This weekend in the arts: Disco Riot interprets Cauleen Smith's video work at San Diego Museum of Art; a group show at Quint; James E. Watts at Oceanside Museum of Art; Silkroad Ensemble's "Home Within"; Thee Sacred Souls, Kahlil Nash and more at Quartyard; San Diego Opera's "Roméo et Juliette"; and a day of choral concerts at the San Diego Sings Festival.
'Flori Canta': Disco Riot and Cauleen Smith at SDMA+
Dance, Visual art
Disco Riot is a local innovative dance company, focused on collaborative, movement-based art. Throughout the past two years of the pandemic, Disco Riot has created some beautiful dance films and projects, like the "Move American" series of short films about voting issues, or "A Year of Distance." I also recently watched the company add choreography to contemporary artist Ana de Alvear's hyperrealistic drawings at the San Diego Museum of Art.
Disco Riot returns to the museum for a new SDMA+ project, reflecting on Cauleen Smith's 2020 video work, "Flori Canta," — which is itself a work inspired by an early 1600s masterpiece in the museum's collection, Juan Sánchez Cotán’s "Still Life with Quince, Cabbage, Melon, and Cucumber."
RELATED: A Not-So Still Life: Cauleen Smith At SDMA
The short, seven-minute performances are free with museum admission, and take place in the museum's rotunda. Smith's installation is still on view at SDMA.
Details: Friday, Apr. 1, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. SDMA, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Free with museum admission, $8-$20 (museum admission is free for members and youth under the age of 17).
'Bounteous': A Group Exhibition
Visual art
Both of Quint's La Jolla spaces are currently full of Quint artists, with sculpture, photography, drawing and painting representing an impressive swath of time in contemporary art.
Watch for the whimsical Tom Driscoll installation, an embroidered collage from Griselda Rosas, a mesmerizing Christopher Puzio sculpture and a recent acrylic monolith by Robert Irwin. There are 20 artists in total, including Jean Lowe, Ryan McGinness and Kelsey Brookes.
Details: On view through May 21, 2022. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Quint Galleries, 7655 Girard Ave., and 7722 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free.
Quartyard Anniversary: Thee Sacred Souls, DEVVLOV, Kahlil Nash
Music, R&B/Soul
Thee Sacred Souls have lots to celebrate these days: they're recently home from a national tour with St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and about to embark on another tour supporting Belle and Sebastian and Tennis later this summer. But for now, they're celebrating being home, and the fifth anniversary of East Village event space Quartyard.
The anniversary month kicks off with Saturday's late afternoon/early evening outdoor show, featuring Thee Sacred Souls, DEVVLOV and Kahlil Nash, who won a 2021 San Diego Music Award for his excellent album, "Transcendence."
Details: Saturday, Apr. 2, 2022 from 4-9 p.m. Quartyard, 1301 Market St., downtown. $25-$40.
James E. Watts: 'Storyteller'
Visual art
Curated by Beth Smith, Oceanside Museum of Art's latest exhibition, "Storyteller," showcases the work of San Diego sculptor James E. Watts. Watts' work is immensely character-driven and inspired by beloved and monstrous characters in literature.
His figurative sculptures are eye-stopping and abstract, and his panels or flat works — generally constructed from reclaimed wood and tin — are jam packed with intricate details.
Details: Opens Saturday, Apr. 2 through Jul. 17, 2022. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Thursday; noon to 8 p.m. Friday; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. $0-$10.
Silkroad Ensemble: 'Home Within'
Music, Classical
The Grammy-winning Silkroad Ensemble was originally conceived by Yo-Yo Ma in the late '90s (though Ma will not appear in this performance). In the multimedia project, "Home Within," a small ensemble of performers will accompany the visual art of Syrian Armenian artist Kevork Mourad. Through live projections of Mourad's illustrations — he works on stage alongside the musicians — the program explores Syria's recent history and strife, and the artists reflect on what home is amidst tragedy and loss. Performers include Syrian composer and clarinet player Kinan Azmeh, who conceived the project with Mourad, as well as Layale Chaker, Shawn Conley, Karen Ouzounian, Issam Rafea and Shane Shanahan. As the world faces even more conflict and growing refugee crises, this reflection feels almost necessary.
Details: Sunday, Apr. 3, 2022 at 7 p.m. (pre-show interview at 6 p.m.). Baker-Baum Concert Hall, The Conrad, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $36-$70.
'Roméo et Juliette'
Opera
Two performances remain of San Diego Opera's production of "Roméo et Juliette," Charles Gounod's adaptation of the Shakespearean classic. If you haven't heard KPBS art and culture reporter Beth Accomando's interview with performers and the production's "intimacy director" and fight choreographer, you can check that out here. "A lot of intimacy direction came out of fight direction, and a lot of the principles are the same," Doug Scholz-Carlson said.
Gonoud's opera involves a series of four significant duets for the characters, and is known for its lush, pretty compositions. Plus, of course, sword fights and tragic heartbreak.
Details: Friday, Apr. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Apr. 3 at 2 p.m. Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown. $56-$580.
San Diego Sings! Festival
Music
This Saturday at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla, fifteen local choral groups gather together for a gigantic singing festival. It's an all-day event, but tickets are sold as three separate concert blocks. The 15 choirs are divided into five-choir blocks, so you can check the line-up and pick some of your favorites. Some highlights: at 11 a.m., the San Diego Children's Choir and Director's Cut; at 2 p.m., the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Chorus San Diego; and at 7 p.m. the La Jolla Symphony Chorus, Musica Vitale and the Sweet Adelines. Each session wraps up with all five groups taking the stage for an audience singalong.
Details: Saturday, Apr. 2 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Conrad, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $23 per performance.
For more curated arts Editor's Picks, or to submit your own event, visit the KPBS/Arts calendar.
