Beyond Limits curated by Ginger Shulick Porcella and Denise Carvalho at SDAI

Beyond Limits from Oct 4 to Nov 15 at the San Diego Art Institute (1439 El Prado, sd 92101 in Balboa Park) is curated by SDAI Executive Director Ginger Shulick Porcella and Brazilian curator Denise Carvalho. This exhibition was created to demonstrate that the future of the arts lies on a borderless, multidimensional circuit of experimentation. Featuring both local and international artists, Beyond Limits bypasses all borders that create hierarchies or limit the exchange of ideas. The exhibition features a series of lectures, performances, and video screenings. Watch for works by SD Art Prize artists Einar & Jamex de la Torre, Debby & Larry Kline and New Contemporary artist Margaret Noble. More info: 619.236.0011 

I have to disclose in writing this that I am on the board of the San Diego Art Institute. I am enjoying the changes that are happening at SDAI as it faces the 21st century. One of those changes is the new director Ginger Shulick Porcella who is not only a curator but a great fundraiser and gatherer of community. She worked with Denise Carvealho for two years on this show and it is because of her directorship that we are lucky enough to have this exhibition in San Diego.  

These two women did not choose all the works for the show, but in the spirit of the title Beyond Limits, they allowed the artists to learn about each other and either choose work or create new work suitable for what is really a large collaboration. Ginger was interested in bringing back materials to exhibitions having previously worked with both photography and video. No one should be quick to pigeon hole her as she is a free and lively thinker who I think will continue to surprise us with her very contemporary ideas about the role of art in our society. 

The first thing that strikes you when you enter this cavern of a space under Balboa Park is how transformed it is for this exhibition. Large works fill but don't overcrowd; there is sound coming from all sorts of directions; there are video screens and light works and some black walls instead of the relentless white; and yes, there are sculptures and images, but they all seem to make a whole. You feel that the art is all about a similar subject and so it does not seem confusing but instead it entices you to come and explore.

I can't document the entire show and as always, I am choosing what I can capture and also some of my personal preferences. 

Title Wall

Installation view

Installation view

Einar&Jamex de la Torre, Border Park of Earthly Delights

Debby & Larry Kline, The Post-Apocalyptic Coffee Shop

Debby & Larry Kline, The Post-Apocalyptic Coffee Shop inside

Debby & Larry Kline, The Post-Apocalyptic Coffee Shop ready for Halloween!

Margaret Noble, Dorian’s Gray

Margaret Noble, Dorian’s Gray detail

Heather Dewey-Hagborg, Invisible - Erase Spray deletes 99.5% of the dna you leave behind you and the Replace Spray cloaks the last .5% with dna noise. The video shows you how this works. 

Blane de St. Croix, Two Ends

Blane de St. Croix, Two Ends detail

Mei Xian Qiu, Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom

Mei Xian Qiu, Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom

Marlon Griffith, Bess Ting and Soldier from The Ballad of Francisco Bobadilla

JaeWook Lee, Nothing But a Symphony - some images from his video that are interspersed with color pulses. This is a jelly fish in motion

JaeWook Lee, Nothing But a Symphony

JaeWook Lee, Nothing But a Symphony

JaeWook Lee, Nothing But a Symphony - violinist with no instrament

OyvindRenberg& Miho Shimizu, Free Townswoman, Seeing Double, and Double Trouble - props from the video scenes on display

Don Porcella, Global Identity Project - hat is made from his chosen media, pipe cleaners and pictured on a variety of subjects.

Hector Canonge, Des-cubrimiento -  the subject is wrapped with a string dipped in red paint and he is shown cutting his way out leaving the white garment and string on display next to the video

Alex Villar, Aboveground - still from video of man mounting a bus

Alex Villar, Aboveground - still from video of man mounting a bus

Jose Hugo Sanchez, Border

  
 I hope I have tempted to you go see this show. The regular C-Note show is next with local works to be had very inexpensively.

Save the date for the SDAI gala fundraiser called Local Meets Global on Friday. Dec 12. Check the website for details. It should be a blast.