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