San Diego Museums Showcase the Best that Art has to Offer

FRONT & CENTER

San Diego Museums Showcase the Best that Art has to Offer

Photos and Story By Amanda Dominguez-Chio

The Artist Speaks:

Erica Deeman’s exhibit “Silhouettes” from the Museum of

Photographic Arts

Bhavna Mehta’s “Leela: Portrait of a Woman in a Green Dress” from the Timken Museum of Art

Planning to explore San Diego? Whether you’re a fan of art or a history buff, these museums are sure to entertain and enlighten your summer.

MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS BALBOA PARK

The first of the three museums to visit in Balboa Park is the Museum of Photographic Arts. Currently, there are four exhibitions: Moment in Time: A Collection of Photographs Works from the Bank of America Collection; The Artist Speaks: Erica Deeman, George Hurrell: Hollywood Glamour; and Hidden Worlds.

The George Hurrell: Hollywood Glamour exhibition features portraits of Rita Hayworth, Clark Gable, Katherine Hepburn, Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, and John Barrymore. Though the exhibition is small, fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood will thoroughly appreciate the work of Hurrell. The second exhibit is The Artist Speaks: Erica

Deeman, featuring two installations: “Brown” and “Silhouettes.” What’s interesting about Deeman’s portraits is she found her subjects by approaching friends, family, and strangers she encountered, even going so far as placing an ad on Craigslist, to have subjects sit for portraits.

In “Silhouettes,” the San Francisco-based artist Erica Deeman tackles race, gender, and cultural identity. From a distance, the portraits appear black and white, but closer up, it’s revealed that the portraits are in color, revealing details regarding the individual’s appearance. As for “Brown,” the men in each portrait were placed against a backdrop matching their skin tone. Each portrait depicted a man shown without clothing, allowing the audience to connect with the person. mopa.org

SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER BALBOA PARK

There are currently seven exhibitions at the San Diego History Center. Along with the exhibitions, San Diego History Center provides a daily screening of the film The Jewel of San Diego, a 30-minute documentary on the history of Balboa Park. Marston’s History Emporium: A Hand’s-On Learning Lab is an exhibition targeted towards children. Parents and children will encounter seven stations, such as Our San Diego and The Sights, Sounds (and Smells) of Old San Diego.

The main attraction at the museum is LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles and Triumphs. This exhibition recently opened in the beginning of July and provides a comprehensive history focusing on San Diego’s LGBTQ community. The San Diego History Center partnered with Lambda Archives of San Diego, (LASD) making this their first exhibition in Balboa Park. Founded in 1987, the LASD is dedicated to preserving the memories of LGBTQ people’s lives, work, and cultures.

As soon as you walk into the exhibit, you’ll see rainbow streamers; a timeline adorns the wall, chronicling the rich history. There are eight pillars that focus on specific topics, such as persecution, influential people, and triumphs. The exhibit is scheduled to run from now to January 2020. sandiegohistory.org

MUSEUM OF MAKING MUSIC CARLSBAD

The Museum of Making Music dedicates itself to providing the story of music by describing the

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One of the many interactive exhibits on display at the Museum of Making Music

making and selling of musical instruments and products. Of the five galleries, each one provides a station, or studio, that allows visitors to try out instruments. Not to mention that each gallery is interactive, meaning there are buttons visitors can press that offer a glimpse into the popular music at that time. Starting in the early 1900s, the gallery “America’s Music Products Industry Comes of Age” lists several genres of popular music, including big band, ragtime, and sentimental ballads.

Galleries four and five explore the evolution of rock and roll. With the introduction of rock acts such as Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, and The Supremes, this led to a decline of orchestrations popular in the early 1900s and a rise in guitar sales. The later part of the 20th century “diversified” popular music. Artists and bands experimented, creating subgenres such as glam rock, funk, and indie rock.

Towards the end of the museum, you will find an exhibition titled “Music Photography of Henry Diltz.” Notable favorites include photographs of The Doors, two photographs in particular. “The Doors, Venice Pier, CA” features the band underneath the iconic Venice Beach Pier looking off camera; according to Diltz, drummer John Densmore caught sight of a surfer, causing the rest of the band to look in that direction. The exhibit runs until October 28, 2018 so be sure to check it out while you still can. museumofmakingmusic.org

TIMKEN MUSEUM OF ART BALBOA PARK

Currently on exhibit at the Timken Museum of Art is “Leela: Portrait of a Woman in a Green Dress.” Bhavna Mehta designed her three-dimensional artwork after Bartolomeo Veneto’s “Portrait of a Lady.” Given that Mehta’s mediums are paper cutting and embroidery, Mehta created an exquisite sculpture. At the Timken, you can closely admire the intricate details of the embroidery adorning Leela’s dress, the gorgeous headpiece, and the butterflies that surround her face. The piece supposedly took approximately two weeks to complete. Veneto’s “Portrait of a Lady” is situated a few feet away from Leela, allowing visitors to witness the contrast.

HOME & STYLE

Celebrity Men’s Couture

Styles to Steal By Alan Quinn

Known, loved, and followed the world over; everyone has a celebrity that they enjoy. Some people admire a celebrity for their on-screen presence but many more are also wellknown for their flawless style. Below are some of the most stylish Hollywood celebrities in both formal and casual circles and how you can “borrow” their style for yourself.

