Source:  San Diego Watercolor Society

Photo:  “Neptune’s Fountain” by Susan Hewitt.  Watercolor, 18 x 30.  Image courtesy of San Diego Watercolor Society

February 4, 2023 (Lakeside) - Lakeside artist Susan Hewitt has won the Best of Theme awardin the February Members Show “Rendezvous With Paint” on display in the San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS) gallery at 2825 Dewey Road in Liberty Station, San Diego. Susan’spainting entitled “Neptune’s Fountain” was selected by nationally known local juror Nancy Oleksa for this honor, out of 214 entries. Oleksa said of  the painting, “This painting is a celebration of the medium of watercolor. The components of the painting, its space division, use of texture, and choice of palette, have come together to evoke a sense of majesty.”

January 26, 2023 (Pala) -- Pala Casino Spa Resort is excited to present legendary group Spyro Gyra and world-renowned prolific acoustic guitarist Peter White on Friday, February 17, performing live indoor at the Events Center. The show will start at 8:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $45.

This show is just one of the impressive lineup of headliner and tribute concerts that will be held at the Events Center and Starlight Theater.

By Kathy Carpenter

January 19, 2023 (La Mesa) - After tragedy, life needs to be rebuilt. Lamplighters Theatre presents The Revlon Girl, written by Neil Anthony Docking. With so many tragic events hitting the news these days, it's hard to recall the details from month to month. Disasters need to be remembered and documented. The Revelon Girl humanizes Aberfan in England in 1966, delivering the stories and healing process of four women who lost their children and the woman who volunteers to help them.

East County News Service

January 12, 2023 (San Diego - Local artist Redin Winter will be a featured artist at The Studio Door gallery located in Hillcrest from January 16- 28. There is a special reception at The Studio Door on Saturday, January 21st from 6 to 9 p.m. The reception is open to the public. The Studio Door gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 12 to 7 p.m.

Winter creates inner landscapes that connect our inner worlds with our outer worlds. The paintings capture an essence, a deeper emotional connection i nspired by natural elements through a lens of abstration. A layering process of marks, c olor, brushstrokes, drips and textures infuse depth into the work, leaving specific locations or places absent.  Rdein's works entire the viewer with a sense of the famiiar, a touchstone to delve further into the depths of meditation, contemplation, memories and dreams.

Source: San Diego Watercolor Society

Image: “Borderlands” watercolor by Tim Coleman, courtesy of San Diego Watercolor Society

January 9, 2023 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon artist Tim Coleman has won the Best of Theme award in the January Members Show “Serendipity” on display in the San Diego Watercolor Society gallery at 2825 Dewey Road in Liberty Station, San Diego. His painting entitled “Borderlands” was selected by nationally known local juror Wanda Honeycutt for this honor.

East County News Service

January 5, 2023 (La Mesa) -- Visionary Dance Theatre: School for the Performing Arts announces a call for submissions for BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) artists to design and paint building business signage at the front of their studio at 8674 La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa. The artist awarded the project will receive $1,000 in compensation and will receive up to $500 to purchase supplies. 

East County News Service

December 26, 2022 (Borrego Springs) - The 10th Annual Borrego Springs Film Festival will take place on January 12 – 16, 2023, in Borrego Springs, California - a small town in the northern end of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, in San Diego County.  The five-day festival presents screenings of selected short films, features, documentaries, animated shorts and Hispanic/Latin films, shown in Blocks at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center.  

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC by NC-ND via Bing

December 12, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) issued  the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted in favor of Congressman Issa’s American Music Fairness Act on Dec. 8.

East County News Service

December 6, 2022 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Concert Band wishes you "Happy Holidays" and a prosperous New Year at its 33^rd annual Holiday Celebration Concert, “Sparkling Lights.” The Band will perform new pieces, old favorites, and will accompany the audience for the sing-a-long at the concert on Tuesday, December 13 at 7 p.m. at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre for the Performing Arts.

East County News Service

View trailer of “Why the Nativity”   

November 30, 2022 (Ramona) – If you watch the docudrama “Why the Nativity” that opened over Thanksgiving weekend, you’ll see some local talent.  Camels and their handlers from Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona are key players in the film, which depicts the Christmas story in Bethlehem.  

East County News Service

Photo: Shane Harris, President of the People's Association of Justice Advocates, Tayari Howard, and Mayor Racquel Vasquez raise gold shovel to plant tree in Howard’s honor.

View video: https://fb.watch/ggcAWhC1OD/

November 13, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – Community leaders and elected officials gathered at Treganza Heritage Park in Lemon Grove last month to honor Tayari Howard, founder of Legacy Media Publishing, Promotions and Production. The award-winning broadcaster, legendary smooth jazz radio voice and host of the “Music for Lovers” program   and activist was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2022 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council received some upbeat news in a report on the financial performance of The Magnolia (formerly known as the East County Performing Arts Center).  In a presentation during today’s Council hearing, representatives of the city and the Magnolia confirmed that the theater has exceeded projections and attained profitability in its third year – despite mandated shutdowns in 2020 and part of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

East County News Service

September 23, 2022 (La Mesa) -- Visionary Youth Theatre presents Seussical, Jr at the Visionary Performance Space (8674 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa) from November 4-13.   Bring your family and friends to enjoy as the diverse and talented children of Visionary School for the Performing Arts bring to the stage this fun, family musical directed and choreographed by Sharla Mandere.