Barrio Art Jam, Barrio Art Crawl and Concerts in the Barrio Take Place this Weekend
By Brent E. Beltrán
Barrio Logan is becoming well known for its thriving, grassroots arts scene. This weekend’s activities are proof of that. From Friday through Sunday numerous cultural events will take place within San Diego’s most historic Chicano community.
The events include the 2nd annual Barrio Art Jam at La Bodega on Friday night, Barrio Art Crawl throughout the Barrio Arts District on Saturday afternoon/evening and the Barrio Logan Association’s Concerts in the Barrio at the Mercado del Barrio plaza on Sunday afternoon.
The weekend begins Friday night from 6-11pm with Barrio Art Jam. Barrio Art Jam is a co-production between Caballero Music and La Bodega Gallery that will feature live music by Cantua, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Psydecar, Agua Dulce and Israel Maldonado plus art curated by the folks at La Bodega. All that for only $10. La Bodega is located at 2196 Logan Ave.
Saturday marks the end of the Barrio Arts District’s Barrio Art Crawl summer series that features unguided tours of Barrio Logan art spaces. Those venues participating on Saturday include The Roots Factory, La Bodega, The Glashaus, Chicano Art Gallery, Union Barrio Logan, The Church, HB Punto Experimental, Bread & Salt and Logan’s newest space, Galería Acá. And, as always, Chicano Park will be open for Barrio Art Crawlers to enjoy. Border X Brewery will also be showing off their new, soon-to-be remodeled space at the “Two Roses” building across the street from where they were recently located.
The full lineup of Barrio Art Crawl festivities:
The Roots Factory – 1878 Main St in the alley off Chavez
Last Show at 1878 Main St. – 2pm-10pm
The Roots Factory, one of the originators of the Barrio Arts District, is closing their doors on Main St. but don’t fret. They hope to find another location within Barrio Logan. Bob Green says, “I feel extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to work in Barrio Logan, and participate in the art movement. I feel a certain responsibility to make sure we all do right by the community. To me Barrio Logan is our Mecca, or Florence, the cultural epicenter of our Barrio Renaissance. I’m currently in the process of relocating Roots Factory into a new home, but still in Barrio Logan. I’m also working on some new plans for the next few Barrio Art Crawl events. I’m working on getting more local schools involved, and really trying to make this more of an educational experience for the whole community. My vision of the Art Crawl is to create a forum amongst the artists, galleries, and local residents.” In addition to that Bob is also working hard on presenting the 3rd Annual Barrio Film Fest on November 8 & 9 and Día De Los Muertos at The Casbah on November 2.
Join The Roots Factory as they celebrate the last days at their Headquarters at 1878 Main St. for live music & screen printing. Featuring LA DIABLA, Cumbia Machin, DJ V-Rock, Viejo Lowbo, Unified Division, Red Lotus Klan, Fabio Alejo and the CaliDose, and more to be announced.
La Bodega Gallery – 2196 Logan Ave.
$100 Art Show – 6pm-10pm
This one night only group art show features over forty artists with artwork 24″ or smaller and priced at $100 or less. Plus DJ’s and San Diego Taco Company tacos. Come on out and buy some affordable art.
The Glashaus – 1815 Main St.
CLTA’s 3rd Annual Art Show – 4pm-9pm
Celebrating Life through Art hosts its 3rd Annual Art Show and Fundraiser at The Glashaus during Barrio Art Crawl! Free admission, free food, free beverages, art and live entertainment! All donations received will go to the Monarch School for children impacted by homelessness.
Chicano Art Gallery – 2117 Logan Ave.
Back Alley Art – 5pm-10pm
Treasures and curiosities found in the barrio. Artwork by Acamonchi, Waistknot, Spencer Little, Sholove, Gmonik and Cesar Castañeda. With DJ sets by Viejo Lobo and Chingon.
UNION – Barrio Logan – 2191 Main St.
End-of-Summer Gallery Party – 5pm-10pm
UNION- Barrio Logan will be hosting food and drinks, raffle/silent auction, live art, open galleries and music for the final Barrio Art Crawl of the summer! UNION resident artists will be showcasing fashion design, furniture/woodworking design, jewelry design, handmade candles, custom glasses, leather goods, paintings, custom framing, paper goods/cards, on site tintype, a raffle/silent auction, and more!
The Church – 2151 Logan Ave.
Dirty Conversations & Blk Vlvt (Adults Only) – 8pm-10pm
An open mic night to share your dirty thoughts, sexual triumphs and fails. They’ll be closing out the night with a sneak peak of Blk Vlvt, an adult themed creative experience. Hosted by RAEL J.
Border X Brewery – 2181 Logan Ave.
Lights on After Party – 3pm-11pm
There will be a multi artist exhibit with food served by New Mexico Café at the new, yet-to-be opened Border X Brewery in what used to be Two Roses tattoo shop. Come and see the new space before they remodel and turn it into Border X Brewery’s tasting room.
HB Punto Experimental – 2151 Logan Ave in the alley
Open Gallery – 6pm-9pm
The folks at HB Punto Experimental will have an open gallery. Come inside the alley off Sampson and check out Barrio Logan’s newest experimental art gallery.
Bread & Salt – 1955 Julian Ave
Multiple Simultaneous Exhibitions – 3pm-8pm
Bread & Salt has works by Open Spaces artist in residence Roberto Salas; a show called Glimpses featuring works by Stuart Burton in Not An Exit Gallery; and the MIL Gallery will feature artists Mario Torero, Mario Chacon, Victor Ochoa, and Salvador Torres.
Galería Acá – 1904 Oceanview Blvd.
Solo Show by Mario Chacon – 7pm-10pm
Check out Galería Acá, the newest Logan area art space to open up. The first exhibit features artwork by Chicano Park muralist and Barrio Logan resident Mario Chacon. “What you’ll see here is not only art on the wall, but art integrated into the nooks and crannies,” says Chacon to City Beat. “When you come in, you’ll feel like you’re kind of at an art show, but in a living room.”
Concerts in the Barrio is the third and final event this weekend. It takes place on Sunday at 3pm at the Mercado del Barrio plaza on the corner of Newton Ave. and Cesar Chavez Parkway. The first concert in the monthly series features the chicha, cumbia and rock sounds of Goma, led by longtime, local Latin musician Pablo Garduño.
Future concerts in the series take place the last Sunday of the month and will feature the techno cumbias of Cumbia Machin, the Latin Jazz stylings of Quinteto Caballero lead by trumpet player Bill Caballero, and the all female mariachi group Mariachi Divina.
The Concerts in the Barrio series is organized and funded by the Barrio Logan Association (which I’m the Secretary of) through tax funds acquired by the Barrio Logan Maintenance Assessment District. This is the first event of many to be organized by the BLA for Barrio Logan residents and property owners.
This weekend in Barrio Logan is one that’s jam packed full of music and art for everyone. Come out and celebrate some barrio culture.
Brent E. Beltrán
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I’ve lately been to a couple plays (One was called “Circusstantial Evidence) there and finally checked out Borders Brewing. It WAS pretty damn good as you said and not bad street tacos also. Also and I can’t remember which building but we stumbled into somewhere that was featuring some punk and ska bands and we were told that’s going to become an ongoing thing.
Err Border X Brewing.