San Diego Museum of Art Presents Summer Salon Series for June

If you’re looking for a taste of the arts this Summer, look no further than our very own Balboa Park.  The San Diego Museum of Art is hosting its second annual Summer Salon Series from June 2^nd through September 1^st, 2011. They will be featuring artists, musicians, poets and speakers throughout the summer exploring “What Does A City Need?” There will be a new exhibition every week looking at “how to build better cities, better communities and better citizens.”

Take a different look at what our city is and could become with the help of these insightful artists.  Their work delves into the creativity that is fostered by local and international influences.  The Summer Salon Series will meet every Thursday at 5-9pm and is free with museum admission.

This is a multi-part series, with an edition each month through the end of the Salon Series. Take a look at the program coming up for the next couple weeks in June:

June 16: Dignity of Labor

Brian Zimmerman renders utilitarian furniture useless by altering their structure.  He will debut three new pieces of furniture this night, and an additional piece each week for the next three weeks.

John Dillemuth will present a new interactive sculpture that resembles a wheelchair/rocking chair hybrid.  Dillemuth’s craft plays off of some of the ideas included in our special exhibition on Gustav Stickley.

With a distinct sound influenced by New Wave, garage rock, and even reggae, the San Francisco based band, LUMPS will perform.

June 23: Identity and History

Susy Bielak will present Songs for the City, a performance based on the military identity of this region.  The performance will consist of military personnel standing guard of the Museum’s art as well as musical performances by military veterans.

Ash Smith’s site-specific performance, based on the Museum’s history as a naval hospital, will take over the main staircase for part of the evening

Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) will co-present a panel discussion on the issues surrounding preservation in urban centers.  Panelists include Jaye MacAskill (President of SOHO), David Swarens (member of the Golden Hill and Old Town Planning groups and a past president of SOHO), William Lawrence (writer and publisher of BorregoModern.com), and designer Constance Ramos (host of Color Correction on HGTV).

June 30: Identity and History

Artist Edward Kihn will present a multidisciplinary work involving video and live performance, which addresses the role of the military in the disposition of civic space in San Diego, notably during WWII. The piece will be projected while live actors read accounts from that time period aloud.

Edward Bosley, Director of the Gamble House at USC, will lead a discussion about Greene and Greene, craftsmen architecture, and Gustav Stickley.

Agitprop will present information about the 2837 University, a program that fosters projects, classes and workshops that are financially and locally accessible to any interested party and that promote the local businesses of the North Park neighborhood in San Diego.

SDMA is located at 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.Thursdays (Memorial through Labor Days) 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can reach information at (619) 232-7931.