Brian & Ryan: 'A Kitschmas Pageant'

Arts & Culture

San Diego weekend arts events: 'Kitschmas,' opera and unity through dance

Julia Dixon Evans

Listen • 13:28

From the KPBS weekend arts preview:
"A Kitschmas Pageant" is a festive, kitschy and artistic holiday-themed installation and performance spectacular at the Athenaeum Art Center in Logan Heights. On view will be a delightfully low-brow, strange, colorful exhibition of ornaments, animatronics, dioramas, sculptures and more.

The exhibit is informed by the duo Brian & Ryan's commitment to kitsch as an art form.

"I think not having access to much of contemporary our or art museums growing up, most of my exposure to visual culture was through objects and images, comic books, things that many artists probably are inspired by. But I think being able to appreciate something that's mass produced and maybe cheaply produced — or standing in line at 7-Eleven and looking at the gumball machines with the little toys inside and and just appreciating these, the smallest of gestures that somebody designed, that somebody spent time and energy making decisions," said Ryan Bulis. "By and large, I feel like an artist's responsibility is to shine light onto things that we sometimes overlook."

At the opening reception, the artists will be on-site for performances, and will also feature festive DJ sets and performance art from local artists like Joe Cantrell, San Diego New Verbal Workshop, movement and "spectacle" from Yvette Dibos, live, giant sock knitting from Michelle Montjoy and more.
—Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS

Opening reception:
6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1
On opening night, several San Diego artists, performers and DJs will fill the space with even more holiday cheer.

Performers include:
Brian & Ryan
Joe Cantrell
San Diego New Verbal Workshop
Yvette Dibos
and more

Related links:
Brian & Ryan website | Instagram
Athenaeum Art Center website | Instagram