- House of Charm
The House of Charm is in
Balboa Park, San Diego . It was called the Mining Building in January 1913, and was initially intended to showcase the mineral wealth and abudance of the region ofSan Diego . [" [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/bpbuildings/charm.htm The San Diego Historical Society.] ". "History of the Indian Arts / House of Charm Building", by Richard Amero. Retrieved on September 5, 2008.]Background
Panama California Exposition
San Diego staged the Panama California Exposition in 1915 to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal.San Diego would be the first American port of call north of thePanama Canal on thePacific coast . An exposition would call attention to the city and bolster an economy still shaky from theWall Street panic of 1907. In 1910San Diego had a population of 39,578, San Diego County 61,665,Los Angeles 319,198, andSan Francisco 416,912. San Diego's scant population, the smallest of any city ever to attempt holding an international exposition, testified to the city's pluck and vitality. [" [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/pancal/sdexpo4.htm The San Diego Historical Society.] ". "Panama-California Exposition 1915-1916".Retrieved on September 5, 2008.]California Pacific Exposition
Of the five expositions held in the
United States in the 1930's, the one inSan Diego was the most distinct in appearance. Unlike expositions inChicago ,Dallas ,San Francisco , andNew York City , theSan Diego Exposition used the Spanish-Colonial Revival Style buildings remaining from the 1915-16 Panama-California (International) Exposition. Buildings added by architect Richard Requa introduced the linear and streamlined adaptations of other fairs. While the antiseptic newness and extraordinary lighting of 1930's buildings provided a vision of change, inSan Diego the fairytale Spanish-Colonial city, created for the 1915-16 fair, struck the spellbinding note.Bertram Goodhue , master architect of the 1915-16 San Diego Exposition had urged that the temporary buildings onBalboa Park 's main avenue, El Prado, be torn down. Caught by the allurement of the theatrical palaces,San Diego 's citizens scorned this advice. With the assistance of money from the federal government, they patched up the plaster palaces in 1922 and 1933. The yield of this persistence was the presence of spacious exhibit buildings inBalboa Park that were available for a substantial use.Museum of the Living Artist (MoLA)
The
San Diego Art Institute 's (SDAI):Museum of the Living Artist (MoLA) features a new exhibition of works bySan Diego artist s opens every four to six weeks in this 10,000-square-footgallery , dedicated to the advancement of the visual arts through outreach, education, and exhibition. Solo artist exhibitions are also featured. With more than 30 shows a year, theSan Diego Art Institute aims to be a supportive center for local emerging artists. TheSan Diego Art Institute also offers many outreach and educational programs. TheDavid Fleet Young Artists' Gallery showcases art done by students at regional elementary, middle and high schools while the Outreach through Exhibition Series calls upon artists to address community issues in their art. To top it all off, the museum also hosts art classes in about as many mediums as are shown on its walls. TheMuseum of the Living Artist is located near downtownSan Diego in theHouse of Charm in historicBalboa Park ,San Diego 's largest urban cultural parks. TheMuseum of the Living Artist is surrounded by 17 other Museums and provides the perfect environment for the visual arts community.MoLA Regional Exhibitions
The
San Diego Art Institute 's most visible activity focuses on showcasing the work ofSan Diego emerging area visual artists through a program of over 30 juried shows a year (regular show, a one-foot show, special outreach shows, youth art & others). Different art professionals are selected as jurors for each show assuring exhibitions of high quality and great variety. Juror's Choice and Honorable Mention certificates are awarded at monthly public receptions.MoLA Annual International Award Exhibition
Since 1955 the
San Diego Art Institute (SDAI) has produced the "Annual" -- a juried show drawing interest from artists all over the world. A different internationally knownjuror is invited each year. This show is juried by slides and makes available international competition to regional artists. Awards are presented at SDAI's annual Gala Celebration.MoLA Outreach Through Exhibition
A call to artists to respond to social and community issues. This is a unique visual art venue that marries the artist's talent with community awareness. Some previous exhibitions have been:
* "Winged Victory -- Transcending Breast Cancer"
* "Art Without Frontiers/Hasta La Raya"
* "eARTh" -- environmental awareness
* "Our Healing Arts" -- AIDS awareness
* International Youth Art Exchange.Social outreach through the visual arts continue to be an important part of the San Diego Art Institute's mission.
