Printed and Stitched William D. Cannon Gallery

 by Patricia Frischer

Barbara Poole - Intertwining Branches (detail)

Printed & Stitched is North County fiber and print exhibition at William D. Cannon Gallery in Carlsbad on view until Oct 28^th. It features  recent works from members of the California Society of Printmakers and Studio Art Quilt Associates and is curated by Christine S. Aaron. It is a travelling exhibition which is amongst many of the fiber shows now on view in the San Diego Region.*

This show’s theme brings together printed materials mainly on paper and fabric with sewn elements. It is broad enough to include piece for all tastes. It brings to mind the act of collecting because as you walk through the show it is important to choose the works you are attracted to and think about why that is. Basically, collecting is all about making decisions. For some us collecting marbles was our first experience of having to choose which of our possession to keep and which to trade. The choice below is my personal preference. Yes, it comes from someone that see lots and lots of art and has developed criteria, but it is still personal and your choices are just as valid for you. 

Barbara Poole - Intertwining Branches
You can't help but admire the technique drawing skill of this complex work,
but the little red and blue stitched lines make it personal. 

Rozanne Hermelyn Di Silvestro - Unraveled
A gesture drawing in string, white against black, on a
lime green wall is simple but amazingly striking.

Bethia G. Stone - Looking Beyond the Rain
This works takes me right back to my love of Japanese woodcut prints. A simple line
or in this case stitch conveys so much moisture.

Judith Content - Ragamuffin Series: Vortex Suite
These delightful mounds of fabric with embellished tops are actually set in an old 
muffin tin, cut to size.

Robynn Smith - Strata
The experience of  visits to a volcano site is interpreted in paper layers.

Zwia Lipkin - 145 Jaffa St. 
My husband's choice  of this workmade me look closely at fabricators workshop, with the tools
and more importantly to me the subtle shading of the dyed fabric.  

Zwia Lipkin - 145 Jaffa St. (detail)

Denise Oyama Miller - Outcropping
This image drew back  as it was like seeing a boulder on drugs, heightened. reality. But look at it from a distance, as the mystery is revealed as you get close up.

Overview of the exhibition

Printed & Stitched
Showing until Oct 28th
William D. Cannon Gallery
1775 Dove Ln, Carlsbad, CA 92011
Tuesday-Thursday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

*Visions Museum of Textile Art presents Laura Foster Nicholson: Human Affects, We Are Voices of Other Voices and INTIKA Men in Textiles all until October 4. 
The Space Between: Texture Studies by Denja Harris from June 28 to October 12, and Fabulous Fiber , July 26–November 2 both at the Oceanside Museum of Art

Mirae kh RHEE: Constellations at MOPA@SDMA

by Patricia Frischer

 Berlin-based artist Mirae kh RHEE was born in Seoul and raised in the United States and lives now in Berlin.  But it is the traditional Korean traditions that seem to permeate this exhibition Constellations at the Museum of Photographic Arts  now MOPA@ SDMA  in Balboa Park. But bamboo with modern lighting and simple stitched items using photographed subjects brings us firming into the 21^th century.

Without the title Seven Sisters (Missing Merope Version) and the explanation that this refers to the Pleiades,  we would not be able to research and learn that these seven are within the constellation of Taurus. It's one of the closest and brightest star clusters to Earth, located about 444 light-years away.  There are 1000 stars in this constellation but the 7 brightest (the seven sisters) can be seen with the naked eye. The myth refers to Greek mythology, the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and the sea nymph Pleione. Merope is missing sister because she is the faintest star and some say that is because she turned her face away in shame having married a mortal. RHEE used that to signify longing, maybe for her absent family. There are more than 7 light filled bamboo pillow shapes, but there is one on its own near the entrance of the exhibition. And we all know that stars have been used forever to find you way.  

The room is infused with color as the hanging woven objects change in hue, casting a hued glow on all the objects in the display. The jeweled shoes that must certainly reference the ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz sit on a mirror that reflect the entire scene as you stroll around. I made sure not to click my heels together until I was ready to find home.

