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Oceanside, Calif. — Feb. 18, 2020: MainStreet Oceanside invites the Oceanside community to join stained glass and mosaic artist Don Myers in creating Downtown Oceanside’s next public art mural. Sponsored by Oceanside Glass & Tile and open to all, a series of free Community Mosaic Building Workshops will begin Saturday, Feb. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. next to Don Myers Stained Glass at 1025 S. Coast Highway. The assembled mural, the third of the Art That Excites program, will be located in the Oceanside California Cultural District at 615 Mission Ave.
For this series of three mosaic-building workshops, MainStreet Oceanside is collaborating with the business community of the newly named Oceanside Design District, between Downtown Oceanside and South Oceanside on South Coast Highway, and the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA). Local businesses, including The Cup, DoughSide Donuts, Santosha Nutrition, The Social Garden and Sonora Refillery, will be sponsoring and popping up for the Saturday workshops, to be held on Feb. 29, April 4 and June 6.
At 10 a.m. on the morning of the Feb. 29 workshop, OMA is holding an O’side Mural Tour through the heart of Downtown Oceanside. Led by local arts advocate Brigid Parsons and featuring special guest artists, this 90-minute ticketed tour will explore the state-recognized Oceanside California Cultural District, where several murals are located, including the three Art That Excites mural sites. Participants will explore the hidden stories behind the creation of some of downtown’s most impressive public works of art. In association with OMA’s exhibition “Sidewalk Activism,” participants are encouraged to end the tour at the Community Mosaic Building Workshop or at the museum for a gallery tour of “Sidewalk Activism” with curator James Diachendt. Admission to the museum is included in the $15 ticket price ($10 for museum members).
Through the workshops, Myers and our community will together assemble a 12-by-16-foot glass mosaic mural representing a community of local sea life as it resides below the surface of the Pacific Ocean just off our beaches. Sponsorships are available for each of the mural’s 77 sea animals and plants, offering an additional opportunity for community members to participate in the creation of the installed mural. Starting at $100, sponsorships vary based on sea life size and type, from starfish and sea grass up to the mural’s only giant Pacific octopus at $7,500. Sponsors will be recognized next to the mosaic mural on a granite plaque, which can feature the name of the donor or the donor’s family, an honoree, a group or a business. Sponsorships can be made at the Community Mosaic Building Workshops or the MainStreet office, 701 Mission Ave., where the sponsorship application is also available. Tax-deductible donations in any amount for Art That Excites can also be made to Main Street Foundation Inc.
About Art That Excites
The objective of Art That Excites, previously the Oceanside Mural Initiative, is to install 10 curated public art murals to transform Downtown Oceanside into a public art destination, to provide art education and community outreach, and to help define Oceanside as a community whose identity is built upon and driven by the arts.The installation of the glass mosaic mural completes the first phase of the Art That Excites program.
About the Oceanside California Cultural District
One of California’s first 14 cultural districts and one of only three in San Diego County, The Oceanside California Cultural District was designated by the California Arts Council in 2017. Bounded by The Star Theatre to the north (Sportfisher Drive), the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) to the east (Nevada Street), The Hill Street Country Club Gallery to the south (Minnesota Avenue) and the Oceanside Pier to the west, the Oceanside Cultural District is home to an eclectic, emerging art scene. Along historic Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean, with an iconic pier and amphitheater, you will find a unique destination with an abundance of cultural resources.
Oceanside Museum of Art is a premier regional art museum and a leader of arts and culture. The California Surf Museum connects with nontraditional arts audiences while honoring local surf culture. The historical Sunshine Brooks and Star theaters provide opportunities for all ages and introduce professional theatrical expression to thousands of schoolchildren each year.
Cultural events are varied, colorful and celebratory as well as educational, featuring dance, music and food. The district is home to MainStreet Oceanside’s Farmers Market and Sunset Market, San Diego County’s top weekly food and music street fair. Tattoo artists recognize the area’s military historical heritage with much of their work, and Artist Alley provides an interactive experience for all with practicing artists and artisans. Restaurants, wineries and breweries in the district highlight local artists and musicians.
mainstreetoceanside.com/artthatexcites
About MainStreet Oceanside
MainStreet Oceanside is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a pedestrian-friendly community with unique and exciting attractions, including both daytime and evening activities, for residents and visitors alike.
