Around the Block

The San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS) proudly presents an exhibit of original watermedia paintings entitled “Love is in the Air”. Approximately 75 paintings created by SDWS members are on display and for sale. The exhibit runs February 3-27. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10am-4pm, and admission is free.

We warmly welcome the public to attend our First Friday reception, February 5, 2010 from 5-8pm where visitors can meet artists, award winners, and members of our society. The SDWS gallery is located at 2825 Dewey Road #105, San Diego, CA 92106.

The San Diego Watercolor Society is one of the largest and well-respected water media organizations in the United States. SDWS’s beautiful gallery located in the NTC Promenade in Point Loma, showcases monthly exhibitions of member paintings presented for sale, and the large light-filled classroom hosts monthly workshops by world-class instructors. The all-volunteer organization of over 600 members is devoted to water based media, including acrylics, gouache, and mixed media, and welcomes new members every day. The gallery is open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm, and admission is free. During the month of October the gallery is open every day for the annual International Show exhibition. For more information, visit www.sdws.org, or call (619) 876-4550.

NTC Promenade will soon add a new visual arts gallery to its growing arts and culture district, located at the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma. The establishment of the new Martha Pace Swift Gallery at NTC was announced by Alan Ziter, Executive Director of the NTC Foundation, the organization that oversees the development of this new “creative community” for San Diego.

The grand opening dedication of the Swift Gallery is set for Friday, February 5 at 6pm, during the monthly NTC Friday Night Liberty Open House (Friday, February 5, 5-9pm). The opening exhibit, “The Garden of Mythos: Abstraction in Collaboration with Nature” with recent oils by Anna Zappoli, continues through April 2, 2010.

“We are the grateful recipients of a generous sustaining gift from Gabriella Stephanie Swift, in honor of her mother. This provides the resources to allow us to provide another quality cultural experience for the people of San Diego,” explained Ziter. “Gabriella has been a long-time supporter of the Expressive Arts Institute – a founding NTC resident group with a mission to use the arts for change, growth, healing and learning. The Swift Gallery will provide another venue to share an artistic perspective and foster new dialogue.”

“Both my mother and I have shared a love of beauty and she always surrounded herself with beautiful things in her home,” explained Swift. “I am thrilled to establish a tribute to her and honor her dedication to the community. I want to encourage the creative process in San Diego and the connection to the Expressive Arts Institute provides an opportunity to support and promote the value of the arts as way to heal and express oneself,” she added. “My vision is a gallery that captures the humanity of the arts and blends it with the mission of expressive arts therapy.”

The Swift Gallery, presented and curated by the Expressive Arts Institute (EAI), will mount four to five high quality exhibits of visual art annually, with a focus on San Diego and emerging California artists, but with an open call-for-submission process to allow for national and international perspectives. “The majority of shows will focus on individual artists to offer in- depth perspective of a single artist. These exhibits will vary widely in both style and substance; however, they are to be unified by an aesthetic and thematic structure reflective of the mission of the Expressive Arts Institute,” explained Wes Chester, curator and Assistant Director of EAI.

The inaugural exhibit will feature the large scale oil on canvas work of San Diego artist Anna Zappoli. Zappoli, originally from Italy, has been in the U.S. since 1966 and has exhibited locally at the San Diego Art Institute several times since 1989. In reflecting on the exhibit Zappoli noted, “We all long to be in contact with the natural world. This is what I explore and express in my art.”

The gallery is designed as a “public space gallery” that is accessible and “part of the fabric” of a visit to NTC. It is not separated from common areas by doors or borders and is designed to inspire communication and conversation. Art will be displayed in the main foyer of Building 201, formerly a Navy administration building built in 1941 that features an expansive exhibit space and stairwell designed in the Art Moderne style of architecture. With high walls and lots of natural light, it is an ideal setting to exhibit large format art and will be fit with high quality gallery system lighting. The gallery will share the building with ARTS: A Reason to Survive, KIT-Kids Include Together, the Jenna Druck Foundation, and Solare Ristorante.

The Swift Gallery will be the 6th visual arts space to open at NTC, adding to the vibrancy and appeal of the project. The grand opening coincides with the newly launched Friday Night Liberty, a monthly open house to showcase the museums, galleries, arts and design studios, dance companies and other innovative organizations that call NTC Promenade home.

NTC Foundation was established by the City of San Diego to enrich the lives of San Diegans by renovating 26 historic buildings on 28 acres at the former Naval Training Center to create, facilitate and operate a broad-based complex focused on experiencing the arts, culture, and creativity that are the hallmark of the San Diego region.

NTC Promenade is San Diego’s new arts and culture district located at the former Naval Training Center. With 7 of its 26 historic buildings complete, NTC Promenade is home to over 40 museums and galleries, artist and design studios, dance companies, educational groups, multidisciplinary arts and other organizations that showcase San Diego’s creative community and provide innovative experiences in the arts to the public.

Expressive Arts Institute focuses on shared art-making to form a learning community deeply rooted in the body, senses and imagination. Students become disciplined in phenomenology: the practice of paying attention to what is present and authentic. The Institute provides a safe, challenging and nurturing atmosphere for personal and professional growth.

Friday Night Liberty consists of FREE open artist studios, galleries and events throughout NTC Promenade Arts & Cultural District at Liberty Station. Explore, wander and enjoy our growing cultural center. The event will be on Friday, February 5, from 5pm – 8pm. Featured events include:

The new Martha Pace Swift Gallery in Building 201 will have its grand opening dedication at 6pm. The inaugural exhibit is “The Garden of Mythos: Abstraction in Collaboration with Nature” curated by the Expressive Arts Institute and featuring the large scale oil on canvas work of San Diego artist Anna Zappoli. The exhibit continues through April 2, 2010. The gallery is next to Solare Ristorante at 2820 Roosevelt Road.

Artists and designers in Barracks 19 studios present “Straight from the Heart/Del Corazón,” a collective exhibition featuring photography, painting, graphic design, fashion, culinary, and other visual art in various media at the New Americans Museum, 2825 Dewey Road.

The San Diego Watercolor Society opens their February exhibit “Love is in the Air” featuring 75 watercolor paintings created by SDWS members on display and for sale at 2825 Dewey Road.

The Visions Art Quilt Gallery opens “California Fibers: Liminal Spaces” featuring the work of professional contemporary fiber artists from around the world and will include weaving, sculpture, basketry, quilting, wearable art and mixed media at 2825 Dewey Road.

Sophie’s Gallery hosts its 11th Annual Gotta’ Have Heart exhibit and sale featuring a collection of vintage records transformed into dynamic time pieces in their gallery in Barracks 19 at 2690 Historic Decatur Road. There is a $20 suggested donation for the opening.

Five Loaves, Two Fish is holding a sale on select winter clothing items and accessories crafted by Kit and Heather for women and young girls.

Recreational Music Center will host “Fun Fridays”, hands-on fun with musical instruments.

A full calendar and NTCP map is at www.ntcpromenade.com.  The next Friday Night Liberty will be March 5, 2010.