‘Virtual First Friday’ Brings Arts To Your Home Amid Coronavirus

SAN DIEGO, CA — Although art galleries, museums and other arts and cultural institutions have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, San Diego’s Arts District Liberty Station is bringing the arts to your home Friday, May 1.

“Virtual First Friday” is a virtual version of the Arts District Liberty Station’s monthly showcase of its arts and culture groups.

“Our goal is to stay connected to our artists and organizations and to our supporters and community during this unique time,” said NTC Foundation President and CEO Lisa Johnson. “This has led the Arts District to collaboratively come up with new and innovative ways to be creative from a distance and to inspire individuals.”

Arts District Liberty Station, which is San Diego’s largest arts and cultural district located in historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center in the Liberty Station neighborhood, launched Virtual First Friday in April. The online-only event is back for May and is slated to return for a third time on June 5.

“First Friday is in its 12th year at Arts District and our team has worked with all the artists and organizations to bring the event to people in the comfort of their homes with a variety of creative opportunities from virtual gallery exhibits, live art and dance classes, films and more,” Johnson said.

Online visitors can choose from more than 20 virtual experiences.

“This virtual platform opens up many new opportunities for us to engage not only our local audience, but also share with friends, family and communities far away,” Johnson said.

Virtual First Friday Schedule for May 1:

Live Events

• Milk Oolong Studio will show how to create a textured slab that can be constructed into a platter, mug and decorative sculpture on Instagram live from 1-2 p.m.

• New Americans Museum has partnered with San Diego Filipino Cinema and other Arts District Liberty Station organizations to host a Community Conversation over ZOOM. The conversation will cover overcoming the challenges of switching programming to digital and how they are engaging audiences now. The event is at 4 p.m. Register on Facebook or Eventbrite.

• If I Was A Bird Yoga will host free Kids Yoga for all ages. Reservation required. RSVP to [email protected] for the Zoom link. Donations welcome. The event is from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

• San Diego Craft Collective will host a live in-studio via Facebook. They will discuss their Mask 2Gether Project, answer questions from the audience, and show the latest on what they have been up to in the studio. The event is at 5:30 p.m.

• San Diego Dance Theater will present a live performance. The performance will be a sneak preview for Live Arts Fest, which is now rescheduled for July 2020. Connect and experience their work-in-progress dances from the last two months. The event is at 5:30 p.m.

• San Diego Filipino Cinema will present a live DJ set paired with images and excerpts of Filipino films and/or photographs. Listen and watch DJ Qolaj and intermittently view behind the scenes photographs or video images of film productions by the global Filipino filmmakers. The event is from 6-7 p.m.

• Songbirds Music has invited guests to a Pajama Jam + Musical Story Time. Put on your jammies, grab a blanket or stuffed animal, and gather your family for an evening of music and stories. The event is at 6 p.m.

• Artist Leslie Pierce/And Something Different Studio will host Painting in a Pandemic with Artist Leslie Pierce. The live blog on Zoom is from 6-8:30 p.m.

Art

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• Alexia Rose Art presents a special “Homage to the Abstract” video.

• June Rubin Art Studio presents new works.

• Lauren LeVieux Artist Studio showcases the newest Element series of paintings in this virtual exhibit.

• Nina Montejano Artist Studio presents images of works in progress on Instagram through posts and stories, including descriptions of the processes and themes in new works.

• San Diego Watercolor Society presents “Beyond the Pale,” an online art exhibition juried by award-winning artist Susan Keith. The exhibit can be viewed through May 30. In addition to the virtual exhibit, SDWS has shared an art demonstration by the juror.

• Visions Art Museum showcases the newest exhibitions through an online gallery. Join the virtual opening of Fiber Optix, Kathleen Kastles and Linda Waddleies! Learn more about the artists through sneak peeks at their studio and a special Q and A. Send your comments, questions and Viewer’s Choice Award selections when you visit.

Installations at the Station

• Krimmel Arts and Design presents Making Sky Mosaic. Join artist David Krimmel as he talks about the creation of Sky Mosaic.

• Jason Lane and Miki Iwasaki: In partnership with Mingei International Museum, San Diego based designer and photographer Jeremy Artates shares his photo series capturing Tessellation #1 by Jason Lane, an Installation at the Station, located near the Sybil Stockdale Rose Garden. Artates also shares his photo series capturing Facetime, an Installation at the Station by Miki Iwasaki, located near the Sybil Stockdale Rose Garden.

History in the Making

• Sailor’s Tales, NTC History Project: For 75 years, more than 2 million Naval Training Center San Diego recruits matured and received the knowledge and skill required for the challenges of military duty. See some of the stories of those whose lives were impacted by the Naval Training Center.

For more information on First Friday, visit libertystation.com.

This article originally appeared on the San Diego Patch