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Speaker: Meher McArthur, Curator, East Asian Art at Pacific Asia Museum; Creative Director, Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden Meher McArthur was born in India to a Scottish father and Persian mother and grew up in Scotland, Canada, and England feeling very out of place. Hoping to go into international business, she studied Japanese at college and lived in Japan for two years but fell in love with Japanese art and took a new direction. She became a Japanese art historian and has been passionately curating Japanese art exhibitions in museums and galleries and for national tour for over 25 years. This lecture is a sneak preview of her new memoir (October 2025) and will highlight some of the most significant art works in her life and career and show how Japanese art helped her find her place in the world. Speaker bio: Meher McArthur is an Asian art historian specializing in Japanese art. She worked as a curator of East Asian Art at Pacific Asia Museum and Creative Director for the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, both in Pasadena and was Academic Curator for Scripps College in Claremont and Art and Cultural Director for Japan House, Los Angeles. She curates traveling exhibitions for International Arts & Artists (IA&A), currently "Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper" and upcoming "KIMONO: Garment, Canvas, and Artistic Muse." Her publications include "Gods and Goblins: Folk Paintings from Otsu" (PAM, 1999), "Reading Buddhist Art" (Thames & Hudson, 2002), "The Arts of Asia" (Thames & Hudson, 2005), "An ABC of What Art Can Be" (Getty Museum, 2010), "New Expressions in Origami Art" (Tuttle, 2017), and "Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper" (IA&A, 2021). She lives in Pasadena, California. Please note, this session will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Save your spot by clicking on this link. All participants will be sent the Zoom link via confirmation email with instructions once you secure your place. The San Diego Museum of Art on Facebook / Instagram

Ekphrastic poets find their inspiration in the visual. Their poems imagine, describe, or expand upon the “story” of an image or work of art. Every ekphrastic poem is its own work of art, separate but related to the visual inspiration. In this workshop, you will learn about well-known and not-so-well-known ekphrastic poems, and you will learn a methodology so that you can confidently approach this exciting cross-genre space. You will work in the Inspirations Gallery and create one or more unique poems. You will have the option to share your work aloud, as well as past poems, in a book in the gallery. Sharing is NOT required but an option for anyone who’d like to do it. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

"Disrupted Pathology" Joshua Almond Aug. 27 – Oct. 10, 2025 Through his wooden sculptures, studio furniture, and drawings, Joshua Almond examines cellular processes where normal patterns break down, exploring the visual poetry found in these moments of biological disruption. These profound transformations reveal tensions between order and chaos, growth and decay. Each piece investigates how dysfunction possesses its own beauty and logic, transforming microscopic phenomena into human-scaled encounters. The inclusion of functional furniture alongside sculptural works creates a further dialogue between utility and organic inspiration. Rather than clinical illustration, the works in this exhibition provoke a re-examination of the multitude of cells collectively responsible for our own unique shape, and the moments of crisis when life’s programming encounters beautiful errors and necessary failures. Joshua Almond on Bluesky

After a decade of development, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a beautiful but befuddling game full of misguided design decisions and annoying sidekicks.

Open Studio at the Athenaeum Art Center invites local printmakers and artists to utilize the equipment and space in the printmaking studio. Prior knowledge in printmaking and equipment familiarity is required as open studio time is not for learning a new printmaking process or one on one lessons. The Athenaeum Art Center offers printmaking courses throughout the year for those wanting to learn a new craft or wanting to enhance their art practice. Open Studio is free for everyone. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library on Facebook / Instagram

Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classics including "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour" during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died. He was 84.

Gather for a lively storytime in the MOPA@SDMA Dammeyer Gallery, surrounded by the vibrant artwork of Cat Chiu. Families are invited to enjoy engaging storytelling, songs, and readings of beloved children’s books in a space where art and literature meet. Listen to stories at 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. alongside Cat Chiu’s quilt-inspired installations made from children’s book jackets. This imaginative setting celebrates creativity, memory, and play. No reservation required. Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art on Instagram

A coalition of charitable foundations are creating the Literary Arts Fund, which will distribute at least $50 million to various organizations over 5 years.

First, a new detox center in downtown is being heralded as a first of its kind for the county. Next, a change.org petition having to do with the county’s animal shelter has over 2,000 signatures. Then, a group of scientists are looking for solutions to the air quality problems at the Salton Sea. Finally, San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 is an unlikely art museum.

Exploring Identity: Integrating Art & Ethnic Studies This dynamic professional development session is designed for all educators, not just art teachers, who are seeking innovative ways to meet California’s new Ethnic Studies graduation requirement. Exploring the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum theme of Identity, participants will explore how visual art can serve as a powerful tool to deepen students' understanding and enhance learning outcomes. Aligned with the National Core Art Standards, this session equips educators with contemporary art resources, creative techniques, and adaptable project ideas that can be seamlessly integrated into various subjects. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to foster student engagement, promote cultural awareness, and build a stronger sense of community in any classroom. ArtReach: Website / Facebook / Instagram