Don’t miss the 100th running of Ray at Night starting right now in San Diego’s North Park. Founded by Gustaf Rooth of Planet Rooth Studios and recently written up in the New York Times, this monthly event defines urban San Diego’s homegrown arts scene. Check out their website for more info at rayatnight.com, even if it does still show November’s featured artist.

I’ve noted before that the San Diego News Network has developed a solid art & culture reporting practice for San Diego. This week’s review of the “Automatic Cities” show at MCASD La Jolla establishes them further as a thoughtful critical voice on what’s happening in San Diego art.

SDNN contributor Larry Herzog is a Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in City Planning at San Diego State University and brings a provocative twist to the “art” review by probing at the deeper issues raised in the show from a broader-tham-the-art-world perspective. Nice editorial choice and great article, check it out:

“Automatic Cities: The Architectural Imaginary in Contemporary Art” is a dazzling display of fantastic urban scenes and forms culled from deep in the psyches of 13 invited artists and one artist collective. On view through January 31 in La Jolla at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the exhibition indirectly forces us to face up to the reality of our failed American urban environment.

At a time when city building has screeched to a halt in the midst of a raging recession, visitors to MCA may pause to consider the visual condition of southern California.

Bleak images come to mind: monotonous American suburbs, spread across the great bulldozed flatlands, curving subdivisions neatly lined with bloated McMansions, pastel shaded, stucco condominium complexes dotted with “for sale” signs, and strip malls anchored by mega stores and chain outlets. Endless and repetitive blots of mind-numbing sameness bounding from region to region, like an infectious disease….

Read it all: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-12-10/things-to-do/automatic-cities-at-mcasd-prompts-question-is-the-american-cityscape-insane#ixzz0ZOWpbvn3

From the SD Citybeat “to-do” list:

Chris Ellman at Mainline Building, Barrio Logan, San Diego

Stencil art show tonight at the newly reopened Thumbprint Gallery.

Thumbprint Gallery

Always reliable for solid San Diego art exhibition info & opinion, San Diego Fine Arts Examiner Max Donner lists some of the dynamic sounding art events around the county this weekend.

This Saturday, November 7, the California Art Club will premiere “Julian and the San Diego Back Country.” This unique exhibition pays tribute to the natural beauty of the Julian area in the autumn and harvest seasons. Many of the featured artists are from the San Diego and Orange County Chapters of the California Art Club. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to capture on canvas images of life in Julian and surrounding countryside, continuing the Club’s tradition of memorializing California’s rich history in works of art that will be viewed by generations to come,” said artist Peter Adams, President of CAC. The program remains open until November 29 at The Julian Art Gallery, located at 2229 Main St in Julian….

Read more on San Diego Fine Arts Examiner.

Love these videos by San Diego Art Journal!

We caught up with Craig, the owner of 4 Walls Gallery in North Park on Ray St. He talks about the history of the gallery, the artists he’s looking for, and how to get in contact with the gallery. Visit his gallery in North Park to see some great art and meet amazing artists. Art shows every 2nd Saturday every month. www.4wallsgallery.com

I think the North County Times online does a great job of covering the arts and related events in San Diego. Check out this robust listing of North County San Diego art events this coming week, October 16-24, 2009:

Winery hosts art festival —- The Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo hosts its 31st annual Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, featuring more than 125 artist booths, food booths and wine tastings; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo; 858-487-1866 or www.bernardowinery.com.

Old Town San Diego Art Festival —- More than 15,000 visitors are expected at the fourth annual art festival, featuring a juried exhibition of work by more than 100 contemporary artists from all over the world. Events include restaurant food samplings, wine tastings, art activities for children and live entertainment; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Old Town San Diego Historic Park, 4002 Wallace St., San Diego; free; oldtownartfestival.com.

San Diego Botanic Garden fall plant sale —- Twenty-seventh annual sale features more than 100 local growers and nurseries. Selections will include California native plants, cactuses, succulents, bromeliads, fruit trees and subtropicals. Artisan food and crafts will also be for sale; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas; $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, active military and students, and $6 for children ages 3 to 12; 760-436-3036 or sdbgarden.org.

Oceanside International Film Festival concludes —- The inaugural festival concludes with a program of the festival’s award-winning films and an awards ceremony; film screenings, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Sunshine Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway, and Spectrum Video, 1043 S. Cleveland St.; awards reception 5 to 8 p.m. at the Flying Bridge, 1105 N. Coast Highway; $10 to $35 per event; 760-433-3632 or www.ocaf.info.

And that’s just today! Read the entire post here.

San Diego art installation by furniture artist and master woodworker Joe Bedford of BedfordBuilt video by local TV station KUSI.

Art Now San Diego sponsor The Frame Maker wrote this up today about mural artist John Hiemstra and photographer< a href="http://mikebrownportfolio.com">Mike Brown hosting a one time only open studio and video screening tonight in Firehouse #9 in South Park during the neighborhood’s quarterly Walkabout.


Check out this photo!

San DIego city mural by artist John Hiemstra