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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.

SeaWorld San Diego is celebrating Lunar New Year over two weekends from February 1 through February 9 as the sights, sounds and aromas of Asia come alive during a one-of-a-kind festival that’s fit for the whole family. The event is included with park admission and features cultural entertainment, authentic food & beverage options and festive décor. Pass Members can enjoy all the Lunar New Year celebration has to offer with unlimited visits allowing them to attend both weekends for free to enjoy all the festivities. Dates: Feb. 1-2 and Feb. 8-9, 2025 The Lunar New Year Festival Stage will include special presentations and cultural performances from the local community, including: ALL- NEW Slithering Snakes – Celebrate the Year of the Snake with a special one-day presentation on Saturday, Feb. 1! Guests will get an up-close look at fascinating snakes, including a Burmese python, boa, rattlesnake, king snake and more. Learn what makes these incredible reptiles unique in the animal kingdom. Taiko Drumming – Experience the captivating energy of traditional Japanese drumming with La Jolla Taiko. This talented group blends classical taiko rhythms with global and contemporary influences, creating a mesmerizing performance where heritage meets innovation. Lion Dancers - Visitors will be immersed in the vibrant tradition of lion and dragon dancing during a colorful and high-energy spectacle from Three Treasures Cultural Arts Society bringing the spirit of the Lunar New Year to life. During these high-energy performances by local community groups, lucky red envelopes will be handed out, each containing a special surprise or saying to symbolize good wishes and luck for the year ahead. Delicious, Asian-inspired food and beverage options will also be available to celebrate. Guests can enjoy beef chow mein, pork belly bao, kimchi fried rice, wonton soup, vegetable spring rolls, mango pudding, green tea mochi ice cream and more! Drink options include Lucky Dragon Punch with strawberry popping boba, Tsing Tao Beer and an Orange Blossum cocktail. For a limited time, guests can enjoy up to 40% off tickets and up to 20% off Annual Passes. Guests can also enjoy all-year access with a 2025 Fun Card, paying less than a single day’s admission. Annual Pass Members get unlimited visits, exclusive event access and no blockout dates. In Spring 2025, Pass Members will also have the first opportunity to experience SeaWorld’s exciting new exhibit, "Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience," an immersive and interactive aquarium. For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit www.seaworldsandiego.com. Follow SeaWorld on Facebook and Instagram for the latest park details and information.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses his new children's book, "Simone," his approach to memoir, speaking out on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how climate catastrophes may force Americans to reframe their thinking on refugees.

Memorial Day weekend gems, minerals, and craft show: - Local artists, crafts, gifts - 20+ retail dealers and vendors - Fine minerals, gems, crystals, slab, rough, lapidary items - Handmade jewelry - Raffle - Win great prizes Visit: visitjulian.com/julian-rocks-gem-show/ Julian Chamber of Commerce on Facebook / Instagram

Catch Viral Comedian Abbas Wahab on his North American Joyride Tour, May 1 at San Diego's Mic Drop Comedy! Abbas Wahab is a New York-based, Canadian comedian and actor. He's been featured on Just For Laughs and Edinburgh Fringe festivals, and is best known most recently for his role as SWAT officer in M.Night Shyamalan's "Trap". Wahab has also appeared in TV shows, such as "The Boys", "What We Do In The Shadows", and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds". He has garnered a loyal following of over 350k fans on Instagram and TikTok. Abbas is best known for his viral "job interview" and "automotive marketing" series, which parody the behind-the-scenes hiring and advertising of major brands. His comedic style has been described as electrifying and sharp, with grounded storytelling. Don’t miss him on the road! Check out Abbas Wahab on Instagram and TikTok

