Wander and observe all there is to offer in the Arts District with various art exhibitions, workshops and more for this month’s First Friday on July 7. You can view the entire lineup of events aquí with a few highlights listed below.

·       ArtWalk Liberty Station Summer Series is a partnership between ArtWalk and Arts District. An event welcoming people of all ages to enjoy an intimate experience with the creative community. Over 20 Arts District tenants will exhibit both outdoors and in their studios to showcase their creative side with a hands on collage making class with June Rubin and much more.

·       Apt 4 Music’s First Friday at Carruth Cellars is coming back on July 7. From 4:30-8 p.m., attendees of all ages are welcome to stop by and enjoy a free evening of live music featuring musicians from Arts District’s own, Apt 4 Music.

·       Leslie Pierce is excited to be hosting a Color Theory Bootcamp and Palm Tree Paint-along in her studio for beginners and experts. Visitors will learn so much more about color and leave with an 11 by 14 inch painting they created. There will be two sessions running from 5-6:30 p.m. and then a second from 7-8:30 p.m.

·       Sociedad de Acuarela de San Diego is pleased to present the opening of a water-based media exhibition titled “Where the Fun Is.” The opening reception will take place Friday, July 7 from 5-8 p.m. and will feature over 95 ready-to-hang original paintings as well as refreshments.

·       Mockingbird Improv is thrilled to be hosting “All Hands on Deck,” a wild and wacky improv game show from 9-10:15 p.m. General admission for the show is $15.

·       Colectivo de artesanía de San Diego will have their doors open for a community mending event taking place from 4-7 p.m. Since July’s theme is buttons, interested parties can gab an item from home that needs fixing and learn how to re-style or mend clothes that need some hands-on love. Kids are also welcome to stop by the studio from 5-6 p.m. for a free Button Art kids craft.

·       Art in Flexion is excited to be hosting performances and demonstrations from Circus artists! During the open studio, each performer will share about their journey through development with Contortion and Hand Balancing, followed by a Q&A, which will dive deeper into what it takes to be a Circus Performer.

BIPOC ARTISTIC COLLABORATION DISCUSSION | July 8

Immerse yourself in an evening of artistry, dialogue, and the celebration of new beginnings. Join San Diego Writers Ink y Trixi Anne Agiao for an intimate evening of artistic exploration and collaboration at ‘Creative Alchemy: A Night of Shared Creations.’ Bringing together eight exceptional BIPOC writers and choreographers, this special event explores the collaborative processes present within their art through demonstration and discussion. After the collaborations are shared, the artists will host an insightful Q&A session allowing the audience to intimately connect with these remarkable BIPOC writers and choreographers. The event will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 8 at the Inspirations Gallery, located at 2730 Historic Decatur Rd #204. Admission is free and attendees can RSVP aquí.

ARTS DISTRICT SUMMER MUSIC SERIES | July 9

Let the music move and groove you this summer with the return of Arts District Summer Music Series happening Sunday, July 9 from 4-7 p.m. on the North Promenade. Guests, friends, and family will be able to dance to the beat of the music, bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the free concert, or sip on cold beverages from Stone Brewing’s outdoor patio area. As a powerhouse in the Latin music industry, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra is San Diego’s first and only all-female salsa band. Through their shared love for Latin music, nine incredibly talented musicians have come together to inspire people throughout San Diego County through live salsa music. Ready to shake up the stage with their vibrant music and lively energy, the Sabrosas Latin Orchestra will get you dancing before you even realize it from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, July 9. Plus, mark your calendars for next month’s concert featuring Kimmi Bitter and The Westside Twang on Sunday, Aug. 13.

JAZZ TUESDAYS AT CARRUTH CELLARS | July 11, 18, 25

Sip back and relax with wine, cheese and smooth jazz at Carruth Cellars in Liberty Station from 5-8 p.m. every Tuesday. With new performers and musicians each week, Carruth’s Jazz Tuesdays offer the perfect atmosphere for tasting wine with good company.

MONTHLY GARDEN CLUB | July 14

Colectivo de artesanía de San Diego invites the community to join their garden club on the second Friday of every month. Founder, Steffanie Dotson, saw an opportunity to transform an underutilized plot of land outside their studio into a living, learning lab. Through the support of a Collaborative Grant by Fundación NTC, the new Edible & Pollinator Garden serves to teach the community about how gardening in a small space can be quite abundant. Learn how to grow your own organic fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables, plus all the benefits of eating healthy, being outdoors and giving back green space to our planet. Participation is $10 and free for military. To sign up, click aquí.

SUMMER EXHIBIT AT DICK LAUB COMMAND CENTER | Now on display

Artistic works from ARTS DISTRICT’s very own artists are now on display through Sept. 30. The Summer themed exhibit will feature a collection of paintings, photographs and other artistic mediums in the lobby of the Dick Laub Command Center. Additional exhibits on display include Joe Pisano’s The Art of Immortalizing Heroes, Joe Frangiosa’s Nautical History Gallery & Museum, and art by Lisa E in the Conference Room off the lobby, which is part of an NTC Foundation exhibit showcasing works by Lauren LeVieux. The Summer Exhibit is open daily from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

SUMMER CAMPS

• Milk Oolong Pottery: Learn skills on the pottery wheel, sculpting, hand-building, and surface decoration to create a variety of projects. Offering nine five-day sessions, summer camp classes are available through Aug. 18 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
• Banyan Tree Educational Services: Avoid the summer slide and get your kids ahead for the next school year with six weeks of targeted literacy and math instruction with a credentialed teacher. Running through July 28 from 8 a.m.-noon, students entering second to sixth grade will learn important skills necessary for navigating their path to success. Additional personalized and one-on-one learning opportunities are available through Aug. 25 at their Liberty Station location.
• Bilingual Kids: Enjoy weekly themed weeks through Aug. 12 featuring Spanish, Mandarin and ESL. Each week will conclude with a Fiesta/派对/Party. In each session, your children will embark on new experiences, and make friendships, all the while learning and enhancing their language skills. All levels are welcome and there are full day, half day and single day options available. Weekly camps run through Aug. 11.
• Escuela de Arte Monart: Embrace your inner artist with half-day drawing and mixed media art camps. Weekly camps run through Aug. 25 with each week featuring a different theme including ocean fun, cartoons, amazing animals, fantasy and fiction and more.
• Colectivo de artesanía de San Diego: Kids are welcome to enjoy fun, hands on projects in a specific area of interest at their wide variety of kids camps this Summer including woodworking, wood and clay, fashion design, sewing basics and gardening. Weekly camps run through Aug. 11.