Arts center draws city scrutiny for ‘Pigs’ exhibit

By Samantha Nelson

The Escondido City Council plans to discuss funding and management options for the California Center for the Arts following the venue’s refusal to remove a piece featuring derogatory terms against law enforcement from an ongoing exhibition.

In late June, the arts center launched “Street Legacy: So Cal Style Masters” featuring artwork from nearly 100 artists, including Shepard Fairey, founder of OBEY Clothing, and local artist Zane Kingcade, owner of Streetlife in downtown Escondido.

The showcase, curated by Bobby Ruiz, C.E.O. and co-founder of Tribal Streetwear, and G. James Daichendt, professor of art history at Point Loma Nazarene University, highlights Southern California’s subcultures, including elements of lowrider, surf, skate, tattoo, graffiti and more.

Immediately following the exhibit’s opening, many residents reportedly became outraged at artist OG Slick’s “Three Slick Pigs,” which features three Porky Pig-style statues wearing police uniforms and dancing in front of a large blackand-white photo of police officers wearing riot gear. Spray-painted on the large backdrop is the acronym “A.P.A.B.” — “all police are bastards” or “all pigs are bastards.”

According to a statement released by OG Slick on Instagram, the artwork is “a satirical look at excessive police force and abuse of power by some individuals who hide behind the badge of the largest ‘gang’ in the U.S.”

“I used the (Three Little Pigs) fairytale as a representation of the current plight of our country, the big bad wolves being us, hunted down, beat down, robbed of our civil rights, illegally detained and even executed on site because of our skin color, our associations and social/economic status,” Slick writes. “They were here to protect us, but who protects us from them?”

Despite growing demands to remove the controversial artwork, the arts center kept the piece on display and released the following statement, that reads in part:

“The board voted to continue (California Center for the Arts’) support of the ‘Street Legacy: SoCal Style Masters’ exhibition and of the installation in question without removing, covering or otherwise editing it. In conjunction, the board also committed that (California Center for the Arts) will take a leadership role in brokering private and public discussions among the exhibit curators, artists, city leaders, community groups and others to further public education and foster the respectful exchange of ideas. As these plans are finalized, we will make announcements about ways the public can participate.”

Mayor Paul McNamara, who liked the exhibit’s overall portrayal of Chicano culture, felt Slick’s piece was out of place and disrespectful to law enforcement.

“I’m not saying the artist’s feelings are not legitimate or that his message is something we shouldn’t talk about, but blanketly putting out there that all police are bastards does not facilitate dialogue,” McNamara told The Coast News.

The mayor also took issue with the piece’s lack of context. For example, McNamara said each piece of art had a Q.R. code linking to the artist’s website or Instagram page. But not every work included an artist’s description.

“We’re trying to have a harmonious community, and that doesn’t mean we avoid controversy but if we talk about a sensitive subject, let’s make sure to put it in a context that people feel facilitates the dialogue,” McNamara said.

McNamara has reportedly received “hundreds” of emails from residents complaining about the piece and only a handful of people in favor of it.

Slick said his installation was “meant to open dialogue within our communities.”

“I grew up doing graffiti and my father was in law enforcement, so you can imagine the tension at the dinner table,” the artist writes. “I do understand the need for law and order in any society but the abuse of said institutions really gets under my skin.”

During a special council meeting on Jun. 27, Councilmember Michael Morasco requested to bring back a “possible funding” discussion regarding the arts center.

McNamara also noted at the meeting that he wanted to review the management relationship between the city and the performing arts center.

The city owns the center’s building and subsidizes about $3 million annually for utilities and maintenance needs, but does not run the center’s operations.

The California Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization independent of municipal control — the city does not review or approve any choices regarding on-site art installations.

The council considered possibly cutting the art center’s funding back in June as part of balancing the city’s operating budget, which at the time was projected at a $7 million deficit.

McNamara said he isn’t necessarily interested in taking away funding from the center but wants more information and better transparency regarding its use of city money.

“I don’t want to censor anyone but I also want to make sure we have some checks and balances here so we don’t have a public institution that’s dividing the city,” McNamara said.