One of the Port of San Diego's 23 parks, Grand Caribe Shoreline Park is located near the Coronado Cays neighborhood on an artificial peninsula in southwestern San Diego Bay. At 2.4 acres, it provides recreational public access to the coastline. Since the construction of the peninsula in the 1960s, Grand Caribe’s eastern shoreline has experienced chronic erosion that poses a threat to the park, local habitat, and public access for the community. To temporarily manage the erosion, the Port has exhausted short-term solutions including the placement of 240 burlap sandbags along the shoreline. Now, long-term sustainable solutions are needed to protect the park, safeguard the existing habitat, and maintain public access. Community Input Join the Port project team at a public workshop and provide feedback to shape the future of Grand Caribe Shoreline Park. DATE: Tuesday, April 29 TIME: 5 p.m. LOCATION: Coronado Cays Yacht Club, 30 N Caribe Cay Blvd. N, Coronado, CA 92118 The project team will provide a brief presentation about the shoreline’s current vulnerability to erosion and discuss concepts designed to reduce erosion, provide shoreline stability, and maintain public access with minimal impact on adjacent habitat. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input on the potential nature-based design concepts with the project team. Public feedback will help inform a preferred design concept that will be presented for additional input at a second workshop in mid-2025. The Port will then refine the final concept and develop engineering design drawings for implementation. PROJECT BACKGROUND The Grand Caribe Shoreline Park Erosion Improvements Project will help the Port achieve a long-term, nature-based solution by working with nature rather than against it to help stabilize the coastline for generations to come. This project is a vital part of the Port’s promise to enrich the relationship people have with the dynamic waterfront and benefit the quality of life for generations to come. A coastal site assessment has been completed to inform future shoreline stabilization efforts. To accompany the assessment, the Port is launching a technical design study to identify and receive input on possible long-term solutions for future erosion at Grand Caribe Shoreline Park. The Port is committed to engaging the public through a series of public workshops that will help find the best solution to minimize erosion while also preserving the local habitat. For questions about the project, please contact Timothy Barrett at the Port of San Diego by phone at 619.686.6544 or by email at tbarrett@portofsandiego.org.

A free 20 min. breakfast lecture series for our creative community. Join us for coffee, donuts, and inspiration every last Friday of the month. Dinah Poellnitz is an artist, curator, and co-founder of Hill Street Country Club, a community arts and cultural wellness space in Oceanside, California. For over a decade, Dinah has been a dedicated advocate for equitable access to the arts, creating platforms for underrepresented voices while addressing the cycles of disparity and injustice that often undermine community institutions. Her work is deeply rooted in the belief that community spaces are vital in times of uncertainty, spaces where art can communicate, inspire, and reimagine futures. Dinah understands the challenges of building something foundational, navigating systemic inequities, and shifting perceptions of institutions from transactional to transformational. As a cultural leader and creative visionary, Dinah continues to champion the survival of community-driven spaces, ensuring they remain relevant and resilient. Her work embodies the power of breaking cycles, fostering equity, and centering care in the pursuit of a thriving, inclusive arts ecosystem.

Another masterful adaptation of a Molière Classic, School for Wives, by Culture Clash founder Herbert Siguenza. Set in Sinaloa, Mexico in 1992, Don Ernesto is a Narco king who has a young girl named Eva being trained by nuns to become his loyal subservient wife. He sends his wise cracking housekeeper Armida to get the girl via train. While they wait at the train station Eva has a love at first sight encounter with Mario Grande Jr. who is there for his father’s funeral and Don Ernesto’s rival Narco enemy! This narco-novela-comedy borrows from Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and The Importance of Being Earnest for a wild ride that ends with a double wedding and a Narco family truce! Visit: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/palomar-performing-arts/66b5317e48dddb3c17f9a383/tickets#/productions-view Palomar Performing Arts on Instagram and Facebook

Join us at Artreach HQ for a Beadmaking workshop! Express yourself through bead-making and 3D design! Create beautiful patterns and designs through the processes of creating “canes” with colorful polymer clay. Working on a smaller scale, this process teaches pattern and design sculpturally that can be achieved through cutting and slicing. Perfect for making small items and jewelry. Visit: Polymer Clay Beadmaking ArtReach San Diego on Instagram and Facebook

Thirty artists release songs with nature sounds to generate royalties for nature conservation in second annual United Nations Earth Day mixtape.