San Diego, CA
San Diego weekend arts events: DNA forensics, Miles Davis, books and more
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Melissa Walter and Manuel Alejandro Rodríguez-Delgado
Visual art, Science | Local artist Melissa Walter and the New Mexico-based mixed media artist Manuel Alejandro Rodríguez-Delgado will both open separate exhibitions at Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego-North campus in Encinitas.
Rodríguez-Delgado will show installation work that are self-contained survival systems made out of found electronics and materials, inspired partly by Star Trek, partly by the U.S. Space Program and also by Puerto Rico’s late-1980s bid to host the 2004 Olympics, and the slogan “We can do it.” His exhibit is called “Futuros Itinerantes.”
Courtesy of ICA San Diego-North
Melissa Walter’s work is always fascinating and science-informed, and for this show she is also debuting some experimental animation and ceramic sculptures — her first foray into both forms. This exhibit, “Plexus,” is informed by her study of DNA-based identification processes in the criminal justice system, and the evolution from early technology to the AI-based systems on the horizon. Her art is often paper-based, and the (often beautiful) visual imagery represents abstractions of the science and data she’s studied.
The more Walter, a 2020 San Diego Art Prize recipient, studied the evolution of forensic science, the more her own relationship with the work evolved too.
Courtesy of ICA San Diego
“I was starting to think about it a little more from a psychological perspective of the people that might have been affected by the lack of DNA analysis in the, you know, progression of their lives or the presence of DNA analysis. And so some of the newer pieces are a little more emotional in that sense, but they’re still very abstracted. I mean, all my work is very abstracted because I love this idea of taking these very complicated conversations and ideas and theories and technologies, and then boiling them down to their visual essence,” Walter said.
One series in the exhibit reflects early DNA technology, a series of smudgy, black watercolor dots on white paper — arranged in rows but still messy, a reflection of the messiness and inexactness of early forensic science.
A large piece draws from further along in the DNA technology evolution, by the present and future of DNA forensics, and based on a technology that uses AI to draw a picture of what someone may look like just based on scraps on DNA found on gum or a stray hair on the floor. Walter’s piece captures the decision tree of the technology as it determines eye color, and includes a mirror to reflect the viewer.
Both exhibits open with artist walkthroughs at the C You Saturday party this weekend. Tours begin at 5 p.m. Also on the agenda is a musical performance from locals Please Ask For Paul, a ceramics sale and kid-friendly survival device art-making activities inspired by Rodríguez-Delgado.
Details: Opens with a reception from 4-8 p.m. on Aug. 17. On view through Dec. 29. ICA San Diego-North, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Free.
For more arts events or to submit your own, visit the KPBS/Arts Calendar. If you want more time to plan, get the KPBS/Arts Newsletter in your inbox every Thursday to see event picks for the weeks ahead.
Booked for the Weekend
Books | Join KPBS at the San Diego Central Library downtown for a special mini book festival as we announce the 2024 selections for One Book, One San Diego. If you’ve missed the reveal of the finalists, you can find the longlist here. The first 300 attendees will go home with a free copy of one of the selections, or you can purchase any of them at the event. The announcement will take place to kick things off at 11 a.m. in the Neil Morgan Auditorium on the first floor. Guests can then peruse the many libraries, literacy organizations and local presses set up in the outdoor courtyard, and there’s a 12:30 panel on how to use the One Book program for literacy at home and in the classroom.
Details: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17. San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., downtown. Free.
SummerFest: ‘California Dreamin’
Music, Classical | Part of La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest, this performance spotlights pianist Conrad Tao and is inspired by Rachmaninoff, his time in California, and other composers with ties to the Golden State.
Tao will perform a selection of works by Rachmaninoff, and a set of chamber ensembles will perform additional works by composers like John Adams, John Williams, Reena Esmail, Rozsa and Terry Riley.
SummerFest continues through Aug. 24, and in addition to the ticketed concerts, a handful of free events remain, including lectures, coaching workshops, an open rehearsal and an artist lounge. Find the list of free events here.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $43-$85.
‘Cleopatra’
Theater | Co-produced by Moxie Theatre and Loud Fridge Theatre Group, “Cleopatra” is adapted by — and stars — former local Joy Yvonne Jones, based on Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra.” This is the play’s world premiere production, and it digs into the life of Cleopatra: the tragic Egyptian queen typically remembered more for her lovers and eyeliner than her actual influence on politics or her interior life. This production is directed by Andréa Agosto.
With the play, Moxie is launching a new “Equiticket” program, where up to a quarter of each night’s seats will be sold at “pick your price” rates.
Details: Opening night is Aug. 16. On stage through Sept. 7. Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando. $5-$90.
‘Velour: A Drag Spectacular’
Theater | Drag queen, performer, author and activist Sasha Velour (winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race!) comes to La Jolla Playhouse for a play inspired by her own origin story. Co-created by Velour and playwright Moisés Kaufman, this is a co-production with Kaufman’s New York-based Tectonic Theater Project.
Details: On stage through Sept. 15. La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Dr., UC San Diego. $25-$75.
