New Yorker in Exile

New Yorkers in Exile Tues. Dec 15 from 7 to 10 pm $25.00 online or $30.00 at the door. San Diego Art Institute (1439 El Prado, SD 92101)More info: Marina Grize 619-236-0011

"New Yorkers in Exile" was San Diego Art Institute's year-end gala, raising funds in support of their exhibition and education programs serving Southern California/Baja, with a focus on San Diego. This one-night event on December 15th  featured a "New York-style" party, complete with a hot dogs and, performing rats, and DJs (Permanence). The event will be hosted by local drag artist and personality Noah Michaels (Siren), and includes live music by Octa#grape. The raffle was only $5 per ticket  to win a free 3-night stay in NYC Attire: Black (or fuhgeddaboudit)

Sometimes you know you are just at the right place at the right time and this party was one of those times. There was the perfect mix of artists and patrons, eccentrics and clowns. Yes, we were all dressed in black but the vibe was red hot. I think that was helped by the strong and excellently mixed Manhattans served at the door.  Generous quanities of pizza, hot dogs and my favorite bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon were available to keep the engine running. The conversation and the art was stimulating. The band was danceable. SDAI as it continues to keep up this pace will be the place to party and see art for generations to come. 

The special attractions were as promised...this sweet man who trains rats for Hollywood movies brought his troupe...I actually saw an episode of bones where they were used when the body was discovered. He told me that he used peanut butter to give the appearance that they were feeding on the body which by the way as a real person in that scene.  The drag queen was very sweet and a very thoughtful MC and host.  Masses of fortune cookies all over the place were conversation starters as was the photo booth. Who doesn't like a photo booth which are amazingly popular even though we all have cell phones to take selfie shots. . The crowd was really cool and really into the whole New York thing including a huge inflatable Statue of Liberty. I  heard wonderful comments from many many guests about the new direction of SDAI. 

Noah Michaels (Siren) our MC for the night

The exhibition with this event was called Sinking, Sinking, Sinking and here are a few highlights.

Love this image but a bit to tipsy to realize that the name tag I photographed was too blurred to read. If you know that artist, please send name and apologies for not having the info.

Rachael Fischer

Danny Suhender - photo document of this women who died at only 75, a few weeks after this photo was taken. My husband just turned 75 so we were moved by this image.

Ben Darby gives us this deconstructed panda with images painted on the cut surfaces.

Melissa Beck gives us this chair but also a charming video of  someone trying to get comfortable using it.

Just A Memory Photo Booth