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<\/p>\nPor Kendra Sitton | Editor<\/p>\n
With go-go dancers, flared pants and even Don Vito Corleone walking around, someone looking in from F Street might have thought they\u2019d stepped right back into the \u201970s, which, of course, was exactly the point. On Saturday, April 20, the central patio of IDEA1 filled with people transformed: there was a gender-swapped Sonny and Cher, a man in disco pimp shoes who looked like he time-traveled from a dated club\u2019s dance floor, and everyone was sporting the fashion of the \u201970s. They were gathered for Vanguard Culture\u2019s latest event in their Breakthrough series.<\/p>\n
The quarterly spoken-word events are focused on one decade for each show, themed around catalytic moments in the history of art, fashion, music and pop culture. The series, curated by California poet laureate nominee Gill Sotu (who hosted the evening\u2019s performances on April 20), fuels Vanguard Culture\u2019s missions, which are dedicated to advancing San Diego\u2019s creative industries. Their cutting-edge events feature collaborative efforts from visual, performing and culinary artists.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe decided to highlight the Roaring \u201920s, the \u201970s and the \u201990s because we found them to be some of the most compelling eras in modern history. We also found many uncanny similarities to current events that we thought would be worth bringing attention to, through spoken word, live music, and visual arts. Our final \u2018Breakthrough: The Future\u2019 will be a hopeful visioning of the future of pop culture, fashion, science, music, etc. that would change the world for the better,\u201d said Vanguard Culture founder Susanna Peredo Swap. \u201cOur hope is to celebrate the best of human achievement and leave guests feeling inspired and hopeful for what\u2019s to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The night opened with three chef stations put together by Vanguard Culture Culinary Director Daniella de la Puente.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started working with [Vanguard Culture] because I love art and I love food, so what better way to give back to the community than working with a foundation that supports the arts?\u201d de la Puente said. The vibrant colors of the \u201970s informed her decision to include flowers in the ceviche and other items being served.<\/p>\n
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Attendees sipped on era-themed craft beers and cocktails while having their palms read inside the Sparks Gallery pop-up art show. Others visited the Vanguard Culture Headquarters Gallery to take a journey through the collective unconscious by contributing to dream journals that Ingrid Croce (widow of singer\/songwriter Jim Croce) will incorporate into her next collage.<\/p>\n
Since the event was declared a cell phone-free zone, when Sotu finally began bringing up the night\u2019s performers onstage, it was difficult to tear people away from the socializing taking place near the chefs\u2019 tables.<\/p>\n
Before introducing any of the dancers, singers, musicians and poets who were on-hand to share their talents that night, Sotu explained why he was initially drawn to centering the event around the \u201970s, which saw the rise of feminism, and the black power and flower power movements.<\/p>\n
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According to Sotu, the counter-culture movement of that decade shaped the culture of today. He asked the spoken-word artists to share poems that were relevant in both eras. Sotu said although the singers and dancers performed songs from the \u201970s, they did not regurgitate the art from that time. Instead, they reinterpreted it for today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree things inspired me: creativity, self-expression and self-love,\u201d said Kaia Reuter, who performs as Kaia Olivia. During her solo dance number, she spontaneously decided to bring people in the audience to dance alongside her. \u201cI was able to bring community together. We were all able to be one. Not just the separation of performing and partaking by being the patron. That\u2019s why I love live art shows. People are interactive and when they are interactive, they get to be a part of it. That self-love\u2026 that\u2019s what inspired me to grab the mic and talk and then have people onstage to perform.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to professional San Diego artists, students from City College also showed off their talents at the event. Members of the school\u2019s Special Effects Makeup Class showcased their abilities to transform into some of the icons of the 1970s in a fashion show (this is why the titular character from \u201cThe Godfather\u201d and a gender-swapped Sonny and Cher were in attendance). Each student strutted down the runway \u2014 a thin concrete rail that ran parallel to the stage \u2014 before stopping to pose for pictures. Among them was Isabel Madera, who said the rainbow painted on her face was inspired by the hippie movement. \u201cAnything \u201970s is just bright and colorful,\u201d Madera said. While she attended the previous Roaring \u201920s event, this was the first time she participated in a Breakthrough show. \u201cI normally have a model to practice [on] and this time I had to [paint] on myself. It was scarier. I\u2019m proud of how I ended up and I\u2019m surprised I went up there and did what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanguard Culture\u2019s next quarterly event in the series will be held on Sept. 21 with a focus on the \u201990s. To learn more, visit vanguardculture.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n