Balboa Park at 100

Balboa Park at 100
Showing from Jan until Feb 27 San Diego Art Institute
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, House of Charm, SD 92101
More info: Marina Grize 619.236.0011

San Diego Art Institute presents this show organized by Executive Director Ginger Shulick Porcella and Francis French, Director of Education at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, which  is a collaborative exhibition, exploring the past, present, and imagined future of Balboa Park. 

The back room of SDAI is converted into a Commemoration of a Theft. It is the essence of a change in time and place in this show which explores, in quite abstract ways, the shifts in time that occur in any one location. But for location you can substitute memory, concept, and attitude. We see echoes of our own selves and are surprised by some of the shadows which don't so much haunt us but remind us that time is influenced by context. 

Carlos Castro Arias,

Carlos Castro Arias,

Carlos Castro Arias,

Carlos Castro Arias,

Alex Young

Alex Young

In this installation by Alex Young (above and below) we learn about the Heaven on Earth Club. They encouraged the branding of San Diego as Heaven on Earth. I often refer to living in Paradise for our home here. This spiritual calling was applied to the promotion of SD as a destination. 

Alex Young

Alex Young

Cat Chiu Phillips

Cat Chiu Phillips takes that same tourist promotion which we see today and stitches it with overlays of thread and paint. This works are converted into overlays of past and present.

Saulo Cisneros

The veils of time are activated in Saulo Cisneros work where a projection of nude figures leaps and strides making reference to those first studios of photographs of the figure which was used to study anatomy. The figures almost look like holograms as they seem to exist in a 3-d space. This display leads very nicely into the installation of Clark and Spriggs where a nude suit is on display along with a photo album of visitors of the park game to wear the suit. This commemorates the Nudist Colony at Zoro Gardens which was  public space for nudes right in the park, which peep holes in the wall so it could be observed. The idea seems totally absurd today but didn't seem to be the scandal we would have imagined it to be at the time

Kate Clark and Hermione Spriggs

Kate Clark and Hermione Spriggs at Zoro Garden Nudist Colony

Brian Goeltzenleuchter & Charmaine Banach'

I was able to hear 4 out of the 6 audio recordings of stories of past events related to certain spots in the park preformed by this duo. This again carries forth the theme and adds sound and smell and that interactive aspect that makes you responsible for activating the art work. Seeing yourself as part of the history and future of the park is an important part of the centennial celebrations. Balboa Park at 100, is after all, about that celebration.

This brings me to my favorite piece in the show. I loved the giant lantern created by Belize Iristay. It is made up of those glass candle votive holders beloved by Mexican that usually have religious theme. You can buy them at any 99 cent shop. Iristay has stacked these up and on a whole section has created her own iconography. The flame in the center gives this a lovely glow. Just seeing it makes me want to celebrate.

Beliz Iristay