ART: Calendar for arts-related events in April

INTERMISSION IS OVER!

It’s time to GET BACK to JOY, LAUGHTER and LIFE!

By Heidi Wilson, Cultural Arts Commission Chair and Arts Partner

For too long Coronado has been without its full range of music, laughter, drama and inspiration. Its time to bring a sense of meaning back into our world. To reignite our connection to life and each other. To come together as a community and reconnect with the very things that make our lives worth living and bring us joy. This is the noble mission of the arts and its about to take center stage once again.

Over a long and challenging pandemic, Coronado arts, entertainment and cultural organizations and venues have fought a courageous battle for survival — patiently making plans, waiting and longing for the day their audiences would return and now, that day is here!

Celebrate Art, Culture & Creativity during the month of April

Is a vibrant collaborative effort to safely engage Coronado residents and visitors with our amazing and talented creative community — to not only jump-start our economy but the very act of finding joy in life again! Please join us now as we dim the lights, draw the curtain, cue the music and come out to celebrate!

Celebrate Art, Culture & Creativity!

What do Elvis, a giraffe, a murder and Japanese tea gardens have in common? They are all featured in events happening in Coronado during the month of April. Did COVID-19 put you on a diet of of isolation — longing for fun, entertainment, laughter and inspiration? Well, Coronado’s creative community is putting out a bountiful buffet of arts and cultural events and activities to feed your soul.

Be Enlightened! Be Engaged! Be Inspired! Be Entertained!

We’re rolling out the red carpet to welcome you!

CELEBRATE ART, CULTURE AND CREATIVITY!

APRIL 1 - 16 – Coronado Playhouse celebrates its 76th season presenting Murder on the Orient Express based on one of Agatha Christie’s most enduring mysteries. Add in Cabaret seating, a full bar and a variety of snacks available on-site and you have all the makings for a magical, memorable evening. CoronadoPlayhouse.org

APRIL 1 – 30 – Coronado Historical Association Exhibition: Uprooted: The story of Japanese-Americans in Coronado.

From immigration in the early 20th century to internment during World War II and post-war resettlement. Uprooted traces the stories of Japanese American families in Coronado. CoronadoHistory.org. Photo courtesy of the Coronado Historical Association.

APRIL 1 - 30 – Coronado Public Library Exhibitions:

Spirit of Spring with the San Diego Watercolor Society; 100 years with the Coronado Flower Show from the historical archives; New Generations with CoSA Graphic Art Design students. CoronadoLibrary.org

APRIL 1- 30 – Artist in Residence Art Exhibition at the John D. Spreckels Center. Ed Roeder and his students present a variety of watercolor work. CoronadoArts.com

APRIL 2 - June 12 – Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all arrive in Coronado, coming to life again through live theater performances at the Lamb’s Players Theater production of Million Dollar Quartet. This much star power and their dynamic vocals are sure to rock the rafters and thrill you to the core. Lambsplayers.org

APRIL 3 – Looking for an excuse to enjoy our glorious spring weather? Combine a Sunday walk with a stop at Spreckels Park to be inspired by Art in the Park. The Coronado Art Association curates a juried group of fine artists who present a variety of media for viewing and purchase. Meet the artist and take home an original piece of art. CoronadoArtAssn.com

APRIL 7 – Learn where Coronado’s history intersects with George Marsh’s Japanese Tea Garden. Join Kendall Brown, Professor of Asian Art History at CSU Long Beach and explore the rich history of Coronado’s magnificent Japanese Tea Garden built by George Turner Marsh. This program is in conjunction with CHA’s Uprooted exhibit, being featured during the entire month of April. CoronadoHistory.org APRIL 2 – Giraffes coming west are headed over the bridge and here to welcome them in their literary form is the Coronado Big Band with a free concert in the park next to the Coronado Public Library from 3 – 4 pm. Bring your chair and enjoy the fresh spring air and the fresh sounds of one of Coronado’s most beloved bands. CoronadoArts.com

APRIL 7 – Spend an unforgettable evening at the Coronado Public Library from 6:30 - 8:00pm in this year’s COMMUNITY READ author, Lynda Rutledge. West with Giraffes is an emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America while crossing from east to west to become the first giraffes at our own San Diego Zoo. CoronadoLibrary.org.

APRIL 9 – Coronado has a long and storied history with the military and now it’s time to honor them with our highest tribute. The 36th Salute to the Military Ball at the Hotel Del and this year’s honorees are especially deserving of our support: The Young and the Brave - Saluting our Military Kids. Sponsored by the Coronado Chamber of Commerce. CoronadoChamber.com

APRIL 12 - 14 – The Coronado Floral Association brings back one of Coronado’s most unique and endearing traditions: Home Front Judging. A time when a host of volunteers walk every street from the village to the Cays and award blue, red. Yellow and white ribbons based on how front yards present themselves to the world. Grandmothers sitting on front porches with chocolate chip cookie bribes aside, there are few times when community pride is felt more then when a blue ribbon appears in a living room front window. CoroadoFlowerShow.com

APRIL 14 – Gallery Exhibition Opening: Magnetic features the amazing and inspiring works by Coronado

High School and Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA)

students. Artwork will be on display at the C3 Gallery at 6:00 pm in the Coronado Community Center. CoronadoArts.com

APRIL 17 – The perfect Easter Sunday activity — take a picnic to the park and while you’re there peruse the art presented by the Coronado Art Association’s Art in the Park artists group. A beautiful day, beautiful art, in a beautiful park – how could it get any better? CoronadoArtAssn.com APRIL 13 – If you’re into classic “art films” this is one for you. Filmed in Coronado and now showing for the first time in Coronado in the beautifully restored Village Theater, The Dragon Painter is described by Chicago Tribune critic Mae Tinee: “It is art in acting; art in photography; art in direction; art in subtitle. It is as exquisite and complete a thing as I have ever seen on the screen.” The screening is sponsored by the Coronado Island Film Festival (CoronadoFilmFest.com) and the Coronado Historical Association (CoronadoHistory.org), and is in conjunction with CHA’s Uprooted exhibit, being featured during the entire month of April.

