It's an art gallery, but also a venue that can be rented out for a space to do several events. I…read morewent after hours for a indie film thingy, I would say it was very unorganized, they said door opening at 6 PM, but they let people wait in line to get photographer took pictures for marketing purposes. The catering company also there to serve people food, but then they made people buy their own stuffs and put all the free food away for themselves, we never heard of the food again. Show started at 7:30 PM, they just made people hanging out in the lobby, only a certain amount, the rest still have to wait outside in the cold, no food were served what so ever, the catering company put out the food, then the organizer boxed them and promised it will be ready for everyone after the show. Then the problem with seatings, they really don't know how to seat people, so they randomly picked people and put them to whatever seats available, then everyone else had to stand in the back the entire time. Finally the technical issue, sound and video went out of sync, camera and microphone didn't work half of the time. I understand this is low budget indie blah blah blah, but you really wasted everyone time, and you didn't get your act together. You should have done sound check and rehearsed. By the time they couldn't figure out how to fix the problem, they just let the rest of the show went on, then apologized. There was no free food, and if you wanted to buy food, the catering truck also gone. Really Bread & Salt, you need to allow more quality events to be in your venue. Please!

Over the past few years I've been to a few events and exhibits here ranging from an all women's…read moremotorcycle show with custom bikes, a band, and vendors (super rad event), to block printing work shops (cool too), and "haunted house"/art shows (meh). That said I gotta give the artists, staff, and organization of most of these events a "could be better"/2 stars as they are frequently rude -- one made a mean comment about me being a man, the art exhibits are often not very well curated, and overall the "experiences" and entrance/logistics are often very unclear, clunky, prone to oversights, and unorganized. I see from other reviews (Gary's) that this is not an infrequent occurrence. Still, I think this space is great, and depending on who organizes the event, it can be fun, but it's totally hit or miss.

This was my first time stopping by Spanish Village Art Center, and I thought it was a fun place to…read morewalk around for a bit if you've never been here before. What stood out to me right away were the colorful tiles covering the ground throughout the village. They make the whole area feel bright and cheerful as you walk around. The place itself isn't very big, but there's quite a bit to look at. I saw a lot of artwork and paintings displayed in the different studios, and some of them were really beautiful. It's easy to spot because of the colorful tiled walkways and the small colorful shops scattered throughout the village. There's also a cute coffee cart tucked in the back with a nice selection of unique drinks. For parking, I noticed there were some spaces near the front, and you can also find parking along the roads nearby. It may take a little looking around depending on when you visit, but I didn't think it was too difficult to find a spot.

Fun village to explore, in the northeastern part of the park. Note that the village opens at 11, so…read moreif you want to see artists in action, the earliest I would arrive is 12, 12:30. One studio's sculpture garden was my favorite. The sculpture used a lot of mirror shards in his pieces. Got some unique necklace pendants etched using technology originating with NASA. Enjoyed talking to some artists as well. Lessons for children and adults available. A lot of work is pricey, reflecting handmade work. The village has an unexpected history, too. It is common knowledge that the park was the site of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. During World War II, the park also served as training grounds for soldiers and the Spanish Village were barracks. Fun time here with a good coffee place here as well.

This is a lovely little library and music venue, hosting free mini concerts on Mondays at noon. We…read moreattended yesterday and enjoyed early music by Courtly Noyse (renaissance & medieval tunes). The seating is first come first serve and it seems to fill up early, but the back rows are fine if you're mainly interested in hearing the music despite not having the best view. The group of musicians were talented and kept the crowd engaged and educated about the history behind each song played and the instruments they were using. And they used a LOT, including some unique ones. Gemshorns, harp, guitar, hurdy gurdy, tambourine, vocals, and recorders galore, to name a few. They took guests through Europe with sounds from Germany, England, Spain, and Italy. The setting was pretty basic on the inside with a bit of art and decor creating an inviting space, like a bust statue of Beethoven and similar structures displayed on the shelves, along with a plethora of books of course. The event lasted a little over an hour, and we left in good spirits. The only downside was the lack of parking in the area.