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TAN FRANCE A newcomer to the mainstream media but an icon of great renown in the fashion world. Tan France’s style centers around striking the eye with bold color or focusing attention on one discreet detail of his attire. This distinct flirtation with extremes without being too over the top has defined Tan France as a known name in the style game. Unlike others on this list, his style is the focal point of his image as he applies his fashion expertise to the show “Queer Eye.” Mr. France is sporting a cream-colored sports blazer with a baby blue ampersand, a white dress shirt and black well-fit jeans. Colors that complement one another and a splash of something that contrasts and catches the eye. That and a quick trip to your barber is all it takes to capture Tan France’s signature style. His self-assured presence and the indescribable volume of his hairstyle is another story.

DONALD GLOVER/ CHILDISH GAMBINO

Becoming more prominent in recent years, Donald Glover has been noted as a modern-day renaissance man. As a well-received comedian, writer, and musician/rapper;

there are precious few who don’t know about his status as a style icon for a new generation. His style is bold, playing with patterns but mostly sticking with darker tones as is common with most African Americans. Even so, his color choices always enhance his look or draw attention to himself in the best ways. The thing to take away from this look is to be memorable and you’ll be fashionable. Mr. Glover stands in a canary yellow hall surrounded by timeless pieces of art in the background. Controlling the focus to his upper body with his wide brimmed hat and the wild designs of his shirt, Glover uses the solid color of his royal blue shorts and loafer-style lace ups to draw the eye up and down again. Though not in the accompanying image, recently he has sported facial hair which is perfect going into autumn this year.

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CONOR MCGREGOR

One would think that a man whose occupation is being punched in the face wouldn’t look very nice. This couldn’t be further from the truth for Conor McGregor. The MMA fighter and former lightweight champion is known for his brutal punches, punishing insults, and unreserved style. Ever a symbol of power and status, the suits McGregor wears are just another piece of gear to intimidate his opponent and posterize his dominance over his less capable and less fashionable competition. As an MMA fighter McGregor can wear just about anything he wants without too many complaints. To stress this, he often wears custom-made suits. Quality is everything and just like Glover, McGre-

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gor’s style leaves an impact on the audience. Sporting what will henceforth be known as “The McGregor Grin,” even his causal style has a hint of his signature flash and flair.

COLIN FIRTH

To Americans, Colin Firth may seem to be a perfect example of the “Stereotypical English Gentleman” and that is exactly what makes him such a men’s style icon. His is a classic and timeless style, every accessory is meticulous, and the stitching of every thread is deliberate. With a storied career that speaks for itself. Looking at him is like looking back through history at an era of simplistic and stated authority that doesn’t shout at you, nor does it need to do so to garner attention and respect from those around him. This idea can work for you too, if wild color simply isn’t who you are. Wear your style, wear it confidently and your reputation will speak for you. Mr. Firth stands beside his wife, Livia Giuggioli, at the after-party for the Oscars. Sporting a classic tuxedo with silver button covers, while the Mrs. brings a note of hot pink to the pair. Classics are always classy.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN

From the “Classic” to the “New Classic” Chadwick Boseman is equally at home in casual street wear as well as black-tie. The famed actor is known for his portrayals as real-life African American icons such as Jackie Robinson and James Brown as well as the fictional King of Wakanda. The ever-rising star is also a symbol for men’s fashion and experiments with color and texture in his classy suits. Every bit as detailed as his fashion-savvy counterpart, he reworks the conventions of the standard gentleman and builds on them. His wider range of choices create a broader and more accessible template for more men to achieve his style. Mr. Boseman stands on the blue carpet of the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards in

a polka-dotted blue Burberry suit jacket paired with all black attire from his dress shirt and pants to his shined laceless dress shoes.

RYAN REYNOLDS

More known for his zany humor and snappy comedic sense. Ryan Reynolds is well-known as a style icon to most men acquainted with fashion. A surprising inclusion, the only way to describe Reynolds style is that it is “oddly appropriate.” That he is so invested in his appearance might seem strange to those who only know him as a funny man, but fashion is a form of power. Power of presence, and if your presence is weak or stands out in the wrong way, you won’t give off or receive the response you want. That Reynolds is so aware of his appearance, may be an extension of his comedic style. He wants people to be laughing with him, not at him, and while it may not require a suit every time; Reynolds’ style is basic but attention-grabbing nonetheless. Ryan Reynolds infuriates and delights in his casual “Dad Attire,” a $1,500 jacket and $100 pants. Showcasing his devil-may-care persona by chugging milk straight from the carton whilst preparing a bowl of cereal. A perfect example of the everyman’s fashion. A few accents are all that most men can afford both in terms of cost and time in the morning. As a proud actor and a proud father, Reynolds effortlessly embodies this idea with his accessible style.

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For men, fashion truly is only an accessory to attitude, not a supplement. Whether you take anything away from this list or not, understand that your personal style can always be elevated. A bit of color, an extra pattern; the smallest consideration can make your outfit pop and all it takes is an extra moment of consideration before you dress. Keep it simple and stay classy, gentleman.

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