San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
VISUAL ART PICKS
Whether we’re back to normal or at a new normal, this spring offers many exciting classical music concerts, including several world premieres. Here are 10 of the most promising.
Fall and spring are the premiere seasons when it comes to the visual art scene, with most museums and galleries unveiling the most anticipated exhibitions of the year around these times. Here are just a few of the shows, along with two festivals, that we’re most looking forward to this spring.
Mesa College Art Gallery: ‘Perceive Me’
In honor of Women’s History Month, artist Kristine Schomaker will showcase paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures and more, all examining and questioning the concept of the “ideal” female figure. Through April 13. Artist lecture on at 7 p.m. April 4. San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery, 7250 Mesa College Drive, Clairemont. Free. Noon to 5 p.m. Mondays-thursdays. (619) 388-2829, sdmesa.edu
Hyde Art Gallery: ‘Climate Reckoning’ and ‘What I Wanted to Tell You Was This ... ’ Grossmont College’s art gallery will host two concurrent exhibitions, the first being “Climate Reckoning,” a group exhibition featuring the artists of the Feminist Image Group, a local arts collective. The second (“What I Wanted …”) is a memorial exhibition of the works of Grossmont professor and artist Jade Sloan, who died last year. March 21 through April 25. Hyde Art Gallery, Performing and Visual Arts Center, Building 22, Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon. Free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-thursdays. (619) 644-7000, grossmont.edu
Mingei International Museum: ‘25 Million Stitches’
Guest curated by fiber artist Jennifer Kim Sohn, this traveling large-scale installation consists of hundreds of fiber panels with each stitch meant to represent one of the millions of displaced refugees throughout the world. March 25 through Oct. 15. Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. Free-$15. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. (619) 239-0003, mingei.org
Museum of Photographic Arts: ‘Video Portraits: Robert Wilson’
The acclaimed visual artist and photographer will showcase some of his time-based cinematography clips, which infuse myriad disciplines such as photography, dance, theater, painting and even architecture. April 1 through Sept. 24. Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. Pay what you wish. (619) 238-7559, mopa.org
Medium Festival of Photography
Anyone with an interest in photography will want to check out this annual fest, which recently expanded to Tijuana and includes virtual workshops, showcases, pop-up showcases, the “Size Matters” exhibition, portfolio reviews and guest speakers, all revolving around the art and practice of taking pictures. March 30 through April 16. Various times. Admission to pop-up showcase is free. mediumphoto.org
San Diego Museum of Art: ‘Art Alive’ and ‘O’keeffe and Moore’ SDMA kicks off spring in style by bumping up the date for “Art Alive,” the annual four-day showcase of floral interpretations of the museum’s vast collection. Speaking of iconic florists, works by modernist Georgia O’keeffe will be on display alongside works from sculptor Henry Moore, offering an examination of how two artists, one British and one American, can influence each other.
“Art Alive” takes place March 31 through April 2. “O’keeffe and Moore” runs May 13 through Aug. 27. San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. $8-$20. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondayssaturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. (619) 232-7931, sdmart.org
Quint Gallery: Thomas Glassford solo show
The multidisciplinary artist known for using everyday materials to create stunning sculptures and functional pieces will showcase new work, his first solo show at the gallery since 2017. April 15 through May 27. Quint Gallery, 7655 Girard Ave., La Jolla. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdayssaturdays. Free. (858) 454-3409, quintgallery.com
Mission Fed Credit Union Artwalk
The annual two-day festival has been a great showcase of local creatives for nearly 40 years and features dozens of regional artists selling their wares, as well as entertainment, food vendors and more. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 29; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30. Between Juniper and A streets, Little Italy. Free. (619) 615-1090, artwalksandiego.org
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library: Wendell Kling solo show
The local interdisciplinary artist has some big plans for the already intimate Athenaeum space, including using window treatments, mechanical devices and sculptural furnishings to transform the La Jolla institution into a contemplative space. May 12 through July 8. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Free. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-saturdays. (858) 454-5872, ljathenaeum.org
