Previewing this year’s Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy

By Logan Broyles | SDUN Reporter

Art lovers are invited to stroll the streets of one of San Diego’s most iconic neighborhoods and enjoy works from the more than 300 artists that will be showing at this year’s Mission Federal ArtWalk, taking place Saturday and Sunday, April 27 – 28 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. each day.

The art on display will primarily be from Southern California-based artists, but there will be a strong presence from the international art world as well, with submissions from Mexico, South America and Europe.

“People have come to expect high-quality art and we think it gets better every year,” said Sandi Cottrell, managing director of the ArtWalk. “We really work at the artist selection process to bring different and new artists, and the quality this year is going to be incredible.”

Among the artists showing is Annie Goldgewicht, who Cottrell said showed how organizers were representing a wide variety of mediums and styles. Goldgewicht combines ceramic work with basketry.

“She’s of Costa Rican descent and some of this relates back to artistry that’s done in her home country,” Cottrell said.

This year’s 29th annual festival will fill 17 blocks of Little Italy, located just north of Downtown along the waterfront. The free outdoor festival will also include live music, dance performances and an entire section devoted to children.

Cottrell said that they have used the work of Los Angeles-based contemporary metal sculptor James Hill in their ArtWalk magazines and on all of their marketing posters for years. Another ArtWalk staple is multimedia artist Richard Curtner.

“[He] creates all of his artwork out of printed words that he pulls from magazines and newspapers and uses those to outline very intricate scenes,” she said.

This year’s ArtWalk will also feature some up-and-coming young artists, including San Diego State University (SDSU) fine arts major and Business of Art Scholarship winner Jennifer Cerutti. The painter will have her work on display at booth 567.

“It’s called the Business of Art Scholarship, so while they’re learning how to make art at SDSU this program teaches them how to make a living as artists,” Cottrell said. “We partnered with the San Diego Visual Arts Network, [that] offers them mentoring on all the things that it really takes to be in business as an artist.”

Cottrell added that in addition to the opportunity to browse and shop for art, there are also several other components to the event. A new feature for 2013 is called Art Meets Design, a “virtual home” where people can get tips from interior designers on how they can design their homes and rooms around their personal art collection.

“When people come to the event they often say they might find a piece of art that they really love but they have trouble envisioning it in their own home,” Cottrell said.

Another new event will be an interactive encounter called “Grown Up Finger-painting.” Participants will be shown how to use paint and their fingers directly on the canvass to create unique art.

“It’s not finger painting as you think of as what you may have done as a kid,” Cottrell said. “There’s actually ways of creating very intricate shadings and portraiture. The artist that we’re working with on that, Gabriela Alvarez, has a really unique take on how to paint with your hands and she’s going to be teaching that to the guests.” Attendees will be able to take home their creations.

A map can be found on the event website that shows all parking lots in the area, and event organizers are recommend people walk or take public transportation, including the trolley. The Little Italy Association will also be offering a valet service at the corner of India and Juniper streets

For more information, visit missionfederalartwalk.org.