Photo from Lambda Archives

I’ve been banging this drum for a while now and am unlikely to stop for a while more: Participating in or experiencing art can foster hope, optimism, and emotional healing on a community-wide scale. Over the weekend, we’ve seen loads of “performance” art in fireworks, music, parades. This next week, San Diego Pride events promise even more, mostly free. Flash from the past when Activist Judi Scheim and I carried our uniquely designed banner for the San Diego Lesbian Health Project. Still marching. Still making art. Still healing while being the change!

 The World is Run by Those Who Show Up

July 11, 11:00 am  San Diego Pride Dyke March steps off at 308 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103 You can bet, there will be ART!!!

After party at Gossip Grill, 1220 University Ave,CA 92103|

July 13, 6-8 p.m.   Beyond Burnout: Art Journaling for Stress Relief 4-week series begins at the Oceanside Museum of Art. I'm all-in for this. Pre-registration is required. CEU's are available for health care providers. Check it all out https://oma-online.org/events/beyond-burnout/

Happiness Runs I made this folded art journal to house memories of my sister, Kelley, after she        passed in 2018.

July 16, 11-1pm County Arts and Culture Commission meeting

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cao/edga/arts-culture-commission.html

July 17, 2026 6:00 – 7:00 PM Spirit of Stonewall Rally and Larry T. Baza Arts & Culture Award to Songwriter Sanctuary  https://sdpride.org/larry-t-baza-arts-culture-award-2026/

535 Robinson Ave, 92103

July 18, 10:00 am San Diego Pride Parade along University and Normal Streets.

THEN get on over to:

July 18, 3:30-4:30 p.m. I'll be facilitating a discussion of Art for Community Healing with journalist Brooke Binkowski and Fallbrook Art Center E.D. Karen Trapane. 

Rancho San Diego County Library 11555 Via Rancho, San Diego, 92019

                              

 

Reflections on The Art Car with Maricruz at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center.

Days of Books is going to be a shorter blab today. Why???? Because there’s so much to do and I'm out doing it! I went to the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center https://bonitahistoricalsociety.org/ to take in the Michael Leaf Sculptures and to celebrate three years since The Art Car was first painted there. Not writing about it, DOING it. Then there’s so many choices (imagine me holding a damp cloth to forehead). RENT at Diversionary https://www.diversionary.org/, or Bustagroove at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido https://artcenter.org/event/bustagroove/. Why can’t I do both today? Oh, pesky laws of physics. 

Increasing Lesbian health visibility through art. Graphics by Diane F. Germain

Reminder: The World is Run by Those Who Show Up

Now through July 30, 2026 Inspired By, III, Words Are Power full

Rancho San Diego Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon, 92019 Free entry, free parking

June 30, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join the County of San Diego Arts and Culture Commission and San Diego ART Matters for In Community, County District 1, a free, community-based gathering designed to connect San Diego County Arts and Culture commissioners, artists, cultural organizations, civic leaders, and community partners across San Diego County.

Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, San Diego

Liminal Identity inspired by the book Fiela's Child, and by the never-ending courage of LGBTQ+ heroes everywhere   R.Richetts

July 11, starts at 11 a.m. The San Diego Pride Dyke March is back to kick off SD Pride week. https://sdpride.org/san-diego-dyke-march

July 16, 11-1 pm County Arts and Culture Commission meeting

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cao/edga/arts-culture-commission.html

July 18, 2026 3:30-4:30 P.M. Inspired By, III Art Discussion and Tour with speakers Karen Trapane, Executive Director, Fallbrook Center for the Arts, and Brooke Binkowski, journalist, Times of San Diego

11555 Via Rancho San Diego

El Cajon, CA 92019

619-660-5370

Today's post is emotionally powered by Cyndi Lauper's True Colors.

May yours shine through 

 

 

Happy Summer!

Today’s our first summer day. We will have over 14 hours of daylight to move us into the next season. And here’s a little factoid for any of us who like lots of brightness before bed: June 29^th will give us the latest sunset of the year at 8 p.m. 

Temperatures at Lake Hodges make for wonderful outdoor art production, exactly what I did with 2 friends yesterday. We decided to take a stack of paper grocery bags and turn them into decorated art papers. Messy? Yep. Lots of laughter? Oh, heck yes. Beautiful art paper? Believe it!