‘Exit, Pursued by a Bear’
Theater | Playwright Lauren Gunderson’s “dark revenge comedy” is inspired by one line of stage direction in Shakespeare’s “The WInter’s Tale” and follows a woman, Nan, and an unlikely set of best friends as they plan an over-the-top and, uh, grotesque “exit” from an abusive marriage. Directed by Kira Blaskovich.
Details: On stage Aug. 16 through Sept. 8. Coronado Playhouse, 1835 Strand Way, Coronado. $24+.
Gilbert Castellanos: ‘Miles Davis: Kind of Blue’
Music, Jazz | This weekend marks the 65th anniversary of Miles Davis’ iconic masterpiece, “Kind of Blue.” To celebrate, local jazz trumpet great Gilbert Castellanos and his band will perform from the album at the Rady Shell. Maybe I’ve been working in local arts for too long, but if you gave me two seconds to name the first two jazz trumpeters to come to mind, I’d definitely say Miles Davis and Gilbert Castellanos.
Michele Zousmer
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San Diego Symphony
Bonus: Get there early to catch the mind-blowingly talented youngsters from Castellanos’ Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. Their pre-show set will begin at 6 p.m.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. The Rady Shell, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $18-$70.
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More arts and culture weekend events
Beauty and wellness are a staple of American culture. Thousands of citizens visit our spas and salons throughout the United States for critical, everyday grooming services they rely on. However, if the U.S. Department of Education has its way, Americans could soon have trouble finding qualified professionals to perform these traditional self-care rituals.
The department is proposing a new rule that would end access to many professional beauty programs — an important and growing trade. The department also is mistakenly labeling professional beauty programs as “low-value programs,” even though these programs offer students almost immediate employment opportunities providing professionals a flexible work-life balance.
Driven by high demand for skincare and hair services, there are currently more than 1.4 million professionals throughout the U.S. who work in the professional beauty industry. The professional beauty and wellness industry’s economic trajectory tells a story of continued and sustained growth. Growing at an annual rate of 7% from 2022 to 2024, according to McKinsey & Co., the United States ranks among the 10 fastest-growing wellness markets worldwide.
But even a robust and resilient industry like ours cannot overcome bad policy decisions that threaten an entire industry. Congress never included an accountability metric for certificate programs like cosmetology or massage therapy programs in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act does contain an accountability metric called “Do No Harm,” which is designed to keep colleges and universities that offer degree programs or graduate-level certificates accountable to the American people.
The accountability metric for degree programs, when applied to certificate programs, will eliminate opportunities for Americans to receive federal student aid, including Pell Grants, to unlock a career in cosmetology or massage therapy. The Department of Education has acknowledged using the Do No Harm provision as an accountability metric will have a severe negative impact on the cosmetology and massage schools nationwide, and determined that 92% of accredited cosmetology and massage therapy schools eventually will lose access to all federal student aid, including Pell Grants, for their students and most likely will be forced to close in the near future.
The one saving grace is that the department has not finalized its proposed rule, and it is not too late for the public to tell the department that this rule does not fit the bill for professional beauty students and schools. Comments must be received on or by May 20. You can submit your comments on the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) rule through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at regulations.gov/commenton/ED-2026-OPE-0100-0001. The department will not accept comments submitted by fax or by email or comments submitted after the comment period closes.
Any new rule adopted by the agency needs to account for the overall demographic and work-life balance goals of students and the professional beauty industry. These students and future small business owners deserve the same opportunities as students pursuing careers in other disciplines and fields.
Lynch is the owner and chief executive officer of the Poway-based Bellus Academy and the founding chair of the nonprofit Beauty Changes Lives, which awards nearly $500,000 in scholarships annually.
San Diego, CA
San Diego health officials monitor hantavirus situation as cruise ship passengers return to U.S.
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — American passengers from a cruise ship hit with a hantavirus outbreak are back in the United States.
San Diego County health officials say they are monitoring the situation and there is no need for panic.
“The risk to Californians is really low and especially here in San Diego. Since the year 2000, we’ve only had 4 cases of hantavirus and the majority of those were in travel related cases so not even acquired here locally,” Ankita Kadakia, deputy public health officer for the County of San Diego, said.
According to the CDC, hantavirus is spread through contact with infected rodents.
“The virus can be in their saliva, feces or droppings,” Kadakia said.
San Diego County does see cases of rodents infected with hantavirus, but the strain seen locally is not the same strain connected to the cruise ship outbreak.
“The vast majority of strains of hantavirus are mouse or animal to human transmission. Not human to human transmission. So the Andes strain, which is found in Argentina, there is evidence that there is human to human transmission,” Dr. Ahmed Salem, a pulmonologist at Sharp Memorial Hospital, said.
Salem treated hantavirus during the 2012 Yosemite National Park outbreak.
“One of the ways you die from hantavirus is you get a collapse of your cardiac system and your pulmonary system and you have to go on something called ECMO. It’s one of the most aggressive forms of life support that you can do. So I do remember that case, and unfortunately, that person passed away,” Salem said.
There is currently no cure or vaccine for hantavirus. Health officials stress that for those who were not on the cruise ship, the risk of contracting the virus remains low.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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