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Renowned artist Kolten French proudly announces his latest exhibition with other well known artists, “Estate Sale,” set to captivate art enthusiasts and curious minds alike. Taking place in the vibrant Hillcrest neighborhood, this show promises a bold and thought-provoking exploration of growing disparities in our lives, all expressed through Kolten's signature style. From stunning new works to a striking mural gracing the venue at 829 Washington St., every detail is designed to immerse you in a world of creativity and connection. When: February 7, 5–10 p.m. Where: 829 Washington St., San Diego Words from Kolten: "I feel awful promoting anything given what people are going through in LA and the world at large. With the inauguration a couple days away, the bad news will only continue to flood in. That said, here we are." I've rented a physical space in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego to share my artwork with my community in person. "Estate Sale" is the title of my exhibit, opening February 7 from 5–10 p.m. at 829 Washington St. This space also features a large mural I recently painted, and I’ll be displaying many new works exploring the growing disparity in our lives. - Beverages and tunes will be provided to ease your social anxiety. Come see what I’ve been working on, and let’s have a conversation in real life. Let’s find moments of connection and reflection, even in turbulent times. #EstateSaleExhibit #SanDiegoArt #HillcrestArtScene #CommunityThroughArt #SocialDisparity #ArtExhibitOpening #SanDiegoEvents Kolten French on Instagram

Explore ceramic handbuilding & funky glazes! From 6-8:30 p.m., with the last class of the series from 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays, January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 12 In this 5-week series, students will learn the basics of handbuilding to create functional pieces with an emphasis on decorative techniques. Working with mid fire clay, we will explore various methods of building forms and decorative techniques with underglazes, slips, glaze, and various experimental materials. Students will complete multiple projects throughout the course with an artistic and creative approach to decorative designs. Inspired by printmaking, painting and drawing, we will explore image transfers, mark making, layering, stencils, and more! Through the use of technique and materials, students will explore the fusion of 2D art and 3D form. Students will be able to utilize a wide array of glazes and colors through the course. The instructor will have a wide array of custom decorative materials for use and sale. All materials provided. Additional materials available via the instructor for a fee. Ages 15+ welcome! • Military and sibling discounts • Scholarships available • Homeschool funds accepted • If this class is full, join the Interest List. • If you would like to be notified of future offerings, join the Interest List to be notified when new dates or spaces are available.

President Biden notified Congress of his intent to lift the U.S. label of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism as part of a deal aided by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.

Join us at Southwestern College Art Gallery for the opening of Movidas Razquaches and Other Cheap Thrills, a collection of new work by artist Perry Vásquez. The exhibition is open from February 4 - March 4, 2025. Regular Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10:30 AM -2:30 PM or by appointment. ARTIST STATEMENT“As an artist I try to pay attention to things being created and consumed within my milieu along the San Diego/Tijuana boundary. I find inspiration by reframing and recontextualizing overlooked things I find here and there and on the margins. I chose Movidas Razquaches as the title for my show because I think it captures the spirit and methodology of what I want to accomplish as an artist.” – Perry Vásquez. ABOUT THE LANGUAGEAccording to Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, rasquachismo is a sensibility that gets expressed in Chicano cultural forms and practices. Ybarra-Frausto writes, “It is a sensibility that is not elevated and serious, but playful and elemental. It finds delight and refinement in what many consider banal and projects an alternative aesthetic, a sort of good taste of bad taste.” Like African-American funk, or the improvised inventions of Rube Goldberg, the emphasis is on wit, resourcefulness and working with what is at hand. The add-on word, movida, can be translated as a maneuver, or a play (as in a game). Poet Juan Felipe Herrera interprets movidas rasquaches as “cheap thrills”, linking it to a pleasurable activity open to anyone who cares to partake. While legal scholar Alfredo Mirandé offers the word “hustle,” suggesting an illicit or unethical way to make a living. Sociologist David Spener uses movidas rasquaches to describe the network of the ad hoc work-arounds and tricks employed by migrants to navigate the US/Mexico border. While no single one of these terms perfectly captures the full meaning, taken together they give a reliable framework for interpretation. ABOUT THE WORKOver the last year and a half, Vásquez has created new work that divides into four projects using different media and including collaborative and solo work. Some of the projects are well established while others are being presented to the public for the first time in this exhibition. Blankets Vásquez collects flyers advertising gardening services left on his driveway by workers seeking employment. The no-thrills graphic style and the not-so-subtle way in which they seem to copy each other caught the artist’s eye. The act of weaving the flyers into blanket designs celebrates the DIY approach while reminding us of the workers’ aspirations to provide warmth and shelter for their families. Le Voyage/El Viaje This is an AI imaging project whose goal was to rethink and replace the transactional language used to prompt and generate AI images. “The AI image making process is hyper-focused on the outcome as the only part of the process with artistic merit. The prompt itself is written to be transactional and limiting.” Vásquez turned the process of generating imagery into a Surrealist game by inserting lines from French poet Charles Baudellaire’s poem Le Voyage into the software. The resulting images were used as the basis for a series of oil paintings. Monopalms The presence of cell towers disguised as palm trees (monopalms) has become a common sight in Southern California. This series of paintings implies the link between palm trees and the myth of paradise. The paintings also offer commentary on the telecommunications industry and how it alters our perception of nature and our sense of public and private space. Mexus Nexus Fluxus Inspired by Mexican recording artist Esquivel and the German techno artist Señor Coconut, Vásquez arranged four traditional Mexican songs for the synthesizer. He then worked with visual artists Lianne Mueller-Thompson and Carlos Solorio to create video and animations for the music. The music will be presented as a video installation. RECEPTIONSSaturday February 8, 11 AM -1 PM. (free parking in Lot O for this event) Tuesday, February 11, 11 AM -1 PM.

