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Upcoming Exhibits

Athenaeum Art Exhibition Program

Teddy Cruz installation, 2005 (photograph by Victor Ha)

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library's art exhibition program - which began in the early 1920s - has since grown in both scope and recognition, and has earned the library a reputation as one of the outstanding venues for art in San Diego. Approximately eight exhibitions a year are held in the Main Gallery and four smaller ones in the Rotunda, both traditional settings that have showcased and wonderfully accommodated art that is sometimes far beyond traditional: limited edition artists' books, site-specific installations, photography, sculpture, mixed media, architecture, calligraphy, as well as imaginative and eclectic collections.

Exhibitions have given deserved recognition to local artists including Joyce Cutler-Shaw, Patricia Patterson, Manny Farber, Italo Scanga, Zandra Rhodes, Russell Forester, Ernest Silva, Faiya Fredman, Jean Lowe, Viviana Lombrozo, Becky Cohen, Nina Katchadourian, Ethel Greene, Robin Bright, Raul Guerrero, Ellen Phillips, James Hubble, Jo Ann Tanzer, Christine Oatman, Roberto Salas, Marie Najera, Kim MacConnel, Robin Bright and others. Of particular note were three exhibitions of works by the internationally known artist Harry Sternberg, the last a posthumous exhibition in 2002.

The exhibition program has explored far afield as well, with past exhibitions including work by William Wegman, Faith Ringgold, Ming Mur-Ray, Mauro Staccioli, Rolf Händler, David Teeple and Peter Dreher.

The Athenaeum's Annual Juried Exhibition, and the biennial Artists' Book Juried Exhibition, are among the most prestigious in the area, and the most sought-after by entering artists.

In addition to major shows in the gallery, the library also has a series of Rotunda Gallery Exhibitions that serve as community outreach collaborations, with institutions including UCSD's Mandeville Special Collections Library, San Diego State University, Children's Hospital, and the La Jolla Historical Society.

The Athenaeum is in the business of books – collecting, lending, and publishing as well. The first Athenaeum publication was printed in 2001 to celebrate the Tenth Annual Juried Exhibition. Since then, seven additional publications have been produced, each in conjunction with the current exhibition presented in the Main Gallery, often in collaboration with the exhibiting artist. All of the catalogues are available for sale, many of which are numbered and signed by the artist. Click here to see a list and description of available publications.

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library's art exhibitions are on view during library hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30, and Wednesdays till 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission. Opening receptions, lectures and artist's walk-throughs are also free of charge.

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Details of Exhibitions:

 

Main Gallery and Rotunda Gallery:

From Thought to Pop:
The Art of Jim Lee, Carlos D'Anda, Rich Friend, JJ Kirby, Michael Lopez, Joel Gomez, Oliver Nome and Eduardo Nuñez
June 21 - July 26, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, June 27, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
A List Event: Thursday, June 26, 7:30 PM

The Athenaeum will get a jolt of pop culture with Thought to Pop: The Art of Jim Lee, Carlos D'Anda, Rich Friend, JJ Kirby, Michael Lopez, Joel Gomez, Oliver Nome and Eduardo Nuñezon view in the Main and Rotunda Galleries from June 21 to July 26.

Jim Lee, one of the most successful artists in American comics, has his studio here in La Jolla. He will be joined in the show by his fellow artists from WildStorm Productions, a company that he founded, which is now a division of DC Comics. Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea and grew up in St. Louis. He earned a medical degree from Princeton University, but then set off on a very different course. Since beginning his comics career in 1987, he has drawn much-loved characters like Superman and Batman and Robin. He was the artist and co-writer (with Chris Claremont) of X-Men #1, the best-selling comic book of all-time.

The Athenaeum has timed the exhibition to overlap with Comic-Con, which takes place July 24-27.

North Reading Room:

Selections from the Athenaeum's Artists' Books Collection:
Olafur Eliasson, Books
June 21 - July 26, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, June 27, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Main Gallery and Rotunda Gallery:

17th Annual Juried Exhibition
Jurors: Robin Clark, PhD, Curator,
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and
Deborah Klochko, Executive Director, Museum of Photographic Arts
August 2-30, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, August 1, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
A List Event: Thursday, August 28, 7:30 PM

You never know what discoveries you will make at the Athenaeum’s Annual Juried Exhibition, one of the region’s most sought-after juried shows, open to artists who live, work or exhibit in San Diego County. Deborah Klochko of the Museum of Photographic Art and Robin Clark of the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, will make this year’s selections. Expect as many as 30 artists in this who’s-who of San Diego art.

North Reading Room:

Selections from the Athenaeum's Artists' Books Collection:
Richard Tuttle, Books
August 2- 30, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, August 1, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

 

 

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