In the arts this weekend: a new exhibition at ICA Central, free concerts from the San Diego Symphony, City Ballet at Balboa Theatre, Sacra/Profana sings in Fallbrook, visual art faculty group show and New Village Arts' "Into the Woods."
'Surface Tension'
Visual art
The next exhibition to take over the new ICA San Diego Central gallery in Balboa Park will feature the immersive multimedia video work of seven artists from around the world, including San Diego-based Pinar Yoldas, along with Marina Zurkow, Charles Atlas, Ulu Braun, Caroline Monnet and Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley. Each work studies the relationship of humans to the ocean, ranging from our reverence towards the ocean to our abuse and destruction of it. The exhibition opens with a reception on Friday, Mar. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP here.
RELATED: Two San Diegans Show Work In Venice Architecture Biennale 2021
Details: On view March 25, 2022 through June 19, 2022 with a reception Friday, Mar. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. ICA San Diego Central, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. Free.
San Diego Symphony Music Connects
Classical music, Family
San Diego Symphony's Music Connects is a free community outreach program, bringing a one-hour, family-friendly concert to local neighborhoods for free. This weekend's series involves five shows throughout Saturday and Sunday. The program is the same for each concert, featuring five fun, vibrant works by a diverse cast of composers.
For the Wes Anderson fans, one of the selections is Benjamin Britten's "Simple Symphony," which was featured prominently in "Moonrise Kingdom." The symphony will play two movements from the work, including the delightful "Playful Pizzicato" movement.
Other works are Tchaikovsky's sweeping Finale from "Serenade in C Major," William Grant Still's "Danzas de Panama," selections from Ethel Smyth's "Suite for Strings" and Shostakovich's "Chamber Symphony."
Details: Program details here. Saturday, Mar. 26 at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 3502 Clairemont Dr., Clairemont; 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., Banker's Hill; and Sunday, Mar. 27 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 7th St., Coronado. Free.
City Ballet: 'Rhapsody in Blue'
Dance
This program from City Ballet features three major works, including a new ballet from the company's resident choreographer Geoffrey Gonzalez, the titular "Rhapsody in Blue." This piece, set to the music of Gershwin, premiered during the pandemic as an impressive filmed, staged virtual production. I'm sure the live performance will be spectacular, but I might miss the directorial choices made about close-ups and camera angles in the virtual version.
The second piece is famed choreographer George Balanchine's "Danses Concertantes," set to music by Igor Stravinsky. Balanchine originally created this work in 1944, but refreshed it in the '70s. This work is quintessential Balanchine — fast-paced, precise, athletic.
Finally, they'll perform Marius Petipa's "La Bayadere - Kingdom of the Shades," a dramatic excerpt of a larger work that premiered in 1877.
Details: Friday and Saturday, Mar. 25-26, at 8 p.m. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. $30-$97.
Sacra/Profana: American Landscape
Choral music
In Fallbrook, the choral ensemble Sacra/Profana will perform works inspired by National Parks, including Saguaro National Park, Devils Tower National Monument and more. The works will include some settings of John Muir texts and two West Coast premieres: "Crescent Meadow" by Neil Shaw Cohen and "Prairie Elegy" by Eric William Barnum. It's a free show, brought to you by the Fallbrook Music Society and it will take place at the historic 1946 Mission Theater. If the music in this afternoon concert inspires you to explore Fallbrook's nature while you're up there, check out the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve or the (difficult) Monserate Mountain hike.
Details: Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 2 p.m. Mission Theater, 231 N. Main Ave., Fallbrook. Free.
'Campus Creatives': San Diego’s Fine Arts Faculty
Visual Art
I'm a big San Diego college art scene fan, and this new exhibit at California Center for the Arts Escondido features dozens of regional faculty from San Diego's many colleges and universities. Featured artists include Siobhán Arnold, Carlos Castro, Neil Kendricks, Sage Serrano, Griselda Rosas, Eva Struble, Sofia V. Gonzalez and many more.
Also on view will be works that the participating faculty have selected from their students, shown on the "Emerging Artists Wall."
Details: On view Saturday, March 26 through May 15, 2022. Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. CCAE, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $6-$12.
New Village Arts: 'Into The Woods'
Theater
Previews are underway for New Village Arts' production of James Lapine's "Into The Woods," which was the very same musical that the company first produced 11 years ago. Our favorite fairytale characters are thrust into interwoven plotlines with, of course, some Stephen Sondheim tunes. NVA is currently hosting their productions offsite while their theater undergoes renovations, so "Into the Woods" will be performed at Oceanside Theatre's space in the Sunshine Brooks Theatre, under the direction of Kristianne Kurner.
Details: Runs through May 1, 2022. One more low-cost preview performance takes place on Friday, Mar. 25 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with an additional show this weekend on Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunshine Brooks Theatre, 217 N Coast Hwy., Oceanside. $23 students, $30 preview nights; $62 regular price.
More theater: Check out my preview of Cygnet Theatre's production of Quiara Alegría Hudes' "Water by the Spoonful" here.
For more curated arts Editor's Picks, or to submit your own event, visit the KPBS/Arts calendar.
