Local Students Display Awesome Skills in MOPA’s Young Art Exhibition

By Lonnie Burstein Hewitt. Photos by Maurice Hewitt.

Merle Kling-Wiese, Grade 11, Francis Parker School.
Crossing, mixed media. “Most of my work consists of watercolor and cut paper, often layered on top of each other. Since I have a great appreciation for history and storytelling,
I often display the stories behind the subject.”

There’s a delightful exhibit on view now at MOPA, the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. It’s a happy combination of the San Diego Museum of Art’s Young Art biennial, which originally started almost a century ago, and MOPA’s annual young photographers’ show, which began 18 years ago.

Since MOPA recently merged with SDMA, this 2025 exhibition includes a variety of media and invited students in our area from kindergarten through 12^th grade to submit any kind of artwork that showed their skills to a panel of SDMA curators. The one requirement: it had to reflect this year’s theme, Nurture and Nature.

Over 430 pieces were submitted, and 197 were selected for the current show, which takes over two galleries and a hallway at MOPA. There’s only a small taste of the artists’ work in the photos below, but Young Art will be on view at MOPA through May 18^th, and whatever your age and tastes, you’re sure to enjoy seeing it in person.

Best to start in the gallery on your left as you enter the museum, then ask at the front desk for directions to the rest. Take your time going through the exhibit, choose your own  favorites, and maybe let the front-desk folks know what you liked.

Katherine Quach, Grade 2, Lemon Grove Academy Elementary.
Colorful Koi Fish, tempera. “I saw koi fish at UTC Mall and loved their colors. I also love nature because it has colorful things like fish and butterflies.”

Alicia Gomez, Grade 5, Lemon Grove Academy Elementary.
Forest Fun, collage. “My artwork is a notan, using light and dark shapes for balance. The thin lines are trees, triangles are leaves, and squares are like dominos, adding fun. Nature inspires me to feel calm and creative.”

Madelene Ontiveros, Grade 11, Escondido Charter High School.
The Pond Between Worlds, watercolor. “We should pause to look at nature and allow nature to look back at us.”

Ezra Cho, Grade 7, Meadowbrook Middle School.
Blissful Waves, graphite.

Sophia Yang, Grade 1, Canyon View Elementary School.
The House I Designed, acrylic.

Misha Kazi, Grade 9, Francis Parker School.
The Memories of a Tree, mixed media.

Amelia Rubio, Grade 7, Del Mar Pines Elementary School.
Helix, ink. “The double helix and the scenes from nature represent my hope that harmony can exist between science and nature as long as the sun sets and rises.”

Jadalynn Fernando, Grade 12, Mira Mesa High School. Multiplicity, photograph.

Ana Bárbara Gastelum Páez, Grade 7, Carmel Valley Middle School. The Last Fawns, pencil.

Young Art: Nurture and Nature Exhibition at MOPA@SDMA
1649 El Prado, in Balboa Park.
Visiting Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 11a.m.–5:00 p.m.  
Admission: Pay what you wish.

Lonnie Burstein Hewitt is an award-winning author/lyricist/playwright who has been writing about arts and lifestyles in San Diego County for over a dozen years. You can reach her at hew2@sbcglobal.net
 

Fashioning an Icon and Across the Spooniverse at Mingei International Museum

by Patricia Frischer

Detail of Arianna Ytselle photograph of
the Virgin of Guadalupe on a fingernail

Fashioning an Icon at Mingei International Museum
 until Sept. 7

Linda Hanna, based in Oaxaca, Mexico gathered together  a collection of over 70 textiles, most of which are displayed in Fashioning an Icon at Mingei International Museum. Called the Rosas y Revelaciones Project, most were actually commissioned by Hanna and consist mainly of huipils - any loose fitting tunic, rebozo – a longer covering like a shawl as well as blankets and adornments (necklaces, shoes and purses) and some western clothing like heavily embroidered dresses and skirts. They are all contemporary works. 

What ties them together besides all being Mexican textiles, is that every one of them features the Virgin (Or Our Lady) of Guadalupe.  The wall text at the museum tells us that the “The Virgin of Guadalupe has been a subject of Catholic devotional practice and a muse of artistic expression in communities across Mexico for over 400 years.”

It is an impressive display of techniques including: weaving on a back strap loom, treadle loom, standing loom, open work stitching, crochet, embroidery, feather work, beading, palm weaving, and sequinning. This blend of Indigenous and European traditions reflects the history 0f Spain Colonization, which introduced Catholicism. But the Mexicans have made the Virgin their own. She now represents a positive sense of self and cultural pride both in the heritage of the country and in its present.
 