Bread & Salt: Pablo Castañeda solo show
The Mexicali-based draftsman and painter will showcase new work, mostly consisting of stark landscapes, portraiture and still lifes. May 13 through July 15. Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. Free. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-saturdays. (619) 851-4083, breadandsalt sandiego.com
San Diego Symphony: ‘Classical’ Symphony
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Yaniv Dinur, above, conducts Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1, “Classical,” as well as Chicago composer Jessie Montgomery’s Rounds for Piano and String Orchestra. Acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt will play the Montgomery piece, which was written for him. 7:30 p.m. April 13-14 at Baker-baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $50-$105. 7:30 p.m. April 15 at The Village Church, 6225 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe. $65-$85. (619) 235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
Project [Blank]: ‘The Tragedies of Space Travel’
This immersive-theatrical concert is a sci-fi interpretation of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. Exploring the experience of Vietnamese Americans, it’s directed by Leslie Ann Leytham and created by Brendan Nguyen, Project [Blank] cofounders. 8 p.m. April 14-15; 3 p.m. April 16. Bread & Salt Gallery, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. $15-$25. projectblanksd.org
La Jolla Music Society: Emerson String Quartet
Founded in 1976, this multiple-award-winning ensemble is now on its farewell tour. Based in New York City and named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, the quartet was one of the first to alternate its first and second violinist positions. 7:30 p.m. April 16. Baker-baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $70-$85. (858) 459-3728, theconrad.org
Artpower: Dream House Quartet
Usually “minimalist” and “monstrous energy” aren’t paired. But those words have described the teaming of renowned French pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque with composer-guitarists Bryce Dessner (of the band The National) and David Chalmin. 8 p.m. April 26. Epstein Family Amphitheater, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $9-$45. (858) 534-1430, artpower.ucsd.edu
California Center for the Arts, Escondido: ‘On Being Enslaved’
The critically acclaimed Marian Anderson String Quartet — named after the famous barrier-breaking singer — explores the theme of enslavement. The 3-decade-old group will perform works by Dvorák, Samuel Adler, Rhiannon Giddens and more. 7:30 p.m. May 3. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $35-$55. (760) 8394138, artcenter.org
La Jolla Music Society: Brooklyn Rider and Magos Herrera
Magos Herrera, an adventurous, multilingual jazz singer, collaborated with the chameleon-like string quartet Brooklyn Rider on the 2018 album “Dreamers.” Their concert will honor poets and songwriters who opposed oppressive regimes in Latin American and Spain during the 20th century. 7:30 p.m. May 6. Baker-baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $32-$65. (858) 4593728, theconrad.org
Art of Elan: ‘Divided Landscapes’
Surrounded by the art works of Georgia O’keeffe and Henry Moore, musicians will play pieces by such composers as Panamanian percussionist Carlos Camacho and John Luther Adams. A special treat will be an Art of Elan-commissioned world premiere written by San Diego’s Rand Steiger. 7 p.m. May 16. San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. $15-$50. (619) 678-1709, artofelan.org
Sacra Profana: ‘Togetherness Reimagined’
As the pandemic lockdown ended, this intrepid choral group commissioned “In Times of Hibernation” by Los Angeles composer Amy Gordon. The singers will perform its world premiere, along with Gordon’s timely “Songs of Hope in Strange Times.” 7 p.m. May 19. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 298 W. Arbor Drive, Hillcrest. $10-$35. (619) 432-2920, sacraprofana.org
San Diego Symphony: ‘Barnatan Plays Brahms’
Rafael Payare conducts and welcomes back pianist Inon Barnatan for the virtuosic Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2. Also featured is the world premiere of “Methuselah (In Chains of Time),” commissioned by the symphony and written by Iranian American composer Gity Razaz. 7:30 p.m. May 20;
5 p.m. May 21. Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $25-$108. (619) 235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
Mainly Mozart: All-star Orchestra
The annual gathering of concertmasters and principal players, led by conductor Michael Francis, left, celebrates its 35th anniversary festival. The repertoire includes wellknown and lesser-heard works, all performed by top-notch national musicians. The venues include the Del Mar Surf Sports Park, La Jolla’s Bakerbaum Concert Hall and UC San Diego’s Epstein Amphitheater. 7:30 p.m. June 15-24. Three venues. $30-$120; $1,000 for VIP tables for four. (619) 2390100, mainlymozart.org