This weekend in San Diego arts: inventive, activism-rooted original theater, saying goodnight to a legendary music venue, the accomplished ladies of Italian Baroque music, a book — and art exhibition — dedicated to the stories of Chicano Park and a new Bruce Lee doc in the San Diego Asian Film Festival drive-in. And there are options for (most) comfort levels with in-person performances, galleries, virtual shows, streaming festivals and online exhibitions.
'La Tierra Mia' Book Installation and Exhibition at Swish Projects
Visual art, Photography, Books
Swish Projects in North Park just opened a new exhibition that centers on the release of a book by Bob Dominguez, "La Tierra Mia: A Chicano Park Story." The book — and the art installation — tells stories through photographs and brief texts from artists connected with Chicano Park. "La Tierra Mia" was the name ascribed to Chicano Park after 1970's "The Takeover," when some 250 activists and community members occupied and protested the construction of a police patrol station — which resulted in Chicano Park as we know it, a historic and cultural mainstay for 50 years and home to more than 80 murals. The book is dedicated to those 250 activists. At Swish, you can view the book and exhibition by masked appointment Thursday through Sunday. Dominguez will be on-site each day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for book signings tours.
Details: By appointment Thursday through Sunday, now through Nov. 8. 2903 El Cajon Blvd #2. Free.
More visual art: The regional juried exhibition "Mixed Media Madness" at Ashton Gallery/Art on 30th closes Friday. The gallery is open for socially distant visits and you can view the winners, runners up and all the works online, too.
Blindspot Collective: Good Trouble
Theater
The creative folks behind Blindspot Collective have stitched together another inventive pandemic offering. "Good Trouble" melds radio with public, outdoor performance, and shines the spotlight on the youth activism movement. Featuring interviews, media clips, original music and poetry. In several local parks, Blindspot will broadcast public listening sessions of the audioplay and stage pop-up protests. Masks and social distancing measures will be required, and specifics will be emailed out in advance.
Details: Saturday at 11 a.m. in Pacific Beach and 4 p.m. in National City; Sunday at 11 a.m. in La Jolla and 4 p.m. in City Heights. Registration required.
More theater: This summer, San Diego Rep joined forces with nearly two dozen theaters across the country to curate The Breath Project, short theatrical works on film, each lasting 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the period of time linked to George Floyd's death. The nationwide festival takes place online Saturday and Sunday, with three opportunities for viewing.
'Muses of Parnassus: A Baroque Concert'
Classical music
Bach Collegium takes the virtual stage this Saturday with a collection of work by Italian women composers from the Baroque period — Isabella Leonarda, Francesca Caccini and Barbara Strozzi. A few fantastic facts: Leonarda was a 50-year-old nun before she started composing with any regularity, Strozzi had more music in print than anyone else in the period, and Caccini became the highest paid musician at the Medici court in 1614. San Diego's GRAMMY-nominated Jennifer Ellis Kampani will perform the soprano, along with strings performers, plus director Ruben Valenzuela on harpsichord and organ. The evening will feature a lecture by Daniel Zuluaga.
Details: Saturday at 7 p.m. Online. $25.
More choral music: San Diego Women's Chorus' virtual show "Together/Apart" will feature singalong-ready standards like "Scarborough Fair," "Somewhere Out There," and "(Has Anybody Seen The) Choir." Premieres Saturday at 7 p.m. with an encore stream Sunday at 4 p.m. Free.
San Diego Asian Film Festival: 'Be Water' Drive-In
Film
The San Diego Asian Film Festival runs this weekend through Oct. 31. You can read Beth Accomando's full preview here. On my agenda is the pop-up drive-in showing of "Be Water," a new documentary about Bruce Lee, the out-of-the-spotlight side to his life and his impact on Asian Americans in the 1960s and '70s.
Details: "Be Water" screens Sunday at 7 p.m. at Zion Market. 7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. $30-40 per car or included in a festival pass ($149-199).
Bar Pink's #RIPink: Hiroshima Mockingbirds
Music
Sadly, North Park's friendliest live music haven, Bar Pink, is closing permanently. Before they go dark, they're bringing back some favorites to rock that corner stage one last time — courtesy of Twitch. I'm looking forward to the Hiroshima Mockingbirds Monday night. Their sound is kind of garagey, kind of gritty, kind of rocking. Pour yourself a cheap drink at home (it's supposed to be rainy weather, and I was always a big fan of Bar Pink's hot toddies) and tune in for a melancholy send off.
Details: Monday at 8 p.m. Via Bar Pink's Twitch channel. Free.
For more arts events, visit the KPBS/Arts calendar or sign up for the weekly arts newsletter, delivered every Thursday.