We were delighted again to see that three local artist were added to display.  The curated Ariana Torres, introduces us to Arianna Ytselle, the photographer with a slide show of San Diego and Tjuana images including one of her own legs with a tattoo of Our Lady. Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski from the San Diego sewing studio Sew Loka is the fashion designer of a wonderful jacket with Our Lady on the reverse, and  Diana Benavídez, a binational artist know for her work with piñatas has created the cape of Our Lady out of crepe paper with gold stars hanging in rest on a coat rack…maybe the Virgin of Guadalupe get the day off once in a while!
 
The miracle of The Virgin of Guadalupe is how she would appear in a vision. And the Vision is alive and well on this myriad of garments.  
 

Arianna Ytselle, standing with her slide show of images

'

Another detail of Arianna Ytselle's photograph

Arianna Ytselle's photo
of her own leg with Our Lady tattoo.

More of Arianna Ytselle photos. 

Rodríguez-Biezunski's short western style jacket

Diana Benavídez's Even Guadalupe Needs a Break

The following just a tiny part of images of huipils, rebozo, blankets and adornments (necklaces, shoes and purses) and some western clothing from the exhibition. From tiny singular to grand multiples...the Virgin reigns supreme. Apologies to the creators throughout Mexico for not identifying each one of you and congratulations on being displayed here. 

Detail of above:  artist used feathers
from her own birds, waxes them and
applies them with tweezers.  

Bedded bag

One of the few male garments on display

Odilón Castillo

The display outside the front door of the museum

Bonus event:
Revelations
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 7:00pm
6:00 pm | Complimentary Pre-concert Champagne Reception and Gallery Viewing
7:00 pm | Concert
In partnership with Mingei International Museum, Art of Elan presents a colorful musical program that takes inspiration from the Fashioning an Icon exhibit featuring incredible handmade work by Mexican textile artists. With music composed by Gabriela Ortiz and Nico Muhly, as well as “In Memoriam” by Arnold Bax for English Horn, Harp and String Quartet, this highly imaginative program encourages reflection and a greater appreciation for the beauty that is all around us.

Across the Spooniverse at the Mingei
Until August 17

Spoons, spoons, spoons everywhere. From every county, in every medium, in every size. Over 100 are on display from the permanent collection of the Mingei.  I eat my morning yogurt from a silver spoon in my own ritual and these spoons all represent their own rituals…celebrations, work, or just play.  

Erica Moody has a display class of contemporary crafted spoons

Erica Moody

Spoon Ladle Dance Ladies from the Ivory Coast of Liberia

A view of the vast display

I though I would add one of my own spoon creations
 made while I was still in art school. It is partially painted cast bronze. 
Not in the Mingei collection.

Fashioning an Icon  until Sept 7
Across the Spooniverse until Aug 17
Mingei International Museum
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, 92101
Opening Hours  Tues-Thur, Sat, Sun | 10am-5pm Fri | 10am-8pm 619-239-0003

 

Health, Healing and Hope at Oceanside Museum of Art

by Patricia Frischer

 

The Art of Autism Post for Healing

There is a gathering of exhibitions at the Oceanside Museum of Arts that are in this year's theme Health, Healing and Hope for April Arts and Culture and Creativity Month for the State of CA , 

The Art of Autism: A Different Lens 
Matt Devine: Walk With Me 
May Jhun: In Losing Sleep, I painted.

The Art of Autism: A Different Lens at Oceanside Museum of Art
April 5 to July 27, 2025

Every person has a different lens to view the world. The special skill artists have is to communicate their unique view of the world visually. What is being showcased in this The Art of Autism: A Different Lens exhibition is neurodivergent artists. Yes, that is a different lens, but it is what every artist does.  In fact, as John Ruskin wrote, “The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something, and tell what it saw in a plain way.”

I have chosen to shed some loving attention on each one of the artists included in this show so beautifully presented, as always, by the Oceanside Museum Staff and curated by Debra Muzikar. But hopefully this will bring your attention to the some of the challenges and some of the advantages that this group of artists have. The exhibition has been outfitted with advice by neurodivergent consultant Alexander Plank to make life pleasant for those viewers who might need more quiet or a place to regroup in their own way.

Sensory issues are varied while some are distressed by too much light or sound,  others are synesthetes and see a vast array of colors and are inspired by music.  Some autistic people are non-verbal and what better way than visual art for them to express themselves. We like the idea of a social model of disability where we don’t see people as if there is something wrong, but accepts the diversity of all of us creatures. And just a note: all Autistics are neurodivergent, but not all neurodivergent people are autistic.