San Diego-area Catholics and religious and elected leaders on Thursday hailed the selection of Chicago native Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new pope, becoming the first American to ever hold the position.

As more than a billion Catholics around the world await the election of a new pope, all eyes are on the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals started the secretive process known as a conclave.

In a flurry of picks on Friday evening, Trump named three choices for top health jobs. Together they would help the incoming president shift the priorities of agencies that are key to public health.

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit organization that serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will host the 47th Annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show on Saturday, August 2, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in Downtown (1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101). This year’s theme, “London Calling” is a celebration of British fashion and culture. London’s rich fashion heritage is known for pushing boundaries and blending sophistication with bold street styles. This show’s runway styles will showcase the tailored and timeless elegance of one of the world’s biggest fashion capitals. This fabulous event will open with live music, shopping, a silent auction, and free-flowing champagne. Shortly after, guests will be dazzled by surprise performances and entertainment, a delicious full-course gourmet meal, a live auction, and the main event: a one-of-a-kind fashion show that captures the chic spirit of London. The runway show will also highlight the shining students at SMSC. Each year, students are featured in the show, strutting in styles and showcasing their spectacular skills and confidence. The event promises an unforgettable evening of glamour, philanthropy, and community spirit — all in support of a great cause. All proceeds from the event benefit SMSC’s nationally recognized innovative programs that allow students to develop creative outlets, learn marketable skills, and gain a sense of independence and self-esteem. The organization combines a culture of care and creativity within quality programs to provide education, practical skills development, employment, and dignity for a lifetime. Over 350 students attend SMSC, ranging from recent high school graduates to seniors well into their eighties. This year’s event will honor Bev Ireland and have Ginger Poutous as the Honorary Chair. The Host Chairs are Robbin “Kulek” Lockie and John Lockie. The presenting sponsors are The Guild Hotel and The Mansour Group. Supporters can also choose to donate, as this year’s Haute With Heart has received a generous matching pledge. Thanks to the incredible generosity of June Rubin and Chris & Karen Ward, all donations made from today through August 2 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $65,000. Doubling your gift allows SMSC to increase efforts in supporting its programs and students who thrive at the center. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Tickets start at $225 for standard and $325 for VIP. All tickets include complimentary champagne during the pre-luncheon reception, a full-course luncheon, and complimentary parking. VIP tickets include premium runway seating, preferred valet parking, and complimentary wine during the full course luncheon. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.hautewithheart.org. About St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center: St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit organization in El Cajon, CA, educates and empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to realize their full potential. Founded in 1966 by the Society of the Sacred Heart, the Center first focused on pre-school children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When public schools began to assume that role in the early 1970s, SMSC shifted its focus to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today, SMSC provides work training and social experiences that encourage students to become well-rounded, contributing members of the greater community. The Center also strives to educate the community about the realities of intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. It employs over 120 staff members and has a fleet of some 45 paratransit vans and buses transports students between home, campus, and work sites, five days a week. For more information, visit www.stmsc.org. St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center on Facebook / Instagram

A Pentagon-wide advisory that went out one week ago warned against using Signal, the messaging app, even for unclassified information.

Local author Emily Greenberg’s debut collection of experimental short stories explores blurred lines between truth and fiction, with settings ranging from Kellyanne Conway's perspective on inauguration night to a chance meeting between Paris Hilton and Thomas Pynchon.