I've been anticipating a few of this weekend's arts and culture events for a while now, and with near-constant Instagram Live notifications keeping me very much in the now, it's been nice to have some long-range hope. We have the San Diego International Film Festival, with virtual and drive-in options plus a special local film project, the nationwide #SaveOurStages Festival featuring live sets broadcast from beloved venues (including one of our own), drive-thru art experiences, contemporary dance, Oceanside's music scene, chamber music and jazz, and some in-person visual art installations to catch while you still can.
San Diego International Film Festival 'Locals Theater'
Film
San Diego Film Week is joining forces with the San Diego International Film Festival this weekend. The project, produced by San Diego Film Consortium, took on a different shape this year as the added "Quarantine Film Challenge" asked local filmmakers to really examine what was possible while stuck in a pandemic. SDIFF is offering a special $59 "Locals Theater" pass for any local offering — 63 films in total. I'm here for arts and culture so I'm not going to do the math but rest assured it's a bargain. Plus, it's on-demand viewing for the films, and you get access to panels and Q&As, culminating in Sunday evening's Quarantine Film Awards virtual ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
The SDIFF also features four drive-in films at Westfield UTC, as well as a full festival line-up, so poke around.
Details: Thursday through Sunday, on demand films (film list here) with occasional live panels. $59.
#SaveOurStages Festival
Music
Leon Bridges, Portugal. The Man, Phoebe Bridgers, Dave Matthews, The Lumineers, Marshmello + Demi Lovato and dozens more will livestream sets from iconic and beloved live music venues across the country for this three-day virtual fest — and on Saturday, San Diego's own Jason Mraz will kick things off from the Belly Up.
This is a fundraiser for the nationwide movement to support live music venues, theatres and other performing arts spaces, #SaveOurStages. Streaming is free, but viewers can donate to the cause and support the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, which aims to keep vulnerable venues afloat while they wait for relief funding or the return of audiences.
Details: Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Online. Free/donation based.
Jean Lowe: 'POW!'
Visual art
Read my profile of Jean Lowe's new site-specific installation at Quint ONE here, and catch these ephemeral works before the exhibition closes Nov. 10 (and it gets painted over).
Details: By appointment, Tues-Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 7722 Girard Avenue, La Jolla. Free.
Lux After Dark: A New Territory
Visual Art, Music
Lux is mixing things up a little for their annual gala. The three-pronged approach (these prongs we're starting to get used to: the outdoors, our cars and our screens), might just find that magical balance between access and staying afloat. I'm excited about Friday night's Drive-Thru Art Experience, where you can pile the family in the station wagon and experience drive-thru, site-specific art installations, sound art and other performances. Artists include Yasmine Kasem, Cosmo Whyte, Alyssa Junious & Continuum, Carlos Castro Arias and plenty more. There are some upgrade options for your $25-per-vehicle ticket, including snack boxes from MIHO and tangible art kits for kids.
For a more gala-level price tag on Friday, get the VIP package for an outdoor dinner, cocktails and performances by acoustic duo Little Hurricane and San Diego Dance Theater (plus all the drive-thru art perks).
Saturday's virtual fundraiser will include a raffle, an online auction, virtual performances and more, and it's free to view.
Details: Friday at 7 p.m. at Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas, $25 and up. Saturday at 6 p.m, online, free/donation based.
Oceanside Culture Festival
Music, Theatre, Visual Art, Dance, Culture, Food
First of all, did you know there is now an Oceanside Anthem? It's freshly penned by Oceanside's Shane Hall, the 2020 San Diego Music Award winner for Best Blues Album. The video for the anthem will premiere as part of the virtual Oceanside Culture Festival this weekend. Performances recorded in the historic Brooks Theatre from north county musicians like Watkins Family Hour, Dead Feather Moon and Shane Hall will be available to stream, along with a set from a hip-hop collective featuring Nomis, Ric Scales, Miki Vale and Natal1e. Other Oceanside-based performer will also take the virtual stage, plus demonstrations from local chefs and restaurants. Downtown Oceanside was designated as one of the original 14 California Cultural Districts in 2017, so it's definitely a spot worth celebrating.
Details: Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Online. Free.
PGK Dance Project: Inside/Out
Dance
Created partly during their residency at North Park's Art Produce, "Inside/Out" is the latest virtual offering from PGK Dance Project. It's a mixture of enchanting, poetic, athletic and is more fun than I expected. Embedded within the two main original performance pieces, charming interviews with the dancers make us feel like insiders, and a few audience participation numbers get you on your feet. I will go on the record to say that I am not one for "audience participation" but I watched a preview of this with my 5th grader (thanks, working from home!), and she convinced me to join in.
Details: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Online. $5.
Hausmann Quartet: 'Inhale, Exhale'
Classical Music
The Hausmann Quartet returns to the ship to serenade you this Sunday, however you have to stay landlocked. Recorded from aboard the Berkley — their usual performance space for the Haydn Voyages project — the string quartet will perform three works. Haydn Voyages matches works by Haydn and similar composers with contemporary composers and more modern works. This weekend's installment, which is also KPBS Night, features Haydn's "Quartet no. 51 in G Maj," a 2009 composition by American composer Hannah Lash called "Frayed," and Beethoven's "Serioso" quartet. The theme, "Inhale, Exhale," explores contrasts in music. I listened to a recording of Lash's work and the piece toes the extremes of sound and style.
Details: Sunday at 4 p.m. Online. Pay what you can ($5 minimum).
Mainly Mozart: A Night With Jazz Legend Charles McPherson
Jazz
The trail-blazing Mainly Mozart drive-in shows are back at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. A series of four all-star events kicks off this weekend and runs throughout October, but I have my eye on Sunday evening's performance with jazz legend Charles McPherson. McPherson has a star-studded past (collabs and performances with Charles Mingus and Wynton Marsalis pepper his bio), he recently composed a large-scale work, "Sweet Synergy Suite" with choreographer Javier Velasco for a San Diego Creative Catalyst project and is the composer-in-residence at the San Diego Ballet.
Details: Sunday at 7 p.m. 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $45-100.
For more arts events, visit the KPBS/Arts calendar or sign up for the weekly KPBS/Arts newsletter.