APRIL 16 – Well, here it is kids, the day you’ve been waiting for…Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, organized by Coronado Recreation Services at the Community Center. Enjoy a breakfast buffet, Easter crafts, games, a visit with the Easter Bunny and a fun Easter Egg Hunt. Bring your camera and an Easter basket. Tickets for children 12 and under are $12 and $16 for everyone else. Call 619.522.7342 to purchase tickets. CoronadoArts.com

APRIL 21 – Into baseball? Enjoy a glass of wine or beer and a special presentation of Running the Bases from a man with a passion for baseball history. Join baseball historian Bill Swank for gripping stories of America’s favorite pastime, from the 19th century to today, and hear about the role Southern California played in shaping baseball history. Presented by the Coronado Historical Association. CoronadoHistory.org

APRIL 22 – APRIL 21 Tea with the Spreckels - Sign up to meet historical dignitaries John D. and Lillie Spreckels as they share their stories from their life in Coronado live in the Winn Room at the Coronado Public Library from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Lillie will premiere a little ditty on the piano that she composed for the 100th Anniversary of the Coronado Flower Show. Meeting John D. and Lillie in his namesake building will be a special treat. CoronadoLibrary.org

APRIL 22 - 24 & 29 and 30 – Enjoy one of America’s most beloved musicals when the award-winning Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) presents Mamma Mia featuring the music we love from the Swedish group ABBA. Music and dance come together in perfect harmony and you can have front row seats in the Coronado High School’s Performing Arts Center at 7:00 pm. CosaSanDiego.com

APRIL 23 – Coronado Community Band Concert who are celebrating their 25th year, will perform under the gazebo during the Flower show at Spreckels park. Admission to the Flower Show is required to attend. CoronadoConcertBand.org APRIL 22 EARTH DAY 2022 – A Day to celebrate Coronado’s pristine beauty and a time to commit to keeping it that way! Join Emerald Keepers at an early

morning rally from 7:00 am to 8:15 am with your

homemade, colorful signs on Orange Avenue and again that afternoon at 3:30 pm in the park next to the Coronado Public Library to celebrate the winners of its 2022 Poster Competition. Join in at the Community Clean-up. Be on the look out for one of 20 Golden Tickets. Redeem the ticket at the Library along with a photo of yourself picking up trash for Coronado Currency! EmeraldKeepers.org

APRIL 23 - 24 – Spreckels Park becomes a magical wonderland of big white tents and floral beauty as the Coronado Floral Association celebrates 100 Years with the 2022 Flower Show: a showcase of nature’s beauty combined with man’s creativity in breathtaking displays of color, texture and originality. It’s like nothing you will ever see anywhere else, with floral exhibits taking you to both our past and our future. See Alice’s Wonderland (petite displays); A Peek to Our Past; and Come over to the Dark Side (space odyssey) along with displays competing for top ribbons in a host of other categories. CoronadoFlowerShow.com

APRIL 23 – For those of us who still love the feel of a good book in our hands, the Friends of the Library Book Sale comes along just in time to replenish our home libraries for summer reading. A 1,001 titles at prices anyone can afford — there is something here for every reader from young to age 107. Taking place in the park next to the Coronado Public Library on the corner of Orange and 7th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Combine a cruise through this amazing sale with a visit to the Flower Show across the street at Spreckels Park for a stellar day to remember! CoronadoFOL.org

APRIL 24 – Relax and step back in time while enjoying the sounds of the Coronado Big Band as they perform under the gazebo in Spreckels park as part of the Flower Show (admission to the Flower Show required). CoronadoConcertBand.org

APRIL 28 – It’s not every day that you get to hear one band in concert but TWO – WOW! Don’t miss as the Coronado Community Band makes beautiful music with the Coronado High School Band in a spectacular Music in the Schools concert in the Coronado High School Performing Arts Center. CoronadoConcertBand.org

APRIL 30 – The High Society Jazz Band brings our month to a close along with the Community READ at the Coronado Public Library from 2-3 pm. CoronadoArts.com and CoronadoLibrary.org APRIL 27 – What happens if the wrong man pushes the wrong button on a global scale? And enjoys it? Find out in the Coronado Island Film Festival’s Classic Film presentation of Dr. Strangelove at the fabulously restored Art Deco Village Theater. CoronadoFilmFest.com

APRIL 29 – Nothing says summer is coming like a Hawaiian Luau, and it’s arriving just in time to set the mood. The 25th Anniversary of the Silver Strand Elementary School’s Annual Luau is a fun-for-the-wholefamily event with games, food and great entertainment. For details, email kendratutuiian@yahoo.com.

* Heidi Wilson is a local resident and the new Chair of the Cultural Arts Commission, who helped found the arts commission in 2011 and chaired it for five years. Heidi returns with a fountain of creative ideas and a commitment to reinvigorating our local arts scene.

CELEBRATE ART, CULTURE AND CREATIVITY!