A NEW EXHIBIT, “Street Legacy: SoCal Style Masters,” is currently on display at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido and features work from nearly 100 artists, including Shepard Fairey, founder of OBEY Clothing (left above). RIGHT: “Three Slick Pigs” by artist OG Slick as displayed in the “Street Legacy” exhibit at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. The art center refused to remove the controversial artwork. Photos by Samantha Nelson

Encinitas Chamber CHATTER

Meet Chamber Member Michael Podd, North Coast Repertory Theatre’s Group Sales Leader

North Coast Repertory Theatre, a non-profit organization, has evolved into one of the area’s leading performing arts organizations. Entertaining audiences for 40 years, the theatre boasts an award-winning Mainstage season, in its intimate 194seat setting located in Solana Beach. Additionally, it involves thousands of young people each year in the Theatre School @ North Coast Rep’s education and outreach programs. Michael Podd is North Coast Rep’s Group Sales leader. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY he “was smart enough to move to San Diego in the 1990s.” He worked in the tourism, medical, and entertainment industries before joining the theatre. “I feel like a native because both of my amazing children were born and raised here.”

“Encinitas residents make up a large portion of our subscriber base, which is why we are thrilled to be members of the Encinitas Chamber. Businesses learn from each other and there is no better place to share than through the Chamber. You never know how relationships can manifest. For example, through my Chamber connections, I’ve been able to get housing for actors and develop and outstanding relationship with The Grauer School, who sponsors our ticket envelopes and e-tickets.”

July 20 – August 21 North Coast Rep will conclude Season 40 with the world premiere of The Remarkable Mister Holmes, a musical comedy murder mystery from the nimble minds of beloved local performer Omri Schein and North Coast Rep Artistic Director David Ellenstein with music by Daniel Lincoln. Their next Summer Outdoor Touring Show and student production, “Much Ado About Nothing,” will be at the San Diego Botanical Gardens July 21-23. Admission is free. www. northcoastrep.org.

“Much like our North Coast community, North Coast Rep is also a family. There is nothing better than seeing 5-7 people doing a reading who don’t know each other without any kind of backdrop or staging at the beginning of a production, and then 5 weeks later to see this amazing entertaining spectacle on our stage.”

“My perfect day in Encinitas would be an egg scramble breakfast at Pipes and then heading up to Swami’s and finding music legend and Encinitas resident Jack Tempchin, playing on one of the benches, as he tends to do. A walking workout on the beach would be necessary before heading up to Leucadia Pizza for a late lunch, then a matinee movie experience at La Paloma before heading to Mr. Peabodys for Happy Hour, returning to the North Coast Rep Theatre for Tuesday Night Comics (since I’ve already seen The Remarkable Mister Holmes production twice!)”

MICHAEL PODD highlights the upcoming world premiere of The Remarkable Mister Holmes July 20-August 21 at the North Coast

Rep. Courtesy photo

Visit us in person, or online or on social media: encinitaschamber.com/ 535 Encinitas Blvd., Suite 116 760-753-6041

JOINUS for our next Moonlight Mixer networking event, co-hosted by the San Diego Botanic Garden and EDCO, Tuesday July 19, 5:30pm. Invite a friend or colleague! Live music, food and drinks. Register at encinitaschamber.com.

Ex-Pendleton Marine convicted of murder

 2019 DUI crash killed Oceanside motorcyclist, 29

By City News Service

REGION — A former Camp Pendleton Marine who drove drunk and caused a wrong-way crash that killed a motorcyclist on a rural Bonsall-area road was convicted this week of second-degree murder in his second trial regarding the fatal crash.

Adam Daniel Barooshian, 29, was convicted Monday in Vista Superior Court in a retrial for the early-morning New Year’s Day crash in 2019 that killed 29-year-old Christopher Williams of Oceanside.

In a previous trial held in early 2020, Barooshian was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury, but the panel was unable to reach a consensus on the second-degree murder charge.

According to prosecutors, Barooshian was speeding eastbound on the westbound side of state Route 76 near Via Monserate shortly before 4 a.m. when his Lexus IS 300 hit Williams, who died at the scene.

Williams, a father of two, was on his way home from his job as a security guard and emergency medical technician at Pauma Casino, according to the Oceanside Police Officers’ Association.

Medics took Barooshian to Palomar Medical Center for treatment of superficial injuries.

His blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.18%, more than twice the legal limit for driving, according to Deputy District Attorney David Uyar.