Gentle maritime breezes, a backdrop of boats cruising on San Diego Bay, a park setting and a more intimate venue are the key contrasts between the 23-year-old April ArtWalk in Little Italy and its newer sibling, ArtWalk on the Bay, now in its second year.
The free art festival will be held at Embarcadero Park North, behind Seaport Village at the southern end of Kettner Blvd., on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An autumn event was added due to public demand.
“We’d been looking for a place for a fall event at the request of the artists and the public,” said Sandi Cottrell, managing director of both ArtWalk events.
This year’s ArtWalk on the Bay is made possible through generous underwriting from presenting sponsor Manchester Hotel Group, as well as the Port of San Diego and a group of corporate and community partners
Those who have enjoyed April’s Little Italy ArtWalk will recognize many of the same elements and artists, but in a bayside park rather than an urban street setting.
About 60 of the approximately 150 expected artists have participated in ArtWalk before.
The artists will display their works in white tents arranged along walkways and on the park’s grass. Traditional and contemporary painters, specialists in pleine aire and abstract compositions, plus watercolor, glass and ceramic artists, photographers, sculptors and fine arts jewelers will be among those exhibiting.
No crafts are accepted into the juried show.
The Mexican Consulate, known for sponsoring one of the most interesting, cutting-edge gatherings of artists, will again bring a group of about 15 artists to exhibit at ArtWalk on the Bay.
“Our cultural attaché is very active in bringing all types of Mexican culture to the area, from all over Mexico,” Cottrell said.
Musical entertainment is scheduled throughout both days. Among the noteworthy performers is Simeon Flick, recently nominated for a San Diego Music Award.
Other performers include Dave Humphries, Christopher Dale, Saba, Steve Ybarra, Tara Jo Oliver, Terry Matsuoka and The Shambles.
KidsWalk, run in conjunction with local arts organizations, provides educational yet fun opportunities for children to try their hands at varied arts activities.
Kite Koloring is new this year and will enable children to paint plain white kites, with group kite-flying offered both days at 3 p.m. Afterwards the “kolorful kites” will be donated to children at Becky’s House and the Polinsky Children’s Center.
Among this year’s artist exhibitors is Jane Riles, a seven-time ArtWalk participant and former French professor.
The Point Loma resident summers in France and takes her inspiration for paintings from both locations. Riles, who works in oils, acrylics and watercolors, emphasizes “the emotional response to an experience” along with strong colors and “vigorous brushstrokes” in her works.
“The only way you can make art truly unique is to paint your own inside feeling. That’s what transfers to the viewer,” she explained.
For a solo exhibition at the San Diego Art Institute she painted 12 large landscapes of the San Diego skyline, which she later realized was her response to Sept. 11.
“I realized how fragile skylines are and I documented ours. Some experiences I can’t express in words but can express in paint,” she said.
Ken Osborne, a software engineer and Point Loma resident, is a fine art photographer who now works primarily in digital format. His “day job” gives him the opportunity to travel widely and encounter interesting photography projects. He, too, emphasizes the emotional element in his work.
“I’m an opportunist who finds lighting situations. What I’m trying to do is capture an image that will have an emotional impact, a beautiful image; a situation like a disaster after a firestorm. I have a variety of topics, depending upon what I come across, landscapes, architecture, wildlife refuges and national parks,” he explained.
Recent La Jolla resident Anita Lewis, who just moved to Oceanside in search of a larger studio, is a former high-end kitchen designer who is now a full-time artist. Lewis is a painter who works in two styles, the impressionist and abstract, although she is moving more towards the abstract. She will be displaying both styles at ArtWalk.
“I’m still an advocate that any artist should learn their trade and learn how to draw and paint the way the old masters did before venturing into the abstract. That’s what gives you license to go into the abstract and develop your own style,” she said.
ArtWalk on the Bay visitors are encouraged to take the trolley to the Seaport Village stop on the Orange Line. Limited parking is available in nearby lots.
The event runs on the will of the public, as many of the event’s activities are staffed by volunteers.
“This is a free community event and we always need last minute volunteers. It’s a great opportunity to get involved in the vibrant San Diego arts scene,” said Carmen DeBello, director of ArtWalk volunteers.
To volunteer, contact DeBello at [email protected] or call (619) 615-1090 x 211.
For those interested in purchasing art, Cottrell reminds guests to bring more than a credit card.
“We try to remind people to bring checkbooks. Not all artists accept credit cards,” Cottrell said.
For a more information about participating artists, performers, entertainment schedules and directions, visit ArtWalk’s website, www.artwalkonthebay.org or call (619) 615-1090