Public Arts Forum at Mesa College on the 30th

On October 13th, New York’s Bloomberg Philanthropies issued a “public art challenge” giving cities with a population of 30,000 or more a chance to win up to $1 million for public art projects.

Could San Diego be one of the lucky ones? What would we create? How would it represent our citizenry, enrich our city and transform our landscape? Citizens of San Diego are invited to begin the conversation at Mesa College on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at a public arts forum called Placemaking…Public Art’s Role in Creating Community.

The forum will feature a panel of San Diego’s leaders, educators and experts in the field of public art. Moderated by art critic and writer Robert Pincus, the panelists include  Larry Baza, gallery owner and SD Commissioner for Art and Culture; Gail Goldman, art consultant and former SD City Public Art Director; Joanne Hayakawa, SD Commissioner for Art and Culture; Lynn Susholtz, artist and educator, and Kara West, SD Library Arts and Culture Exhibitions Manager.

The panelists will comment on how public art can express civic values, enhance the environment, transform a landscape, heighten community awareness, and/or question assumptions. Primary discussion topics will center on the value of public art and its ability to act as a catalyst; its capacity to enrich multicultural dimensions, and how public art conveys a sense of time and place.

Sponsored by the Mesa College Humanities Institute and Public Art Committee, the forum will take place in from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30, in room G-102, with a reception following. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is also free.

Find out more at www.sdmesa.edu/news/events/public-art-forum. For More Information Contact: Barbara Sexton, Professor of Art 619-388-2330 or bsexton@sdccd.edu