Local artists, art galleries showcased in annual ART San Diego

Promising to be bigger and better than ever before, Art San Diego is back for its eighth annual showcase at Balboa Park.

The four-day contemporary art show, which runs from Thursday, Nov. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 6 at the Balboa Park Activity Center, features an international slate of artists and galleries, as well as a slew of local artists and galleries. Del Mar artists Maidy Morhous and Jeremy Sicile-Kira, Solana Beach artists Aaron Chang and Deborah Thomsen Walker, and Rancho Santa Fe art gallery Sergott Contemporary Art are among the local artists and galleries set to participate in Art San Diego.

“Art San Diego is the largest event that San Diego has for the arts,” said Morhous, who has lived in Del Mar for 30 years.

This is Morhous’ third year participating in Art San Diego.

For the past two years her work was featured as part of displays by participating art galleries. This is the first time she was directly asked to exhibit several sculptures.

“It allows me to get my work out for art galleries to see it, for collectors to see it,” Morhous said.

With her mother an artist, Morhous developed a passion for art at a young age. The New York native earned her master’s degree in fine art and continued her studies at Stanley Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris.

She worked as a professional etcher and printmaker in Los Angeles for more than a decade before moving to Del Mar in 1986. Since then, she has focused on sculpting.

Working out of her Del Mar home, Morhous’ artwork is embedded in social critique, political and cultural issues. She is inspired by the human figure and emotions. Her work can be found in public and private collections in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.

“I’ve always loved sculpting,” Morhous said. “It’s who I am; it’s what I do.”

From longtime artists like Morhous, to those new to the art scene, Art San Diego features more than 500 leading contemporary artists, museum exhibitions, art labs, events and talks focused on collecting.

One-day tickets for Art San Diego cost $20 online and $25 at the door for general admission. For opening night, tickets are priced at $75 online and $85 at the door.

Proceeds from opening night ticket sales go directly to the Museum of Contemporary Art.

For more information on Art San Diego, visit www.art-sandiego.com.