An all woman’s art exhibition, a film screening and a very womanly celebration
By Leticia Gomez Franco
Casa Familiar’s THE FRONT will once again present their annual ode to women, this year called Sanctuary: 7th Annual Dia de la Mujer Art Exhibition. The group art exhibition features the work of 48 female artists from both sides of the border and will be on view from March 7 to April 24.
With over 50 art pieces, the exhibition is a wonderful collection of work, inspired by this years theme: Sanctuary. Artists were invited to explore the idea of sanctuary in its many manifestations as it relates to them as women and builders and creators of their own spaces. With this theme the exhibition curator honors the mission of Día de la Mujer. The art exhibition allows women artists to create real representations of themselves, to counter the powerful stream of visual stimulation spat out by the media, oversaturating our world, with foreign, unrealistic versions of women. Día de la Mujer fosters a safe space for women to be real women and to celebrate that realness, in all of its diverse beauty.
The winners of the exhibition will be announced the night of the opening. This years jurors were Alessandra Moctezuma, Gallery Director and Professor at Mesa College, April Game, Executive Director of Art Pulse, Illya Haro, Cultural Agent, Laboratory of Contemporary Art Agents in Tijuana, Mexico and Susan Myrland, curator and arts consultant at Silvergate Consulting.
Sanctuary opens this Friday March 7 at Casa Familiar’s THE FRONT: A Collaborative of Art, Culture, Design & Urbanism, located at 147 W. San Ysidro Blvd. The opening reception will run from 4-10pm. While the art exhibition is definitely the highlight, the night also includes a “noche de cultura” featuring live music by The Roots Factory’s own, DJ Ana Brown, roots dance theater, as well as a very special performance by Fesway brought by Mucho San Diego all the way from Guadalajara, MX. A highlight for the opening this year is an art making booth hosted by the San Diego Museum of Art. The Nichos y Santuarios booth will be sharing outdoor festive space with a womens crafts market as well as delicious food options from Mariscos German and Irene’s Kitchen.
The opening reception tends to get crowded, so those who wish to spend some quiet time with the art should plan on attending from 4-7pm, and those who want to enjoy the live performances to stay from 7-10pm.
This years Dia de la Mujer programming will also feature a special film screening of The World Before Her. The film is hosted by a collaboration between MOPA and Sundance Institutions, Film Forward program, an international touring program that offers film screenings, workshops and discussions with filmmakers, designed to foster dialogue and greater cultural understanding.
The screening, which will take place on Wednesday March 5 from 6-8pm at el salon, 114 W. San Ysidro Blvd. will be followed by a dialogue facilitated by MOPA and The Front. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, as a special sneek peek tour of Sanctuary will be given at 5pm.
Admission to both the exhibition and the film screening are free and everyone is invited and encouraged to attend, although parents who are sensitive to nudity should keep in mind the nature of the exhibition.
Free Parking will be available on lot located on the corner of Blanche & Cypress, behind THE FRONT. This event is brought to you by Casa Familiar, Inc a non-profit community development agency serving the South Bay community for over 30 years and sponsored in part through the generous support of the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Program.
Leticia Gomez Franco is the Gallery and Exhibitions Director for Casa Familiar’s THE FRONT.