MoLA Youth Art
The
David Fleet Young Artists' Gallery The mission of this gallery is the exposure to the creative process of the youth ofSan Diego within the curriculum of the school.*The "Fleet", on a monthly basis, showcases youth art by regional elementary, middle and senior high schools. SDAI liaisons with the
city of San Diego / County Art Educators Association for curators, school participation and selection.*SDAI recognizes by certification all participating youth artists.
*SDAI regional jurors choose the SDAI Youth Achievement Awards each month.
*Presentations for Certificates and Achievement Awards occur at our public receptions for each exhibition.
*Youth Art Month: A regional award show (in collaboration with SD City / County Art Educators Association).*Storytelling: An interactive program using verbal and visual skills.
The
San Diego Art Institute (SDAI) Youth Tour: A docent tour of the SDAI galleries aimed at young audiences. Exposure to living regional artists (and peers in the "Fleet") brings greater awareness of the possibilities in self-expression. TheSan Diego Art Institute maintains a separate facility for art education. Classes in life drawing, painting, water color, children's art, and various photography classes are a sampling of the SDAI art educational programs offered. SDAI also offers comprehensive computer classes in multimedia and animation plus various workshops on specific computer programs.Mingei International Museum
Mingei International Museum reveals the beauty of use in
folk art ,craft anddesign from all eras and cultures of the world. The wordmingei , meaning 'art of the people,' was coined by the Japanese scholarSōetsu Yanagi by combining the Japanese words for all people ("min") and art ("gei"). Yanagi's teachings awakened people to the essential need to make and use objects that are unfragmented expressions of head, heart and hands.Established in 1978, Mingei International Museum collects, conserves and exhibits these arts of daily use - by anonymous craftsmen of ancient times, from traditional cultures of past and present and by historical and contemporary designers. Mingei International's museums in
Balboa Park, San Diego and in DowntownEscondido ,California open a window on the great world, revealing similarities and distinctions of individuals and cultures in art of the people, and inspiring people to express their own innate creativity.Mingei International Museum is funded in part by the
city of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and the County ofSan Diego Community Enhancement Program and Community Projects Fund. The Museum cooperates with governments, other museums, designer craftsmen and collectors throughout the world in developing its collection and its exhibitions.Notes & References
Bibliography
* Baldridge, Charlene. "San Diego: Jewel of the California Coast". Northland. May 25, 2003. ISBN 0-8735-8838-X
* Dower, Rick. "From deepest, darkest Balboa Park: our own Marlin Perkins". San Diego Business Journal,volume 11 Issue 38 Page 10(3), September 17, 1990
* Hudsen, Andrew. "The Magic of Balboa Park: Special Millennium Edition". Photo Tour Books, Inc. ISBN 0-9653-0876-6
* Marshall, David. "San Diego's Balboa Park, CA (Postcard History Series)". Arcadia Publishing, July 30, 2007. ISBN 0-7385-4754-9.
* Martin, Don W & Betty Woo. "San Diego: The Best of Sunshine City".DiscoverGuides: 2nd edition. May 21, 2002. ISBN 0-9420-5337-0
* Puplava, Kathy. "Trees and gardens of Balboa Park ".California: City of San Diego Park and Recreation Dept (2001). ISBN 0-9387-1173-3
* Sanders, Rebecca A. "Day Outings from San Diego on a Tank of Gas"Premier Publishing: 4th edition. April 2004. ISBN 1-9289-0500-5ee Also
*San Diego Art Institute
*Balboa Park, San Diego, California
*House of Charm External Links
* [http://www.sandiego-art.org The San Diego Art Institute]
* [http://www.sandiegoartdepartment.com The San Diego Art Department]
* [http://www.covasd.org Combined Organizations for the Visual Arts]
* [http://www.niwa.org The Japanese Friendship Garden]
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