The World is Run by Those Who Show Up

June 5-July 30, 2026 Inspired By, III, Words Are Power full

Rancho San Diego Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon, 92019

June 30, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join the County of San Diego Arts and Culture Commission and San Diego ART Matters for In Community, County District 1, a free, community-based gathering designed to connect San Diego County Arts and Culture commissioners, artists, cultural organizations, civic leaders, and community partners across San Diego County.

Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, San Diego

July 16, 11-1 pm County Arts and Culture Commission meeting

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cao/edga/arts-culture-commission.html

Saturday July 18, 2026 3:30-4:30 P.M. Free, open to the public.

Inspired By, III Art Discussion and Tour

Rancho San Diego County Library

11555 Via Rancho San Diego

El Cajon, CA 92019

619-660-5370

Participating in and/or experiencing art can foster hope, optimism, and emotional healing on a community-wide scale. Please join me as I moderate a lively discussion with panelists Karen Trapane, Executive Director, Fallbrook Center for the Arts and Brooke Binkowski, journalist, Times of San Diego. Get a chance to speak with me and learn more about my Inspired By, III artist’s books on display at the library.

Until next Sunday, have a great week.

 

 

 

  Photo by David Renwick

I follow Melani Sanders (https://wedonotcareclub.com) because she is hilarious and calls it as she sees it. Her new We Do Not Care Handbook for Those in Perimenopause, Menopause, and Their Allies has hit the press.

Right away, I had to make a list specific to book artists such as myself. The style is 100% hers. Content is all mine. I’ve got 5 so far. More will come, I’m sure.

     Today’s Announcements for Book Artists Who Do Not Care

• ·         I do not care that when you “drop in” to visit my studio, you think it is chaos. I have a system. Do not move anything.
• ·         I do not care if you do not understand my Artist’s Books. Often, I do not either.
• ·         I do not care if other artists share their work on Instagram. I do not trust that Meta stuff. Except Blogspot.
• ·         I do not care when you are annoyed because I stop to pick up trash in the parking lot. Book art supplies are everywhere. Get over yourself.
• ·         I do not care that you think my Artist’s Books do not qualify as artist’s books. Most folks do not know what Artist’s Books are anyway.

SHOWUPSHOWUP and change the world

  Nicotina at the Rancho San Diego Library. Photo by D. Renwick

June 5-July 30 2026 Inspired By, III, Words Are Power full

Rancho San Diego Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon, 92019

June 30, 2026 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Join the County of San Diego Arts and Culture Commission and San Diego ART Matters for In Community, County District 1, a free, community-based gathering designed to connect San Diego County Arts and Culture commissioners, artists, cultural organizations, civic leaders, and community partners across San Diego County.

Location: Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, San Diego

July 16, 11-1pm County Arts and Culture Commission meeting

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cao/edga/arts-culture-commission.html

July 18, 3:30-4:30 pm Creativity Strengthens Our Communities

Rancho San Diego Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon, 92019

Join me as I moderate a lively discussion with Journalist Brooke Binkowski (The Times of San Diego) and Karen Trapane, Executive Director, Fallbrook Art Center, then we'll take a tour of the artist’s books on display.

Photo by David Renwick

Until next Sunday, have a creative week.

 

Because You never Know    Richetts

City of San Diego arts funding, which was expected to be cut by over $11 million, has mostly been restored through a private-government partnership with the Prebys Foundation! You never know, right? 

Inspired By, III is on display (details below) I’m so excited. The Rancho San Diego Library is a wonderful resource for visual artists to display their work. My forever thanks to curator and artist Lisa Bebi, and to the library's wonderful staffer Lorena Curley, who is always a ray of light whenever I visit.

About our libraries, yep. The San Diego County Summer Reading Program has started. I did this last year and had such fun that I'm already signed up again. It's free, there are giveaways, you can see what others are reading. No it's not just for kids, though I imagine they'll love it. https://www.sdcl.org/summer

Assisted Living  Richetts On display through July 30 at the Rancho San Diego Library

I'm realizing as I type, that I actually have 2 (count 'em, two!) solo shows on display this week. Go figure. My versions of Sustainable Creations continue at the Fallbrook Art Center until

June 13th. 103 S. Main Ave., Fallbrook, CA

SHOWUPSHOWUPSHOWUP and change the world

June 5-July 30, 2026 Inspired By, III, Words Are Power full

Rancho San Diego Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon, 92019

Opening reception and tour of the artist’s books on Friday June 12, 3:30-5 p.m. Free entry and free parking.