The Beauty of Stitching Sorrow (The Last Threads of the Colonial Empire) is the title of a series of work made from Korean mourning cloth made with hemp, photographs and a whole range of mixed medium objects. Some are shiny and as you pass by, their color changes as well. In the artist’s own words,    “…stitching becomes a way for me to survive sorrow, to name loss, and to reclaim beauty…"

Mirae kh RHEE: Constellationsat MOPA@SDMA
On view until January 4, 2026

1649 el Prado, SD 92101
Across from the Lily Pond

619.232.7931

 

Sculpture Walk in Del Mar

 By Patricia Frischer

Dirección Impredecible ( detail)  by Hugo Heredia (NE corner of 9^th Street and Camino Del Mar).

Sculpture Walk in Del Mar

Naomi Nussbaum, Art and Design is the art consultant who has worked diligently to make this temporary public sculpture exhibition possible. Placing public art is a very complicated process that involves public input, a call for artists, a call for proposals, a final selection and then an always arduous installation. Works not only have to be by professionals of a high quality, but have to be safe for the public and enhancing of built environment.

The Del Mar Foundation partnered with the City of Del Mar to bring five new contemporary sculptures to highly visible locations in Del Mar’s downtown area for public display for the next 23 months beginning in July 2025. This is Phase II of the Program, following the inaugural exhibit (Phase I, 2021-2022). There are also permanently installed works in the city scape as well as a public art collection in Del Mar Plaza that includes international artists Barry Flanagan, Anthony Gromley and Tony Craig.

The works are for sale through the Del Mar Foundation.

To walk the Sculpture Walk in Del Mar on view until June of 2027 click this link for the Map  

Dirección Impredecible by Hugo Heredia (NE corner of 9^th Street and Camino Del Mar).

Cloud 7  by Peter Mitten (SE corner of 12^th Street and Camino Del Mar)

Planar Head by Ron Tatro (SE corner of 14^th Street and Camino Del Mar)

Spit Head by Ron Tatro (15h and Stratford, in front of Rusty Del Mar)

Red Seeker by Delos Van Earl (NW corner of 15^th Street and Camino Del Mar)

 

Alchemy of Form: Lin Utzon, Anne-Sophie Øgaard, Laura Lappi - Scandinavian Women at Madison Gallery

by Patricia Frischer

Lin Utzon

Now is your chance to get to know three Scandinavian Women Artist Alchemy of Form: Lin Utzon, Anne-Sophie Øgaard, Laura Lappi on show at the Madison Gallery until Aug 23. These artist are all well known in their own countries and very reasonably priced.  This is a minimalist exhibition, cool in the summer heat and elegant as it reveals itself to our eyes in much need of peace and unity.

Lin Utzon from Denmark  but with pronounced  influences of Japan and Mallorca draws you in with a shelf full of elongated white ceramic shapes with splashes of black. In other venues, these works are on a large then life scale, which gives a fresh meaning to pottery. When you add in the very large floral paintings also in black and white, you get a better sense of how design has been translated three dimensionally. She is the elder of this group, and has shown extensively worldwide.

Next stop Copenhagen, where Anne-Sophie Øgaard layers paint, sand cement and plaster and carves back into the surface. Working only in black and white, usually in pairs, then is also one solitary yellow canvas. Although we are told she also has an exception blue hue she uses, it is the yellow stripes on the gallery wall that help to tie the three artists work together visually.

Laura Lappi gives us the burnt forests of Finland but tempered by her time in Queens, New York. After her wood has under gone the test of fire, it is sealed and arranged in vaguely architectural forms.  We are reminded of liturgical shapes of church windows, crosses, reliquary frames.

Alchemy is “speculative thought and experimentation focused on transforming base metals into gold, discovering cures for diseases, and finding a way to prolong life indefinitely.”  Each of these artists is transforming humble materials into fine art. It might not cure cancer or be the fountain of youth, but it is the good news story of today’s world.  

