When bad things happen to good art

Sometimes my brain clicks from one thought-stream to another seemingly without connections. Connections abound, of course. Cool how the subconscious works, isn’t it? I was watching men’s figure skating last week when I remembered how years ago, a mixed-media artist’s book that I’d just sold, was run over by the collector in her Beemer. Gallery-owner gasped. Collector cried. I was laughing (I can be that way). The art damage was far beyond a simple repair. Yikes. I thought doing a collab-remake with Collector’s car might be fun. It was. 

Back to men’s figure-skating. I saw a really sad, jaw-dropping thing happen to really good art on the Olympic ice. The crowd gasped, The 21 year old skater cried.  I did not laugh. 

I can be that way, sure, but no way am I that bad.

 

All February is museum month: More than 70 museums are 50% off*. You need the FREE 50% off pass which you can download at https://sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/specials/museum-month

February 21, 1100-1p.m. Community Art Workshop

Location: The San Diego Museum of Art

No reservation is required. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. *which is half off this month.

Saturday, February 28^th, 5:00-10 p.m.

The Del Dios Chili Cook-Off! I’m competing with my famous duck chili—yum!

You be the judge: whose chili is the best?

Doors open at 5p.m. Tasting begins at 5:30, awards at 6:30pm, followed by all-you-can eat chili until they run out.

Del Dios Community Center (aka “The Ol’ Firehouse”) 20155 Elm Ln, Escondido, CA 92029

 

The World is Run by Those Who Show Up

^{February 26, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30 PM the first In Community event from the San Diego County Arts and Culture Commission takes place at the Live Well Center. RSVP here.}

March 18, 2026 11-1p.m. San Diego County Arts and Culture Commission meeting

Meet Christine E. Jones, the Commission’s new Manager of Art, Film and Creative Industries 

Location: 1600 Pacific Hwy, Room 402A, San Diego, CA 9210

Phone: +1 669 444 9171 
Webinar ID: 833 2424 4450 

Sometimes when I need to jump-start my better creativity, I mass-produce Ephemera from recycled ephemera. I have so many of these pins. They'll probably go up to WonderCon with me next month, where some lucky attendees will be asked if they'd like one. 

Plate of Pins

I will for sure wear this one at WonderCon

I'm working on an artist's book inspired by a story that happens in Greenland. These pins are side-wanderings while I work out the structure of the Big Piece

Every day, in every way, resist

 

The Winter Olympics are upon us, and unless you’ve been off all manner of social communication, you already know this. To avoid talking heads, commercials and inconvenient broadcast times, I watch my favorite events on YouTube. Little-known factoid about me: I LOVE Ice Hockey. I really enjoyed the new documentary on Netflix about the 1980 Miracle team.

Speaking of documentaries on Netflix, All the Empty Rooms should be required viewing by every member of Congress, IMO.

Looking forward to these events:

February 14, 10-1800, 2026   Afrofuturism for Valentines’ Day? Doesn’t get much better. At the Worldbeat Cultural Center https://www.worldbeatcenter.org/events/

February 26, 2026 5-6:30p.m. join creatives and civic leaders in County District 4 at the Southwestern Live Well Center, 5101 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92114

While it is free, you would help the Arts and Culture Commission know how many folks to expect by reserving a spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-community-sd-county-district-4-gathering-tickets-1982539343545?aff=erelexpmlt

Saturday, February 28^th, 5:00-10:00 p.m.

The Del Dios Chili Cook-Off! I’m competing with my famous duck chili—yum! You be the judge: whose chili is the best?

Tasting begins at 5:30, awards at 6:30pm, followed by all-you-can eat chili until they run out.

Del Dios Community Center (aka “The Ol’ Firehouse”) 20155 Elm Ln, Escondido, CA 92029

The World is Run by Those Who Show Up

March 18, 2026 11-1p.m. San Diego County Arts and Culture Commission meeting

Meeting location: 1600 Pacific Hwy, Room 402A, San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: +1 669 444 9171 
Webinar ID: 833 2424 4450 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that these 2 Artist's Books will be selected for the PSBA Members' exhibition to open in Washington State this summer. 

Until next Sunday

XOXOX

 

 

 A new month and a lot to share.

This past week, San Diego County hired a new Creative Manager to support the County Arts and Culture Commission. She is Christine Jones, formally the Chief of Civic Art Strategies for the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, i.e. super well-qualified and ready to hit the ground running at the countywide level. She starts on February 2^nd.

In keeping with my experience that The World is Run by Those Who Show Up, please consider calling in or attending in person

San Diego County Arts and Culture Commission meetings for 2026

• February 4, 2026  - Room 302
• March 18, 2026
• May 20, 2026
• July 15, 2026
• September 16, 2026
• November 18, 2026

Meeting location: 1600 Pacific Hwy, Room 402A, San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: +1 669 444 9171 
Webinar ID: 833 2424 4450 

Feb. 28th with the San Diego Emerging Museum Professionals

Media Matters: Engaging Strategies for Museums with Michael Rocha of the San Diego Union Tribune. For more info and to register, go tohttps://sandiegoemp.org/event/media-matters-engaging-strategies-for-museums/

Today begins Black History month. Check out all that’s happening at Worldbeat Cultural Center https://www.worldbeatcenter.org/events/, including but certainly not limited to

February 14, 10-1800, 2026   Black Comix Day  

WOWZA!!!  BANG!!! BOOM!!!

February 22^nd, 2026  And then, there's this in Oceanside

https://sandiegoblackfestival.com/

February 1-27 at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center

The Ric Todd Collection, including Keith Haring, Steve R. Allen, Jaimee Todd, and Ric Todd

https://bonitahistoricalsociety.org/ric-todd-collection-at-the-museum/

Saturday, February 28^th, 5:00-10 p.m.

The Del Dios Chili Cook-Off! I’m competing with my famous duck chili—yum! You be the judge. whose chili is the best?

Tasting begins at 5:30, awards at 6:30pm, followed by all-you-can eat chili until they run out.

Where? Del Dios Community Center (aka “The Ol’ Firehouse”)

20155 Elm Ln, Escondido, CA 92029

This Spring Runway events. Images now, info to come.