June 10 San Diego county Fair opens. Arts and culture demos, make and takes, reading with goats? Now that's got my name written all over it. Check out the daily schedule at 

https://www.sdfair.com/events 

June 30, Join the County of San Diego Arts and Culture Commission and San Diego ART Matters for In Community, County District 1, a free, community-based gathering designed to connect San Diego County Arts and Culture commissioners, artists, cultural organizations, civic leaders, and community partners across San Diego County. This, too, is FREE.

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, San Diego

Hope to see many of you on June 12th.

Until next week, be the change

 

QCMC staff photo

Greetings on this last day of May, 2026.

This time of year, in North County is one of my absolute favorites. Flowers and trees bloom. The bird life goes crazy to reproduce. The County Fair and Summer Solstice are practically upon us. I can read great books (and some maybe not so great) while sitting outdoors making vitamin D in my spare time. Easier than making bread in the bread-maker. Absolutely not least on my list today (and speaking of FREE) I can visit Queen Califia’s Magical Circle (google it!) early in June before the tourist season begins: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 3333 Bear Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92025.

And then there’s Cruising Grand in Escondido. another freebee where every Friday’s a new Friday starting at 4pm. Vintage cars galore, music, food, friendly folks, what’s not to love?

Take Me for a Ride  Richetts

SHOWUPSHOWUPSHOWUP and change the world

Tue Jun 2, 2026 - California Congressional, State and Gubernatorial Primary Election

She Carries History  Richetts

June 5-July 30, 2026 Inspired By, III, Words Are Power full

Rancho San Diego Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon, 92019

Opening reception and tour of the artist’s books on Friday June 12, 3:30-5 p.m. Free entry and free parking.

Radioactive    Richetts

June 10 San Diego county Fair opens. Check out the arts and culture demos, make and takes, performing arts: https://www.sdfair.com/ No SPAM cooking events this year, I’m sad to say. You know I’d be competing if there were. LOL

June 30, Join the County of San Diego Arts and Culture Commission and San Diego ART Matters for In Community, County District 1, a free, community-based gathering designed to connect San Diego County Arts and Culture commissioners, artists, cultural organizations, civic leaders, and community partners across San Diego County. FREE

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, 1949 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113

Until next Sunday, be the change.

 

 

 

Mojo Nixon is Toad in Mario Brothers. Toad may or may not have been a fiction of AI imagination.

ChatGPT. OMG!!!! I was peripherally aware of this application (cultural phenomenon? research tool on steroids?), but not really thinking about it much in terms of art and science, UNTIL, Mary Jo got an actual account, and began sharing the conversations (note how I’m not even putting “conversations” in quotes) she’s been having with her ChatBOT. It communicates with her in the first-person singular (“I really enjoy these types of questions”) does a ton of ego stroking, uses sentence structures that will elicit empathy for it and for her, remembers and references past conversations they have had about other topics, and cracks jokes that are really funny. Kind of creepy at first, though. Then I started thinking about ST: Next Generation’s Data, AI folks on the holodeck, the entire storyline from Caprica: the possibility of Human + AI relationships has been around at least since Homer. (Nope, did not use ChatGPT to find that out. I googled it 😁).

So, is ChatGPT an art form? Is it the best/worst thing to happen in human history? Will my binary questions ever stop? Think I’ll just drop a bit of insight from Ursula LeGuin right here: “You don’t see yet, Genry, why we perfected and practice Foretelling? To exhibit the perfect uselessness of knowing the answer to the wrong question.” Left Hand of Darkness

 

SHOWUPSHOWUPSHOWUP and change the world

Weds. May 27^th at 4:30p.m. Rally for arts support, followed by San Diego City Council meeting at 6:30 pm. At the S.D. Civic Center.    https://ma.to/event/arts-support-rally-city-council-27-may-2026

Tue Jun 2, 2026 - California Congressional, State and Gubernatorial Primary Election

June 4-July 30, 2026 Inspired By, III: Words Are Power full

Rancho San Diego Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon, 92019