As a native of San Diego, I’ve always heard people (mostly non-natives) complain about the city. How it’s wack or there’s nothing to do, or my personal favorite, is there (insert group) out here? However, contrary to popular belief everything that another city has this city has. It may or may not be on the same scale but, it is here.
Art is my thing, I’ve been in the San Diego art scene for a little over 5 years, from poetry, to music (no I don’t sing or rap) and painting, I’ve seen and heard It all. To a non-native you wouldn’t be able to find us unless you knew someone in or around the scene. With the help of social media is has been more people to come out to the black art events but in my opinion it’s not enough to turn heads. Over the past 5 years I have watched the Art scene in Southeast come together, it’s been slow but steady on the rise.
As the Assistant Art Director of the Southeast Art Collective, our goal is to have the Southeast filled with art. Like Barrio Logan once you enter into that neighborhood you know where you are, you know the location by all the beautiful art that are painted on walls and utility boxes. That is one of the goals of the group. Another goal is to open up an art gallery/space in the community. Although we have other locations in which we use to host events and showcase our work. We would like something to call our own.
Just recently (Saturday, May 18th) the Malcom X library held their 4thannual Malcom X celebration, in this celebration there was a program of poets, various vendors, a guy came and spoke about the black history of San Diego, and other speakers all in which they spoke about the black community. And there was even a portion called the Legacy in Black Food Festival that featured southern cuisine and food from the African Diaspora that was there. You paid $10 and got to sample 6 different all black eateries. On that beautiful Saturday I saw some people that I knew and some I didn’t however, it wasn’t enough. I know that event could’ve been better than it was. Now grant it, it has come a long way seeing as if I have participated as a live artist in this event for the past 3 years. But something was still missing, more people. The complainers that Black art is not in San Diego, or that there is nothing to do. Where were you? How can we get to you? Do newsletters work anymore? I know that social media can help but I am one to admit that I will like something, click interested or going and even take a screenshot for a reminder and still forget or not even attend an event. I’m not perfect but I don’t complain that this or that isn’t there.
After this event my art team the Southeast Art Collective will get together to discuss it, the likes the dislikes, what we can do to make it better etc. If you have any suggestions or constructive criticism, please by all means let us know. Our goal is to get people out there and to enjoy and buy black art, to recycle the black dollar, with no complaints.
The next events that we have on our schedule are:
June 1st – Bell Middle School at 10am
June 29th – Final Summer Art Show 1pm-4pm at The Community Spot in Oceanview
July 6th – 4 Corners of Life Celebration
There are more events
Ways to get involved in the Southeast Art Collective follow us on Instagram as a whole or individually. Share our work, we are nothing without the voices of the people. Become a sponsor for the art gallery, we are currently looking for sponsors or if you know someone who would be interested in helping, forward their information to us.
For more information on how to get involved and events with The Southeast Art Collective email: SESDCOLLECTIVE@GMAIL.COM
A$HCA$H is a black creative in San Diego, CA. She is the Assistant Art Director and co-founder of The Southeast Art Collective. You can find her on all social media @ashcashiam
