are fulfilled. The San Diego Visual Arts Network is playing our role in trying to “create a comprehensive inventory and directory of all existing art spaces and organizations” and “creating a single-source clearing house of (visual) arts information.”

An artist/designer is wanted to develop a concept for a sculpture/other that carries significant Christian symbolism (for example, the tree of life) for a Christian Church in San Diego.  The design is to be mounted on a large free standing wall (approximately 12'w x 20'h) situated on the left side of the altar and will be a focal point.  The new church is of contemporary design and the commensurate work of art should be complementary and should have significant visual impact upon entrance into the sanctuary.  Please submit all inquiries to and get more information from Emma Hom at emlhom@yahoo.com or call (858) 442-9095.

Judi Misset, founder and ceo of Jazzercise, has selected nine "very abstract “ artworks out of the 54 entries to be exhibited in the boardroom of the Jazzercise Corporate Offices, 2460 Impala Road, Carlsbad, CA through April 30, 2006. Bev Stuber of the Oceanside Museum of Art Artists Alliance made this possible and we congratulate this national company for taking advantage of the talent in north county. Over the years, Jazzercise has acted upon Judi's philosophy of "giving back to the community." Judi and her legion of instructors have raised nearly $25 million for a wide range of charities by leading special large-scale workout classes, performances at major sporting events, and local benefits. Other efforts include Kids Get Fit, a free workout program to help school districts promote fitness as a way of life to children, and the CyberStretch Giveaway Program, a free computer safety software program to help reduce repetitive stress injuries.

Galería H&H presents artworks of 9 visual artists from Tijuana, Tecate and Ensenada, Mexico, at the art fair "artLA", Los Angeles, held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Jan 26 through29. Works of the following artists will be presented: Oswaldo Barahona, Mely Barragán, Álvaro Blancarte, Jaime Delfín, Maximiliano Lizárraga, Julio Orozco, Daniel Ruanova, José Hugo Sánchez and Ricardo Sanders. Congratulations to this Tijuana Gallery for going international.

There is a brand new James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.   You can download the nomination form atwww.irvine.org/leadership . This is the first year for the Award and it is quite a significant amount- $125,000 of flexible support for the leader’s work.  The Leadership Awards will annually recognize four to six Californians who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to some of the challenging issues facing California and who are making a significant difference to our shared future. Nominees for the award may be working in any field - such as education, health, the arts, housing, economic development, or the environment - in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. The nominations deadline is January 20, but look out for this next year.

The newly form San Diego Chapter of the National Museum of Women in the Arts ( Analise Rigan is the first president of the group) is arranging a day long tour of the 2006 Southwest Arts Festival in Indio on Saturday, February 4, You can get more info about the tour and about joining from Joann Sandlin, Phone: 619-465-7960, email: jsandlin@mail.sdsu.edu

After 15 years in the former fire station along Bonita Road, The Bonita Museum and Cultural Center has moved to the new community center located at 4355 Bonita Road. Longtime Bonita residents such as the Scott’s, Lawson’s, and McMillin’s donated to building funds which amounted to more than $250,000 raised over a three year period to make this dream a reality. At the Grand Opening on Feb. 3rd, there will be guest speakers in the Community Room at the Bonita Sunnyside Library, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new museum next door. Tours of the museum’s new Sweetwater exhibit, “This, Our Beloved Valley,” underwritten by the late Corky McMillin, will be available until 6:30 p.m.

How cool is this, If you attend the Bill Atkinson opening of at the San Diego Natural History Museum , 1788 El Prado , January 28, 2006 , 1:00PM-3:00PM you get free admittance to the whole museum (usually $9) The Ordover Gallery sponsored this show so thanks so much Abe!

We were going to highly recommend the Feb 2 nd talk by Robert Pincus, Art Critic, Union-Tribune at the Salk Institute Art and Science forum. But it has now been delayed until May. For more info contact: Ron Newby, (858) 755-3020 ronnewby@san.rr.com

Call for Artists for Art Walk 2006 "Fairytale Mile" Mural project. Art Walk is looking for artist to paint a 5' by 6' canvas in acrylic (both supplied) and would like to have a sketch of the idea. This project is on going and will be added to  The Art Miles Mural Project. which is a sponsor for this project.  Final art work should is to be completed by March 30 when it will be displayed at the Art Walk event. Please get more details and submit proposals to Paula Kwast, Event Manager.  Her email is info@artwalkinfo.com tel:  619-615-1090, 734 W. Beech St., Suite 100, San Diego, CA  92101

Lorena Nava, media relations specialist at San Diego State University, is looking for a professional artist (they will pay!) to do a design, based on a theme of the university's choosing, to be the centerpiece design in the Sidewalk Art Competition (the artist would not be competing, just completing a commissioned design for the university). We would also like the artist to be able to do a short (less than 1 hour) demo/tutorial for students that will be competing in the competition. This is in late February, so if you are interested contact Lorena at 5500 Campanile DriveSan Diego, CA 92182-8080, office 619/594-3952 mobile 619/309-5179 lnava@mail.sdsu.edu

And now Ally’s tips for the performing arts…..

Art in motion…..That’s what you’ll get when you attend Quidam, the brilliant new masterpiece that combines artistry, acrobatics and technical innovations of Cirque du Soleil as it returns to the Del Mar Fairgrounds with this exciting new theme.  Quidam explores the anonymous figures of our crowded world.  This is a not to miss, one of a kind experience.  I have seen all their show in Las Vegas, so I am excited about seeing this performance in my own backyard.  It runs from January 19 – February 26.  Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.sdfair.com.

We have all heard of Duck Soup, but what’s up with Caterpillar Soup? Well, I’ll tell you everything changes for the beautiful, talented successful, and madly in love Lyena Strelkoff when she fell from a tree and was paralyzed.  A real heart warming story unfolds this month at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Encinitas, on January 29.  For more information on this insightful look at what happens when our world comes to a screeching halt, check out www.northcoastrep.org.

The Times they Are a-Changin’ - The master of poetry put to music, Bob Dylan, has inspired countless musician’s world-wide.  Now, he provides thee inspiration for theater as well.  Tony Award-winning choreographer Twlya Tharp uses Dylan’s music to connect the worlds of theatre and dance, creating a winning performance sure to be Broadway-bound production that will delight your soul and mind.  The play opens on January 25 and runs thru March 3 at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park.  For tickets information go to www.oldglobe.org .  Even if you have never heard of Bob Dylan, this play will dig into your soul, as only Dylan can do!

Break out the disco garb, platform shoes and glitter as we revisit the smashing 80’s with one of the bands that defined the decade.  The Australian pop duo, Air Supply, will perform on February 3 rd at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido.   Visit www.artcenter.org to reserve your seats now. 

I am off to interview Jamie Lee Curtis at the Lou Stoumen Award 2006 of the Museum of Photographic Arts. This $40,000 prize went to Gary Schneider this year.

With Love, Light and Laughter,

The Bling  

 

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Any tidbit, gossip or news of the immodest kind can go directly to Ally Bling Bling for publication in the next RAW. All sources are, of course, kept confidential.

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