San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then
Getting experimental: Experimental filmmaker Brent Green was experimenting when he decided to make a film, Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then, that re-told the true story of a man, Leonard Wood, and his wife Mary. The story goes like this: Upon learning that Mary has cancer, Wood builds a “healing house” for her, hoping that it, and therefore he, will cure her. We’ll leave the story at that, so as not to ruin anything, but we will tell you that Green built an exact replica of the healing house in his own backyard and then used stop-motion animation to create the film. Green will be present when the film is screened at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, accompanied by a live band that includes Brendan Canty, longtime drummer of the post-hardcore band Fugazi. Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then $10. mopa.org
Books
Good ideas: Local author Marlene Wagman-Geller’s first book, Once Again to Zelda, taught us about the personal histories of some of the world’s greatest authors. Her concept for the book was brilliant—she took the authors’ book dedications and found out why, for example, F. Scott Fitzgerald dedicated The Great Gatsby to a gal named Zelda. In her new book, Eureka!, Wagman-Geller looks at the stories behind some of the world’s best ideas. She says she came up with the concept after people kept asking her how she came up with the idea for her last book. Subjects in the new one include Jeopardy creator Merv Griffin, Netflix CEO Wilmot Hastings and more. Wagman-Geller will read from and sign her book at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at barnes & Noble, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, Suite 331, in La Mesa.
Community
Christmas in toyland: New Yorkers may have the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, but San Diego has the North Park Toyland Parade & Holiday Fair. In its 47th year, the holiday-themed parade takes over University Avenue between Utah and Iowa streets starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, and, unlike New Yorkers, we don’t have to freeze to enjoy the festivities. You’ll see vintage cars, march-ing bands, dancers, beauty queens and Santa Claus parading down the block, and, afterward, you can head to the Holiday Fair, held from noon to 2 p.m. behind the Birch North Park Theatre. There will be crafting, face painting, puppet shows, live music and more. North Park restaurants will serve lunch specials prepared specifically for parade-goers. toylandparade.com
An app for that: December Nights packs ’em in, but it’s a great chance to check out what’s going on at Balboa Park’s museums—free of charge— from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4. The full event happens from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and features the usual amusements throughout the park: Christmas lights and tunes, holiday foods at the international cottages, a “Holiday Spirit Lounge” at the Prado and artisans doing their thing at Spanish Village. New this year are the debut of chef Deborah Scott’s food truck, Chop Sooey, and a winter-coat drive at the Hall of Champions (drop off a new or gently worn coat to benefit the homeless). Navigate the event using the Balboa Park iPhone app, available for free from the iTunes app store. For details and parking options: decembernights.org
Party at Printer's: Photographer Andrew Printer has some celebrating to do. The talented shooter—whose work ranges from Mapplethorpe-esque tongue-in-cheek scenes of imagined gay domestic life to more serious portraiture and abstract collage— recently finished up his master’s degree at UC Irvine, and one of his photographs was selected to be part of the Houston Museum of Fine Art’s permanent collection. Stop by his open studio event, Taking Stock, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 (2035 Broadway, No. 6, in Golden Hill), to say congrats and possibly pick up a Printer print. He’ll be selling his work—from postcard-size prints to gallery-quality framed images—for cheap to make room for new work. He’ll also have some snacks and beverages for you to enjoy while you peruse the pictures. andrewprinter.com
Open space: A year ago this December, Space 4 Art signed the lease on the East Village property that’s become San Diego’s noble experiment in affordable housing for the “creative class.” The building (325 15th St.) is now at full capacity and houses more than 35 artists’ studios and live/work spaces, all of which will be open to the public from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. The open house is part of the reception for an exhibition of two local artists. National Science Foundation grant recipient Judit Hersko’s work documents the history of a fictitious Antarctic explorer. Meanwhile, Lea Dennis makes boxing gloves from paper and suspends a hand-made boxing ring from the ceiling. The celebration will also feature music from John Meeks, Cascavell and Rio Peligroso. Free. sdspace4art.org
Cryptic yet cool: A group of artists and musicians got together and pitched in to bring you disclosed unLocation gallery, a new space for art at 1925 30th St. in South Park. One of the founders, artist Jfre Robot Coad, told us via e-mail that we can expect “up & comers, esoterics, unknowns & the ultra wily.” What does that mean exactly? We’re not sure, but we can tell you that the grand-opening show, happening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, features artists we really dig, including Coad, Max Daily and Will Goff. “Other than purposeful meanderings,” Coad says, “we plan to spell & spill it all out quarterly at art openings corresponding with the South Park Walkabouts.” We translated that to mean that the crew behind the space is serious about art and putting together some pretty awesome shows. unlocation.com
Ghana get it built: In a small town in the Birim River basin of Ghana stands the skeleton of a library that was started 10 years ago but never finished. Last year, local humanitarian Jacqueline Prairie met with the region’s chief and agreed to help complete the project—plumbing, electricity, furniture, computers and all. The nonprofit organization she founded, Ghana Africa international Operations, will throw a Fun-Raising-the-Roof benefit at Fixtures interior-design showroom (9340 Dowdy Drive, Suite 102, in Mira Mesa) at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3. The event includes Ghanian chocolate, an “African Cowboy” fashion show and a performance by Colorado-based musician Selasee, whose music combines reggae and American pop with the Highlife music popular in West Africa. The $35 tickets are tax deductible. gaioworld.org
