SD ART PRIZE: Recognition of Excellence in the Visual Arts
presented by San Diego Visual Arts Network and SanDiegoArtist.com
at the L Street Fine Art Gallery of the Omni Hotel

Award Recipients for 2007/2008
Marcos Ramirez ERRE with emerging artist Allison Wiese
Roman De Salvo with emerging artist Lael Corbin
Eleanor Antin with emerging artist Pamela Jaeger

Award Recipients for 2006/2007
Raul Guerrero with emerging artist Yvonne Venegas
Jean Lowe with emerging artist Iana Quesnell
Ernest Silva with emerging artist May-ling Martinez

The SD ART PRIZE is dedicated to the idea that the visual arts are a necessary and rewarding ingredient of any world-class city and a building block of the lifestyle of its residents. Conceived to promote and encourage dialogue, reflection and social interaction about San Diego’s artistic and cultural life, this annual award honors artistic expression. The SD ART PRIZE, a cash prize with exhibition opportunities, spotlights three established San Diego artists and three emerging artists each season whose outstanding achievements in the field of Visual Arts merit the recognition.

Over the course of the year, a series of exhibits featuring the recipients will run simultaneously at the
L Street Gallery at the Omni Hotel, and on the websites: SanDiegoArtist.com and SDVisualArts.net  (SDVAN). Each exhibition will pair an established artist with an emerging artist. The final exhibition features work by all recognized recipients of the SD ART PRIZE for that season.

SD Art Prize Goals

Presented By:
SAN DIEGO VISUAL ARTS NETWORK (SDVAN)
A data base of information produced to improve the clarity, accuracy and sophistication of discourse about San Diego's artistic and cultural life and which is dedicated to re-enforce the idea that the Visual Arts are a necessary and vital part of the health of our city. The goal of the ART PRIZE has been the goal of SDVAN since its founding by a committee of major art leaders in the San Diego region. With over 800 art resources on the site, SDVAN has become one of the main sources for disseminating information, encouraging collaborations and aiding in cross pollination between all the arts. With is expanding infrastructure of spokespersons, SDVAN is able to promote the vision of the future role that the visual arts will play in the San Diego community as lively, thriving, positive and empowered.

SANDIEGOARTIST.COM
Founded in April 2000 with the goal of providing a spotlight for emerging and established local artists. Each month a new artist is introduced to the community via an e-mail newsletter and interview on ART ROCKS internet radio.

L STREET GALLERY AT THE OMNI HOTEL: “San Diego’s Hotel of the Visual Arts”
The Omni San Diego Hotel features L Street Fine Art, a gallery displaying a variety of paintings and fine art pieces focusing on San Diego artists and others from across the country. The Gallery adds an artistic ambiance to special events, meetings, art gallery tours and one-of-a-kind receptions. The Gallery, located at 628 L Street in downtown San Diego, will also be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

SD ART PRIZE PROJECT DIRECTOR:
ANN BERCHTOLD
Ann Berchtold is the newly appointed Gallery Director for the L Street Gallery at the Omni. In addition, she is the curator of SanDiegoArtist.com. The Art Prize is organized by Art Girls Inc: an arts advisory group dedicated to furthering the growth of the Visual Arts in the San Diego region. (Acting Officers :) Joan Seifried, Patricia Frischer and Ann Berchtold.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

San Diego Visual Arts Network
Patricia Frischer, coordinator patricia@sdvisualarts.net 760. 943.0148

L Street Gallery / SanDiegoArtist.com
Ann Berchtold ann@sandiegoartist.com 858.254.3031

San Diego Omni Hotel
Landry Fuller at Murphy O'Brien PR landry@murphyobrien.com 310.586.7174

The SD ART PRIZE is produced by The Art Girls: Joan Seifried, Ann Berchtold and Patricia Frischer

SD Art Prize Mission: Fusing Energy for San Diego Visual Arts: Mentorship, Education, Recognition, Collaboration

THE Goals of the SD ART PRIZE, as presented by the San Diego Visual Arts Network, are to:

• Recognize and celebrate existing visual art accomplishments by spotlighting local artists.
• Create an exciting event that facilitates cross-pollination between cultural organizations and strengthens and invigorates the San Diego Visual Art Scene.
• Broaden the audience of the visual arts in San Diego by gaining national attention to the competition through a dedicated media campaign.
• Promote the vision of the future role that the visual arts will play in the San Diego community as lively, thriving, positive and empowering.
• Expand the infrastructure of spokespeople/art celebrities who can bring awareness to San Diego and perform as role models for our student artists.

If you believe in our mission, we are happy to accept your donations to support the San Diego ART PRIZE Send any amount with checks made out to SDVAN to 2487 Montgomery Avenue, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007. Please mark them for SD ART PRIZE. Visit the Support page of SDVAN to donate online.

SD Art Prize Frequently Asked Questions