Visual Arts

Last week I attended the opening of artist Robert Wilson's Video Portraits at the Timken Museum. I snapped a few photos to give you a feel for the exhibit and opening reception.

Speculation is mounting that Banksy is in San Diego. A piece on the side of a taco shop in Oceanside was possibly created by the mysterious graffiti artist, who has been tagging locations in Los Angeles leading up to the Oscars. However, not everyone thinks the taco shop mural is by Banksy.

The paintings of Sir Thomas Gainsborough could be viewed as the 18th century version of celebrity portraiture. Gainsborough's portraits of notorious and fashionable women of the day are currently on view at the San Diego Museum of Art, along with the work of 20th century abstract painter Howard Hodgkin.

A parody of "Exit Through The Gift Shop," the Oscar-nominated documentary by the street artist Banksy, is currently making the rounds on the internet. It's called "Exit Through the Pet Shop" and I'll just say that cats never looked so street.

This weekend, the San Diego Opera opens their 2011 season with Puccini's "Turandot." Although this is a tale of love in Imperial China, the sets are far from traditional. KPBS arts producer Angela Carone went to rehearsals to find out what is unique about the set design.

The film that recently caused a nationwide controversy in the art world is on view at MCASD. The Smithsonian pulled David Wojnarowicz's film from an exhibit under pressure from conservative groups, inciting accusations of censorship. San Diegans can now view the film in its entirety at MCASD.

Roughly 1,000 people showed up in La Jolla on Saturday, despite the rain, to choose a favorite color and share it with artist Roy McMakin, who is constructing a mural out of the choices.

Artist Roy McMakin wants to know what your favorite color is and why. The acclaimed artist and UCSD grad will be in La Jolla this weekend constructing a mural using the favorite colors of passers-by. We'll talk with McMakin about interactive mural-making, color and his career in art, architecture and design.

While driving through the California desert, you may come across derelict shacks spotting the landscape. These homesteads, called jackrabbits, were built by people laying claim to plots of desert land in response to the Small Tract Act of 1938. Our guests, both artists, have explored the jackrabbits in their work, through photographs, audio tours, sculpture and installation.

Jen Davis takes self-portraits as a way to understand her body in relationship to cultural standards of beauty. Her images are quiet, intimate portraits of a woman exploring ideas of body image, domesticity, and desire.