There are seven Peace and Healing Posts in this exhibition. The posts created previously express issues common for autism spectrum: Overcoming Depression, Coping with Anxiety, Diversity and its Connections to Health, and Understanding Autism made with Temple Grandin, a leading advocate for Autism.  The three made for this show are with; Teri Inc. headquarters in Oceanside and with a campus in San Marcos and dedicated to elevating the life of the disabled; D'Vine Path with a mission to transform neurodivergent people's lives by providing vocational and life skills training in agriculture, hospitality; and the arts; and the curator of the exhibition’s non-profit organization The Art of Autism  (the central post). Take some time and watch the video Joel Anderson from D’Vine Path compiled about the making of the posts. He used footage from Post for Peace and Justice leader Kira Carrillo Corser who also contributes to Compassionate Arts. Both Kira and Debra work out of Fallbrook.

 Post for Peace and Justice Post, all on healing subjects

 Post for Peace and Justice Post, all on healing subjects 

Jeremy Sicile-Kira - see color halos around people and 
used that to inspire his art

Brendan Kerr -  his tapestry is an interpretation of landscapes and is brilliantly displayed  between two photograph.

Clark Warren - lamps and only lamps are the recipients
of his found object treasures assemblages

Madison Ross - the granddaughter of Kira Corser and just one of the artists
who have an amazing loving family to support them.

Nicholas Kontaxis - maximal effect from color makes this large canvas pure joy and why this artist is well appreciated and acquired.

Kevin Hosseini - the son of curator Debra Muzikar, this cityscapes was inspired by all the books and exhibition he was more than eager to see. 

Carissa Moderno Paccerelli - portraying her brother who is also neurodivergent, with the loving care deserved by all. 

Alex Nichols - these tapestries incorporate 3-D objects. He has been commissioned to make commemorative tapestries for loved ones using their own mementos. 

Alex Nichols, detail

Alex Nichols - shows us a truth about how he sees himself. 

Joel Anderson - an impactful display of the objects this artist cherishes in the large tribute pop art like paintings.

Austin John Jones, digital works - on the left A Piece of Mind, on the right Hollow - body and soul.

Austin John Jones - those smiling teeth hide a world of hurt.

Spencer Brown - normally very quiet, Spencer Brown is able to speak articulately while talking about his own artwork. 

Sydney Edmond - an artist and a poet and deserving of the
gold that surrounds her images. 

Noise cancelling headphones and touch boxes scattered through the gallery space

A room to rest and regroup

Matt Devine: Walk With Me on view until July 6 at Oceanside Museum of Art

There is a lot to see at the Oceanside Museum of Art and I suggest you see this display last. It will quiet your mind and ready you for the outside world again. Matt Devine used to live and work in San Diego in studios in Barrio Logan. He has since moved to rural Oregon where the accompanying video shows his retreat with long walks into the county side with his dogs through the seasons.  

At first glance you might think this is corporate art and it would indeed be much needed and appreciated in a business setting. But for Matt Devine this is survival art. His is  on a “personal journey of overcoming anxiety and depression.” You must move close and look hard for the words below inscribed in his white and blue disks. You must quiet your mind to see the subtle shift of shadows in the bright blue suspended rods that reflects the amount of rainfall nationally and locally. You can stand quietly under the exquisite flight of birds and marvel at the angles of their movement. You can lose yourself in the interlocking twigs and twisted metal. Or maybe you can find yourself there!

White:
I am trying to breath, but I feel so fucking shaky.
I don’t want to die. I like it here.

Matt Devine - Lost Orbit, Celestial Return

Blue:
You are not alone, and where you are meant to be
You are strong, beyond what you think. 

Matt Devine - Lost Orbit, Celestial Return

Matt Devine

Matt Devine - detail

Matt Devine, detail

May Jhun: In Losing Sleep, I painted. 

May Jhun: In Losing Sleep, I painted. On exhibition until June 15

The delightful thing about May Jhun is she seems to dream in the Art Nouveau meets Steam Punk style. We all wish we could dream in a favorite style and though her sleep is s struggle, she presents us with a flowing, flowering installation of images and objects. This is reflecting her relationship with equipment meant to help her, but which has become a burden. We see characters’ faces and bodies with the full range of emotions and terrors.  Then what looks like mad scientist’s chemistry lab  is complete with a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. 

Mary Jhun

Mary Jhun

Mary Jhun

Mary Jhun, room right

Mary Jhun, room left

Allison Renshaw

Allison Renshaw's painting is just one work from The Stories that Connect Us: Selections from the OMA Collection on view until August 31st. This work from the permanent collection won't be on view until the new building (in the old firehouse) is funded and built. Ethel Green, Jen Trute, Duke Winsor, Gail Roberts....so many delightful images. 

Marshall Toomey

Marshall Toomey: Black Americana, a last view as this show is closing but so much fun. 

Oceanside Museum of Art
704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 435-3720
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11:00am–5:00pm
Extended Hours on First Fridays11:00am–8:00pm