Most of the people strolling through Downtown San Diego, along Eighth Avenue and G Street were dressed in Padres gear.
Not everybody wandered to Petco Park, though. Some stopped by at the Art Academy of San Diego for the reception of the new show at the Simayspace Gallery.
The show features 17 emerging artists from San Diego, nominated for the San Diego Art Prize.
Through July 27, the public can see the wide range of art at the gallery, which is part of the Art Academy of San Diego.
“In a lot of different classes and workshops, we teach how to make art here in the academy,” said Doug Simay, founder of the Art Academy and curator of the Simayspace Gallery.
He said he is glad to offer his gallery space to showcase San Diego artists.
“Taking into consideration the space here, I created this exhibition,” Simay said. After studio visits, Simay works with the artists to choose the works on display.
Walking into the two gallery rooms, a work that catches the visitor’s eye is Brian Dick’s “Totem Pole,” a wooden armature with socks, slippers, blankets, pillows and other things held together by clothespins.
Another artist featured in the exhibit, Benjamin Lavender, used steel, concrete and acrylic for his three additions to the show.
In her work, Shannon Spanhake puts familiar things – such as an autograph – into an unexpected space.
In this show, it is the plain white wall. Her work is simply called “Shannon Spanhake by Doug Simay.”
Allison Wiese is an interdisciplinary artist and has two of her aluminum signs displayed.
Both “Root Hog or Die” and “Industry Need Not Want” make bold statements.
This is the second year of the San Diego Art Prize, which awards work by three established and three emerging artists from San Diego County. There are no limitations of age or media.
The three established artists who win the prize get to choose the winners in the emerging artists category.
Together the group of six will have a series of exhibitions.
Other artists on display in the Simaysapce Gallery include: Tania Candiani, Alida Cervantes, Lael Corbin, Matt Devine, Chris Ferreria, Andy Howell, Pamela Jaeger, Nina Karavasiles, Camilo Ontiveros, Jason Sherry, Tristan Shone, Bradley Streeper, and Nina Waisman.
Simayspace @ Art Academy of San Diego is located at 840 G St. and is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, call (619) 231-3900 or visit www.simayspace.com.
For more information, on the San Diego Art Prize visit www.sdvisualarts.net.