'Heavy Duty': A Steamroller Printmaking Exhibition
Visual Art, Outdoor Art
Mesa College Art Gallery has put together a large-scale printmaking project and outdoor exhibition — with a little help from some construction equipment. Sixteen artists were provided a wood plate to design a print on, then, in the Mesa College parking lot, the wood plates were inked and layered with cloth as a steamroller drove over each one, transferring the print onto the cloth. I love how anti-virtual this project is after a long year-plus of living on screens.
Artists include Katie Ruiz, Trevor Amery, Jose Hugo Sanchez, Wendel Kling and more, including smaller works by Kling's entire drawing class. The cloth works will be hung along the chain link fence in parking lot 1, to be viewed drive-through (or walk-through) style, following on the heels of their outdoor drive-in exhibition last fall.
If you're one of the first 200 people to roll through on Friday, you'll receive a small package of art cards with the prints.
Details: The outdoor exhibition is on view beginning in a special reception Friday from 2-5 p.m., and will be viewable weekdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. through June 4. 7250 Mesa College Drive, Linda Vista. Free.
Bach Collegium: 'Bach And His Rivals'
Music
Ah, the exciting 300-year-old drama of Leipzig's music scene in 1722. In the final event of Bach Collegium San Diego's 2021 season, they'll explore the works of Telemann, Graupner and Bach from the year they were each positioning for the role of Thomaskantor — music director of the famed St. Thomas church and basically the central music figure in the city, reporting to the city council and performing at all civic events. Sorry to bring the spoilers, but Bach ultimately got the gig. Bach Collegium picked three baroque works for a small ensemble, one by each "auditionee" as the group refers to the three composers. Graupner's bright "Reiner Geist, Lass Doch Mein Herz," Telemann's "Du Aber, Daniel, Gehe Hin (Trauermusik)," — which is gloomy and a bit funereal — and Bach's sweeping "Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott Läßt Walten." This is a recorded concert with a "release date" of Saturday evening, but it will be available to stream through June 30.
Details: Streams online beginning Saturday at 5 p.m., through June 30. $25.
Barrio Art Crawl: Neil Kendricks, Flora Wilds And 3B Collective
Visual Art
Art openings are back, baby. There's a full dance card just on Saturday alone, courtesy of the Barrio Art Crawl. The Bread and Salt complex is host to three separate exhibitions, all opening with socially distanced receptions on Saturday evening.
Neil Kendricks will open "Mirror, Mirror: Lights, Camera, Dreams" in the main Bread and Salt space. It's a series of experimental short films and projections dedicated to the memory of his father.
At the Athenaeum Art Center, Flora Wilds will install her large-scale sculptural work made of repurposed clothing, "False Neutrals, Fake Naturals," which has previously been installed, modified and documented in different environments throughout the state. AAC is hosting a pop-up show from 5-8 p.m.
Best Practice gallery has a lot to celebrate: a new space at Bread and Salt, and its inaugural exhibition, works by the Los Angeles-based 3B Collective. The collective is six artists, and the show will feature individual works of painting, sculpture, video, some collaborative pieces and a mural.
Bonus: Don't miss Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio's massive #StopTheSpread mural on the side of the silo tower, too.
Details: Saturday from 5-8 p.m. 1955 Julian Ave., Barrio Logan/Logan Heights. Free.
Carrie Feller And D.WREX Live Outdoor Show
Music
It sometimes feels like jazz, instrumental, choral and even showtunes performers have all found a way to return to live performances with an audience, but rock music still seems stuck at home. But no more! Sunday evening at Sycamore Den, darkwave rocker extraordinaire Carrie Feller will team up with D.WREX. Happy Mother's Day to me? To get a taste for their music, check out Feller's 2020 album "Damage Orbit," (and the remix follow-up "Damage CTRL") and D.WREX's 2021 self-titled EP. This is an outdoor, patio show, with limited capacity and other COVID restrictions. D.WREX takes the stage at 6 p.m. and Feller at 7 p.m.
Details: Sunday from 6-8 p.m. 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Free.
For more arts events and editor's picks, check out the KPBS/Arts calendar, and be sure to sign up for the weekly KPBS/Arts newsletter.