Lin Utzon

Lin Utzon

Laura Lappi and Anne-Sophie Øgaard, 

 

Anne-Sophie Øgaard, detail

Anne-Sophie Øgaard

Laura Lappi

There is always a viewing of some of the other artists in the Madison stable and a few works by the artist of the next showing in September. There is a taste here and more work by RETNA Love Letters will be on view from  Sept 3 to Oct 3, 2025. RETNA born Marquis Lewis in 1978 is one of the young artist who was helped to transition from street graffiti to the gallery world. His calligraphy is influenced by Blackletter, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and Arabic and Hebrew shapes. RETNA is of African-American, El Salvadorian, Spaniard, Pipil and Cherokee descent. These mature works reference his coming of age and the desire for home, hearth and peace. 

RETNA

RETNA, detail

Alchemy of Form: Lin Utzon, Anne-Sophie Øgaard, Laura Lappi       
Madison Gallery
320 S Cedros Ave suite 200, Solana Beach, 92075
On view until Aug 23
Info: Lorna York  858.523.9155

The Cardiff-By-The-Sea Music and Arts Salon

 by Patricia Frischer

Pointeworks. Reka Gyulai and Lester Gonzalez.

The Cardiff-By-The-Sea Music and Arts Salon is not-for-profit project under the leadership of The Encinitas Friends of the Arts. It is dedicated to building community around music and the arts in North County San Diego. The first gathering was launched by Hillel Katzeff, who volunteers as its host and curator.  He has led a group of passionate music and arts lovers who volunteer their time and talent.

Andrea Clearfield

Andrea Clearfield

The historic music salons of 17th and 18th century Europe were initially brought into the 21st century by  Andrea Clearfield and her Philadelphia salon now in its 39^th year.  During the pandemic, her salons became Zsalon, z for zoom, and this salon in Cardiff by the Sea was sold out and live streamed on Facebook.   She has inspired Katzeff to bring the salon experience to North County. Ms. Clearfield  told us inspiring stories about her life and the creation of her contemporary salon and play some short piano pieces especially about her experiences with Lung-Ta in Napal.  

 Rebekah Brannan 

Tiffany Brannan 

Tiffany and Rebekah Brannan 

Cinema, Ballet, OPERA = Cinballera Entertainment. We did not get to see the cinema part, but the ballet and opera in a taste of Madame Butterfly were beautiful. The voices sent chills up your spine and the costumes were absolutely lovely. The two sisters that delighted us were Tiffany and Rebekah Brannan  who only formed their company in June of 2023 and are now performing throughout Southern California.

Big Boss Bubeleh 

Yael Gmach 

Big Boss Bubeleh  is always composed of Yael Gmach and Vlady Yarovinsky and today had a great drum player as well.  Especially delightful were the French songs and the great banter between Yael and Vlady. We have never seen platform shoes so high and worn with such grace!

Sharon Katz

Hillel Katzeff

Sharon Katz and the Peace Train got us to join the African part of the audience in snapping our fingers and clapping. Hillel wowed us with his surprise dancing. Her soul was in every nuance of her voice…maybe this is where soul train got its roots.

Pointeworks. Reka Gyulai and Lester Gonzalez.

The dancing continues but this time with elegance, grace and athleticism by Pointeworks. Reka Gyulai  who choreographed her own work was partnered with Lester Gonzalez. The founder Sophie Williams trained in Solana Beach and went on to an international career and this is only their second session.  We really encourage these new companies Pointeworks and Cinballera Entertainment and applaud their talents and determination. I was too mesmerized to video this dynamic duo but I have edited footage supplied by John Campbell.  

Fred Benedetti 

Fred Benedetti fingers flew on the guitar with classical flamenco music and then he delighted us with a Beatles tune on the ukulele. He is a truly a troubadour. He even taught us how to pronounce ukelele the authentic Hawaiian way.

Sue Palmer and vocalist Liz Ajuzie

Sue Palmer and vocalist Liz Ajuzie wrapped up the late afternoon with rousing songs that got some of the audience on the dance floor. Liz Ajuzie was especially glad to see the diversity of performers with great cultural depth.

