By Leon Thompson
Photos by Leon Thompson, Takayuki Higuchi, and Miriam Raftery

October 29, 2009 (La Mesa) – “In the ‘30s, La Mesa was an artists’ and film-makers destination,”  Gabriel “Gabe” Giordano, co-owner of the new Bella Mesa Gallery at 8080 La Mesa Blvd., said at a grand opening party  on October 10th. “Tonight, one has the feeling it is about to be revived.”

Guests included Joshua Rose, editor of American Art Collector magazine. Rose came from Arizona to cover the opening of Bella Mesa, which features national-caliber artists.  Most notable is Sean Diediker, who was recently commissioned to create a portrait of Barack Obama  presented as an inauguration gift to the President by his campaign staff and Vice President Joseph Biden.