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We watched all the local entries so you don't have to. From inventive setups to unforgettable songs, these musicians brought creativity, presence and serious skill to their 2025 NPR Tiny Desk submissions.

"What is it like to be a teen right now?" Young artists explored that question for two different exhibitions of their work this summer. But on the National Mall, their work was deemed too political.

"General Dynamics" — Solo Exhibition by Weston Riffle Opens at Poway Center for the Performing Arts A solo exhibition of new and selected works by California painter Weston Riffle, will open June 2, 2025 and run through July 1, 2025 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Known for his vivid portrayals of rural California life and unflinching social commentary, Riffle brings a powerful and introspective body of work to North County San Diego. Born in La Mesa in 1970 and raised on a farm in Ramona, Weston Riffle is a product of the land he paints. His academic roots lie at San Diego State University (B.A., 1993) and San Jose State University (M.A., 1996), but he is largely self-taught—an “anti-artist,” in his own words. His unique voice blends deeply personal memory with socio-political undertones, capturing the spirit of California’s agricultural and working-class landscapes. "I wish to express simple purity in desire, action, and hope, of the people and places I have known," says Riffle. "Usually complex beginnings end in simple composition. A fatalistic view seems to be the result.” The exhibition title, "General Dynamics," references the tension between individual identity and the overwhelming machinery of modern systems—economic, social, and existential. In these paintings, brightly rendered scenes of farm workers, fishermen, and rural settings unfold in layered narratives that hint at both celebration and critique. As art gallery director, Deborah M. Williams notes, “It is as if the farm workers in their anonymity are just so many interchangeable parts in a larger machine… The political makes itself known through the personal.” Riffle’s work has been featured in galleries and museums across California for over 20 years, including the Oceanside Museum of Art, National Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, Borrego Art Institute and William D. Cannon Art Gallery. His pieces are held in both public and private collections and will also be the subject of an upcoming solo show at the Santa Paula Art Museum in 2028. Weston maintains art studios in San Diego’s Liberty Station-Arts District and in Idyllwild, CA. and splits his time between the two locations. More of his work can be viewed at Carruth Cellars (Liberty Station location) for the month of June 2025, his Liberty Station studio in Barracks 19, Golden Pine Gallery in Idyllwild and during Idyllwild Open Studios in July 2025. "General Dynamics" is more than a visual experience—it is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reawaken. Riffle’s canvases are memory, protest, and poetry wrapped in color. Exhibition Details: Title: "General Dynamics" Artist: Weston Riffle Location: Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway CA Dates: June 2, 2025 - July 1, 2025 Admission: Free and open to the public For more information, visit www.powaycenterarts.org or contact the box office at (858) 668-4793 The exhibit is open for viewing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. Parking passes are required on weekdays and can be picked up in the Main Office of the PCPA lobby. Poway Center for the Performing Arts on Facebook / Instagram Weston Riffle on Instagram

Prescription drug ads were once banned on broadcasts. But companies argued that infringed on free speech, and the drugs could help people. The FDA now permits pharmaceutical ads.

Step into the world of the "Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling Project" — a bold and immersive exhibition showcasing a comic book created by Kumeyaay Tribal Historians Ethan Banegas, Michael Connolly Miskwish, Lorraine Orosco and Stanley Rodriguez. Through vivid imagery and community-driven narratives, visitors will experience the living history, language and traditions of the Kumeyaay people, presented in comic book form. Comic books are a dynamic format for sharing underrepresented histories, blending art and storytelling to amplify voices too often left out of mainstream narratives. Gallery Hours: Wed. - Sun. from Noon - 4 p.m. Admission is always free 780 Prospect St.La Jolla, CA 92037 La Jolla Historical Society on Facebook / Instagram

The first annual Southern California Indigenous Culture and Art Festival is coming up in Escondido. Plus, where to find the best in Asian cinema and your weekend preview.

Third Sunday Craft is a monthly gathering of creative writers that fosters support, inspiration, and community. More than craft classes, Third Sunday Craft will help you construct and sustain a writing practice. New focus topics for each session will challenge writers to explore and expand their craft. Generative writing prompts will encourage you to grow and learn in exciting new ways. Sharing your work within a safe, supportive community will help you discover and strengthen your voice. Finally, with the goal of fostering supportive accountability, each session will conclude with a writer’s intentions for the month. Come check out Third Sunday Craft! Please note that signing up for two months at a time will allow you to take advantage of the following discount: $62 for two months for members, $74 for two months for nonmembers June: "The Art of Time": How do writers use time-shift devices to create storylines? How to craft effective memories, thoughts, and flashbacks? When to use summary? Habitual time versus continuous time. We will explore with examples. Visit: https://writeyourstorynow.org/classes-workshops/2025-06-22-june-third-sunday-craft-with-rich-farrell/ SD Writers Ink on Instagram and Facebook

Join us on First Free Sunday for the closing celebration of "The Art of Autism: A Different Lens." The program will start with an inspiring conversation and Q&A between exhibition curator Debra Muzikar and neurodiversity consultant Alexander Plank, offering insights into the creative processes and perspectives behind the exhibition. Then, guests are invited to meet the artists, explore the gallery at their own pace, and dive deeper into the bold, expressive works. Celebrate neurodiverse creativity through connection, insight, and discovery. Oceanside Museum of Art on Facebook / Instagram

Formed in 2021, instrumental trio, the Los Angeles League of Musicians, LA LOM, blends the sounds of Cumbia Sonidera, 60’s soul ballads, and classic romantic boleros that emanate from radios, backyard parties, and dance clubs of Los Angeles with the twang of Peruvian Chicha and Bakersfield Country. LA LOM on Youtube / Instagram

Bia Ferreira is a Brazilian singer, composer, and artivist whose “Música de Mulher Preta” (Black Woman Music) confronts racism, homophobia, and champions feminism and love through powerful, socially conscious songs. Bia Ferreira on Facebook / Instagram