Coming of Age Film Festival
COMMUNITY
Seafaring parades: You like boats? You like lights? Well, then, you’re about to be stoked because San Diego County has three events devoted to boats sailing around a bay or harbor all lit up with holiday fare. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights starts at 7 p.m. at the Oceanside Yacht Club and Harbor. At the same time on the same evening, the Mission Bay Christmas Parade of Lights starts at the Quivira Basin area (though we’re told that the best place for viewing is from the west side of Fiesta Island). Then, on Sunday, Dec. 13, the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights sails at 5:30 p.m. at Shelter Island and ends with a fireworks show at 9 p.m., which kind of makes it like Fourth of July and Christmas combined. www.visit oceanside.org, www.missionbayparadeoflights.org, www.sdparadeoflights.org.
ART
Portrait power: Inspired by L Street Fine Art’s fantastic 2008 show Movers and Shakers—in which artists created portraits of local philanthropists—Artists by Artists takes this idea a step further by having 27 painters and sculptors create portraits of other locals who inspire them. Highlights include Vanessa Lemen’s take on Robert Nanninga, in which she portrays the late writer and poet as a giant oak tree. And Lemen herself gets painted by Brian Weisz. And be sure to check out CityBeat contributor Scrojo’s portrayal of Brad Schneider (pictured above). The show’s already up at the Community Room at the Encinitas Library, but there will be a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. www.mfleener.wordpress.com.
FILM
Quantum leap: There are a few Disney parallels to be made to artist Matthew Ritchie’s first feature film, Line Shot. Firstly, the Londoner-turned-New Yorker describes the film as “Fantasia for physicists.” Secondly, the concept—following the evolution of a single particle from sub-atomic state to blade of grass to locomotive train and back—stirs up memories of a baboon lifting a lion cub to the sky. That’s not to say it’ll hold the attention span of a child or anybody without a honed artistic concentration (or a bowl to smoke), as the film is largely flickering visuals and text-fragments read aloud. Line Shot will be screened at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s La Jolla location at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. $7. www.mcasd.org.
BOOKS
One for Rall: Folks who’ve read alternative newsweeklies in various cities around the country undoubtedly know the name Ted Rall for his longtime satirical political cartoon “Rall.” But Rall is also a prolific writer, having published 14 books, including political nonfiction, graphic novels and travelogues, and a series of reports, for The Village Voice, from Afghanistan during the early days of the U.S. attack on the Taliban. At 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at D.G. Wills Books (7461 Girard Ave. in La Jolla), Rall will discuss his latest book, The Year of Loving Dangerously, a collaboration with artist Pablo G. Callejo that’s based on Rall’s experience “getting arrested, dumped, expelled and evicted onto the mean streets of Manhattan in 1984.” www.dgwillsbooks.com.
MULTIMEDIA
On the fringe: North Park art space Agitprop (2837 University Ave.) has been hosting some great events lately, and Fringe Theories definitely has to be one of the more thought-provoking ones. Featuring writers and artists working in a variety of media, the show’s sub-theme of “ideas that depart significantly from the prevailing or orthodox views” is well represented by Dr. Mark Van Stone, who will give a lecture on the Mayan prophecies of 2012 at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. From 7 to 9 p.m., a reception will feature works dealing with everything from fast-food corporations to media fabrication by photographer Noah Doely and artists like Tony Allard and Keith Engeron. www.agitpropspace.org.
ACTIVISM
Watch and learn: Dec. 10 marks the 61st anniversary of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, the most significant statement of personal freedoms since the U.S. Bill of Rights. Two local events on Thursday, Dec. 10, will help celebrate the occasion. At 7 p.m., University of San Diego will host an expert panel discussion, Human Rights Close to Home, on local human-rights policy and law in the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice building. And, at 6:30 p.m., the ACLU and The AjA Project debuts underSTAND, an installation of narratives from international youths arranged on the ground so that, from above, the text forms images—which will be on display through Feb. 1. The reception, at the Naval Training Center Promenade at Liberty Station in Point Loma, will feature Ramona student Natalie Jones, whose school banned her sixth-grade presentation on Harvey Milk, and costs $20, $10 for students.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Home, tasty home: Gingerbread-house making can range from pretty pathetic (those pre-packaged kits you get at the grocery store) or ridiculously elaborate (just Google “extreme gingerbread houses”). We’re betting those in the 2009 Gingerbread Collective fall into the latter category. Arclinea San Diego challenged teams of prominent San Diegans (including architects, artists and designers) to create the gingerbread houses of their dreams for competition. Their edible creations will be displayed from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 10 and 11, in Arclinea’s showroom (2515 Fifth Ave. in Bankers Hill). Bring non-perishable food items and vote for your favorite house. Then, from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, winners will be announced and the houses will be auctioned off at a cocktail party, with proceeds benefiting Second Chance, which fights homelessness. Thursday and Friday are free. Saturday is $25. www.arclineasandiego.com (click “news”).
Back from nearly gone: There’s a reason beyond the turn-of-the-century holiday decorations to appreciate the Marston House this month. Back in February, it looked like the Irving Gill-designed home, built in 1905, might close to the public for good. Thanks to Save Our Heritage Organization, the Craftsman re-opened in July. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, support the historic home by doing some holiday shopping at the new Marston House gift shop. Discounts will be offered on the shop’s Arts and Crafts-inspired items (free gift wrapping with purchase) and there’ll be complimentary hot chocolate, cider and cookies. Tours of the house—located at 3525 Seventh Ave. in Balboa Park (where Upas Street ends)—are $8 general admission, $5 for seniors and $4 for kids. www.marstonhouse.org.
