Athenaeum Mini-Concerts
All in One
There are countless emerging artists in San Diego trying to find a place to show their work. That’s where the annual youTurn Contemporary Arts Exhibition comes in. The collaborative show’s goal is to provide artists with a place to premiere new works and, in so doing, give them that kick to keep creating.
Maria Juan, the event’s co-producer, says that the show, happening at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3, through Saturday, May 5, will feature dance performances followed by a gallery reception on the rooftop of the 10th Avenue Theatre and Arts Center (930 10th Ave., Downtown).
“We wanted to have an event where we bring in artists of all genres,” Juan explains. “We wanted to give the audience a full, rounded experience of what the San Diego art community has to offer—not just experience one type of art.”
On the night’s menu is a contemporary dance performance by Erica Buechner and Juan’s short film, Wondrous Ambling of Nonsensical Kinds, which was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and incorporates animation into a filmed dance performance. The art show will feature visual art and crafts by 12 artists, including Keith Puryear, Vincent deGuzman, Donna Webb, Sarah Larson and Ursula McDonald. Attendees will be serenaded on Thursday and Friday nights by 100 Ghosts and on Saturday night by Claudia Vorce with Trio Gadjo.
Juan says she hopes the event has a long future. “We would love for youTurn to become a staple in the San Diego arts community, because we’re all emerging artists trying to get our work out there,” she says. “The only thing holding back is financial reasons. We’re starting slow but hoping to expand and continue to create work.”
Tickets are $10 to $15 in advance and $15 to $20 at the door.
Under exposed
If you were anything like us as a kid, you thought the best National Geographic issues explored Neptune’s realm, with portraits of deep-sea monsters and landscapes of coral castles. Then, you bought a water-proof disposable camera and were totally disappointed by the shots you took of your dog in the backyard pool. That’s because underwater photography isn’t just an art; rather, it’s a highly technical operation best left to professionals— whom you can check out at Liquid Capture: Masters of Underwater Photography, a juried exhibition of 49 works by 25 artists that runs through June 17 at the Oceanside Museum of Art (704 Pier View Way). The museum will host a panel discussion with organizer Lee Peterson and the judges at 2 p.m., Saturday May 5. General admission is $8.
Classically hip
You’d be hard-pressed to find a chamber-music organization that’s hipper than Art of Élan. While most classical-music concerts last forever and highlight dead white guys, this group livens things up with hour-long concerts featuring contemporary works. Americana, the final concert of its fifth season, might just be its hippest effort yet. Taking place at the San Diego Museum of Art at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, the program features music by Edgar Meyer, a celebrated composer known for his progressive spin on bluegrass, as well as the world-premiere of a boundary-pushing work by Jonathan Holland. To perform it, chamber musicians will team up with local folkies The Tree Ring—which is sure to get the Golden Hill cool kids all excited. $10 to $25.
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