Hillel Katzeff, Joy Lyndes, Naimeh Woodward

The evening continued with a chance to meet, mingle and stuff our faces with a great buffet of food and drink. Naimeh Woodward was introduced as the founder and president of the Encinitas Friends of the Arts. We were delighted to see Joy Lynnes, the deputy major or Encinitas and district 3 council person in attendance and with a bright smile and a tapping foot.  The audience gave their foot stomping approval for further Cardiff by the Sea Music and Art Salons!

8th Annual Proud+ Exhibition at Studio Door

by Patricia Frischer

David Acevedo For the 49,  Best in Show

The Studio Door directed by Patric Stillman presents the 8^th Annual PROUD+ Exhibition in Hillcrest showing until August 1^st. This year’s show was aided by Jonathan Carver Moore (Jonathan Carver Moore Gallery,)  a contemporary art gallery director in San Francisco that specializes in working with emerging and established artists who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and women. Studio Door is our leading gallery in support of LGBTQIA  (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) in San Diego.

We were impressed to learn that In 2024, 9.3% of U.S. adults identified as LGBTQ+, according to a Gallup poll. This represents an increase from 7.6% in 2023. The percentage has nearly doubled since 2020. We looked at this show, not so much from that lens, but at the high quality of the work presented. All good art is art first. However, there is no doubt that the point of view of LGBTQIA is well represented here.

David Acevedo was awarded best in show for his pride flag depiction in rich, warm, subtle color. Titled For the 49, it honors the tragic events of June 12, 2016, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida where 49 lost their lives in a mass shooting. the club was hosting its weekly Latin Night at the time. 

There are two featured artists in the exhibition. Max-Arthur Mantle: Fierce, Framed, and Unapologetic with wonderful photographs of black, brown male nudes, brings such a powerful and aesthetically pleasing view to all of his works with queer, and Caribbean lives. Desire, pleasure and connection murmur from each of these works. 

Carole Kuck delivers a joyful installation of The Colors of LGBTQIA+ Pride with all the variety of flags represented and a nostalgic look of building blocks. Every combination is possible to make our world more accepting.

Many more of the artist are on view at The Studio Door, but there is also an online showing including artists from across the nation. You can view the entire Catalog of artists.

Max-Arthur Mantle  

 

Carole Kuck  

 

Tommy Diehart, Winter, the Old Men of Ice and Snow 

Anuj Jenveja and Priyanka Pathak, Hot and Bothered 

Robin Venter, Crossed

Local LGBTQ+ Artists: WORDS OF PRIDE

Words of Pride is actually a collaboration with the San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s GLBTQ Historic Task Force.  We applaud that Hillcrest is now official recognized as an LGBTQ Cultural District. We now have a Black Cultural District with undefined borders, and an Asian Cultural District near Convoy.  We know that the City of San Diego will be working on an official cultural district policy in 2026 which hopefully sets precedent for the county as well. In the meantime, the three state recognized cultural districts are Balboa Park, Barrio Logan and Oceanside.

This panel features 30 local LGBTQ+ artists and is made to travel. So, watch for it nearby in the coming year. They hope to grow this  tapestry with even more community support.  Artists included are:

Esau Andrade, Alexander Arshansky, Anthony Ayala, Betty Bangs, Chad Berwald,Nik Boivin, Yvette Deas, Stevan Dupus, Jackie Han, Michael Hopkins, Liliana Hueso, John Keasler, Vanessa Lopez, Martin Luera, Marina Molodets, Causaundra Perez, Big Mike Phillips, RD Riccoboni, German Rubio, Danne Sadler, Michael Saltsman, Patric Stillman, Syd Stevens, Ramona Szczerba, Stefan Talian, Teemstir, Aries Tjhin, Tim Weedlun,

8^th Annual PROUD+ Exhibition
The Studio Door
On view until August 1.
3867 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103-3113 between University Avenue and Robinson Avenue
Tuesday - Saturday • 11 AM - 6 PM or by appointment  

For more info forallweknow@thestudiodoor.com 619-255-2867