Past Events
October 5, 2024
Rally 4 Culture
Thank you to all who joined us for a day of community art, music, theater, and advocacy for affordable artist spaces in San Diego! As one of our guest speakers said, “We can’t be an island. We need to be (part of) a bigger network that’s connected to other organizations to further this mission.”
Call to action for October: Please sign this open letter to our City Council by October 29, and check out this google doc to Join the AB 812 Coalition and learn all the ways you can support the affordable artist housing movement locally.
Special thanks to all those who helped make this event possible:
Tyler Hewes, Michael Camacho - Guest Speakers
Herbert Siguenza - Guest Performer
Jonny Hoolko, Jonathan Piper, Linda Litteral - S4A Speakers
Andrew Alcasid - Art Station
Felix Diaz, Mary Pat Hutt, Jonathan Piper, Alaric López - Musicians
Michael Potterf - Videos & Photos
Kelvin Lopez, Chris Padilla, Athenaeum Arts Center - Print-Making Equipment
Kubo Coffee, Barra Cruda Cevicheria - Food & Drink
Local Church - Chairs
S4A Tenants & Board Members - Volunteering
September 10, 2024
Reflections in Fabric: Flood Stories
Reflections in Fabric: Flood Stories emerged from the August 24th workshop, Tides of Emotion, where families used quilting as a creative medium to process and express the emotional journey surrounding the impact of floods in their lives.
This exhibition showcased quilt squares, each telling a story of water’s powerful presence in our San Diego communities— from the arrival of the floodwaters to the aftermath, and the ongoing healing process. Through group conversations, fabric, and collage, participants visually documented their experiences, exploring themes of recovery and resilience.
Hung on a clothing line, the quilt symbolized the drying and healing of emotional wounds, inviting neighbors and the community to reflect on these stories over food and music. This community art project celebrated how creativity can reconnect us with our environment and each other.
Workshop led by: Yvette Roman
Team: Carlito Espudo, Rio Villa Ezell, Daniela Kelly, Francisco Soto, Veronica del Rio
Hosted by: Space 4 Art, Sherman Heights Community Center, Office of Councilmember Vivian Moreno (District 8)
June 18, 2024
Successful Closing Reception
Many guests joined us at Mesa Gallery for the last chance to see our show, Creating in Community: A Group Exhibition. In addition to mingling with a number of artists, guests were treated to four performances by resident musicians Jonathan Piper, Alaric López, and Nick Lesley, as well as one of Jonathan’s students, Max Montgomery.
Special thanks to:
Alessandra Moctezuma, our curator and the gallery director
The full gallery staff - for their fantastic support throughout our exhibition
Clandestine BBQ - for treating our guests to delicious tri-tip rolls during the Closing Reception
Nick Lesley and Jonathan Piper use various percussion instruments, electronic equipment, and a tuba to improvise together.
Alaric López improvises a mesmerizing soundscape on guitar.
Jonathan Piper and his high school student, Max Montgomery, perform some tuba duets.
Jonathan Piper experiments with a pie tin and a crafty way to play two tubas at once!
June 6, 2024
Over 100 guests attended our Opening Reception at Mesa Gallery!
The Opening Reception for our show, Creating in Community: A Group Exhibition, at Mesa College Art Gallery was full of opportunities for lively discussion. Guests had ample opportunities to speak with our artists and performing musicians, capped off by an informative panel discussion full of advice as Space 4 Art forges ahead to realize its mission of creating a wholly-owned, large-scale Arts Center that will provide affordable artist live/work spaces as well as community arts spaces.
Ciel Bracher performs while Andrew Alcasid continues painting his mural during the Opening Reception.
Felix Diaz and Abril Diaz of Drummers Without Borders perform during the Opening Reception.
May 17, 2024
Our second in a series of four Arts Center Design Workshops was another huge success!
With this second workshop geared toward students in the arts, participants included both high and college students whose interests included music, writing, film, theater, dance, and art. Attendees began in a large group, then worked in smaller breakout sessions to share input. Watch for a more detailed blog post outlining the input received at both this and the previous April 20th design workshop event.
Special thanks to:
Alessandra Moctezuma and Mesa College’s Museum Studies program for hosting the event
April 20, 2024
Our first in a series of four Arts Center Design Workshops was a huge success!
Attendees included arts practitioners of numerous disciplines, some city and county arts commissioners, and arts supporters of all kinds, ranging in age from teenagers to octogenarians! Participants began in a large group, then worked in smaller breakout sessions to share input. Watch for a more detailed blog post outlining the input received at both this and the upcoming May 17th design workshop events.
Special thanks to:
Local Church for letting us use their event space
Sam Hodgson / Uptown 11 Studios for providing so many wonderful photos from the event
March 23, 2024
Our Holi-themed Open Studios was bursting with color, joy, music, and art.
Well over 200 people attended, many of whom enthusiastically threw colors for Holi. Visitors were also treated to a guest performer demonstrating music on the Tabla— a North Indian percussion instrument —and samosas and laddoos were featured at our concession table.
A number of artists revealed new works in progress or recently completed, and there were eight fantastically diverse performances ranging from a unique “one-man, two-tuba experience” to a gorgeous guitar/vocal solo act surely destined for a coffee shop near you soon! It was particularly special to feature many performances inside the large event space situated between our two artist warehouses. This event space housed the former Space 4 Art gallery, offices, and even some studios prior to 2017! We were so grateful to the current tenants of that space for lending it to us due to the threat of rain all evening.
