San Diego Art Institute facts for kids
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| Founded | May 1941 by Walter W. Austin in San Diego |
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| Type | Non-profit NGO |
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| Services | exhibition, youth art education, professional development, artist residency |
| Fields | Contemporary art |
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Key people
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See list (Lissa Corona, Interim Executive Director; Ginger Shulick Porcella, previous Executive Director; Bruce Tall, Chair, Board of Directors) |
| Website | http://www.sandiego-art.org |
The San Diego Art Institute was a museum that showed modern art. It focused on artists from Southern California and the Baja Norte region. It started in 1941 as the San Diego Business Men's Art Club. In 1950, its name changed to the San Diego Art Institute. Women were allowed to join in 1953. It became a non-profit organization in 1963.
In September 2021, the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park joined with Lux Art Institute in Encinitas. They became The Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego. Both museums still operate in their original locations.
Contents
History of the San Diego Art Institute
In 1941, a group of San Diego businessmen met. They met in the office of Reginald Poland. He was the director of the Fine Arts Gallery in Balboa Park. They formed a group to paint local scenes. They wanted to save memories of old San Diego landmarks.
In May 1941, they officially named their group the "San Diego Business Men’s Art Club." The first president was Walter W. Austin, who was a former Mayor of San Diego. Their first teacher was Maurice Braun. He was known for his beautiful California landscapes. Other artists like Otto Schneider and Alfred R. Mitchell also taught the group. They often painted outdoors. The club held exhibitions of their artwork in different places.
World War II and Reorganization
In 1942, the club tried to get a studio in the Spanish Village in Balboa Park. But World War II started, and Balboa Park was used for the war effort. The club was not very active during the war. They did have an exhibition in La Jolla in June 1944.
After the war ended, interest in the club grew again. They reorganized on April 4, 1947. In 1947, they had many outdoor painting sessions. Members also held several art exhibitions. One exhibition at the San Diego Club had over 140 visitors. E. H. Pohl and Ben Vaganoff joined as new teachers.
In 1948, members took painting trips every other Saturday. They visited different places in San Diego County. The "all-county Art Mart" was held in November 1948. This event helped more people learn about the club. For many years, a club member led this Art Mart event.
Expanding Exhibitions
In 1949, the club held more exhibitions. They showed art in many businesses, hotels, and schools. In 1950, they expanded these shows. They held exhibitions in places like the Hoberg Hotel in Borrego Springs. They also showed art at the Carlsbad Hotel in Carlsbad.
Headquarters and Growth
The San Diego Business Men's Art Club grew a lot. They needed a main office and a gallery space. During World War II, the Fine Arts Society of San Diego had to leave its galleries. They moved to a temporary headquarters. After the war, this temporary space became empty.
E. T. Price, who was president of the Fine Arts Society, offered this space to the club. It was located at 2030 Sunset Boulevard. Many exhibitions, social events, classes, and lectures were held there. The club showed its artwork continuously, changing the display every month. They also hosted shows of photography and other arts. Outdoor painting trips continued with teachers. New faculty members joined, and Elsey Taft became the curator.
Welcoming Women Members
In 1951, the members voted to become "The San Diego Men’s Art Institute." They also decided to allow women to join as associate members. The number of members quickly grew. There were more than fifty regular members and over one hundred associate members. When women joined, activities increased a lot. The quality of the artwork submitted for exhibitions also improved.
About the San Diego Art Institute Today
The San Diego Art Institute is a modern art center. It focuses on artists and audiences from Southern California and Baja Norte. Its main programs include art exhibitions. It also has a special program for artists and curators to live and work there.
SDAI has a large exhibition space in Balboa Park. It is 8,000 square feet and is used for modern art shows. As of November 2015, SDAI also had a second space. This 3,000 square foot space was in Westfield Horton Plaza Mall. It was used for art workshops, performances, and artist studios.
Exhibitions and Artists
SDAI shows art by artists who live and work in the Southern California/Baja Norte area. This includes places from Los Angeles to Tijuana. In the past, they focused on monthly juried exhibitions. Now, SDAI focuses on themed and curated exhibitions. Artists can often find opportunities to show their work on the institute's website.
Some past notable exhibitions include "Millennial Pink" and "Women’s Work: Masculinity and Gender in Contemporary Fiber Art." Famous artists who have shown their work there include Angela Washko, Andrea Chung, and Mary Mattingly.
Artist and Curator Programs
In 2014, SDAI started a program for artists to live and work there. These are called artist-in-residence programs. Past artists in this program include Andrea Chung and Matthew Mahoney.
The institute also has a program for curators to live and work there. Past curators-in-residence include Alex Young and Amanda Cachia.
The House of Charm Building
The House of Charm building has a long history. It was first called the Indian Arts Building. It was built for the Panama-California Exposition in 1916. In 1917, it was renamed the Russia and Brazil Building. It got its current name, the House of Charm, during the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935.
Like many other buildings in Balboa Park, the military used the House of Charm during World War II. By 1996, the building was old and falling apart. It was torn down and rebuilt to look exactly like the original. The House of Charm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is home to the San Diego Art Institute's Museum of the Living Artist. It also houses the Mingei International Museum and rehearsal spaces for the Old Globe Theatre.
Art Education for Kids
SDAI helps teach art to young people. They offer art programs in schools and summer camps. They also have special art education programs for individual young people. They hire artists who are good at their craft. These artists also care about helping young people through art.
In 2015, SDAI started a Teen Summer Intensive program. This program is now held at Coronado School of the Arts. SDAI also gives young people many chances to show their artwork in Balboa Park.
See also
In Spanish: Instituto de Arte de San Diego para niños