This is a beautiful place -- the library is exceptionally gorgeous and peaceful. It's a wonderful…read moreplace to work in. Their collection of books on art and music is superb. They host amazing concerts, and they have wonderful art classes. Their sales of used art and music books are the best I've ever seen. Extremely high quality all around. But predictably, it all comes with a price tag. I was a member once, for a year, and I really miss it. But my student loans and dental bills have to get paid first -- and that means I can't afford to be a member. It breaks my heart. People like me -- people who want to engage with the arts -- literally can't afford to access them, and I think that's eventually going to hurt them too. They're killing their audience off, and pretty soon, they might have no audience left. When not enough people can access a place, it becomes irrelevant -- or relevant only to the wealthy. I believe the people at the Athenaeum do what they do because they love the arts and want to keep sharing them with people. But pricing people like me out works against their mission. I'm not mad at them -- they have to pay for their incredible offerings, and that takes money. I know that. It just breaks my heart -- both that I can't be part of it, and that the world is forcing them into a spot where they have to jeopardize their own future. I'd give them 6 stars for the quality of their offerings, but 2 stars because of people being priced out. That averages out to 4 stars, which I think is about right.

Amazing service and selection. I recently moved into a new space and needed help to choose art for…read morethe walls. I contacted the owner James for a consultation. After coming over in the morning, he had a selection of the perfect artwork for me to choose from by that afternoon. The pieces were exactly what I wanted and within my budget. I couldn't recommend them more.

We were invited to a preview party at the gallery. We promptly sent in RSVP including a few of our…read morefriends. The collection is called Imagine Dragons and are album covers for the band of the same name. We have been to other exhibits here and they never disappoint. Tim is extremely talented. It is definitely worth a visit.

My wife and I have been to this gallery many times and it always feels like we are in Europe at a…read morespecial museum. The quality and refinement of Tim's art is breathtaking and worth a stop even if just to raise your energy. They have items across all price points and for some it will pull you into a new world of fine art! The people that work there can tell you all the stories of his career and about his amazing wife Amy. I couldn't recommend this gallery more.

I'm GIANTS: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys was inspiration on a grand…read morescale. What I loved most is how beautifully this exhibition moves across time periods, genres, cultures, places and styles--welcoming and celebrating so many different people, perspectives and stories along the way. It's elegant without being stuffy. Sophisticated without losing its sense of fun. Thought-provoking, vibrant, unexpected and wonderfully eclectic. If you're in San Diego, don't miss this installation. San Diego County and Tijuana residents receive special $20 admission, older adults 55+ are $15, and visitors with disabilities receive FREE admission. Admission is also free for guests 25 and under, military, and SNAP/EBT cardholders. And there's something especially meaningful about **Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys--both San Diego natives--**finding yet another way to give back to our community through art, culture, access and inspiration. Elegant. Eclectic. Joyful. Classy. And, appropriately... GIANT. Tomorrow, August 9, is the final day. Go experience it.

This is a world-class contemporary museum. If you're in the area, don't miss it!…read more Important details: -The entrance is not on the ocean side, you have to walk around the block to Prospect Street. -The museum is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday! They are also closed on many holidays, check the hours of operation before visiting. -They participate in Bank of America Museums on Us. Thanks to the friendly person at the front desk who mentioned this. -This museum is near La Jolla Cove which if you like birds, is not to be missed! The museum has three floors and nice outdoor areas including a restaurant. The museum overlooks an absolutely stunning coastline. They go a little overboard with recordings and staff asking patrons to stay away from the art (I get it, but geez!). Be ready for that, especially if you have kids. The Nick Cave fringy art is just too tempting for kids. I went to look out a window and was told to stay back, I mean really. They have a "calm room", and you might need to use that to calm down from being told to stay away from the art so much! Haha. I saw the Giants Alicia Keys exhibit which was great. The movie I could barely hear. They have tons of merch in the store for the exhibit, however I really wanted a t-shirt that was for the museum and not the specific exhibit, but they didn't have any.

The SD museums of art is at the balboa park amongst other museums and beautiful outdoor flowers,…read moresceneries, etc. there were many tourists out that day including school field trips, groups, etc. I used the gocity pass to check in at the front desk and then I was able to enjoy the museum. It is two stories big offering stairs and elevators. They have security on each art room/ theme area. I was able to observe many paintings that were diverse and unique. Some are antiques kept there for everyone to admire. They have clean restrooms available as well. Bring comfortable shoes because there is pretty to walk around. Staff were very nice and checking went smoothly as well. The sticker you are given can be used all day long to come back to the same Museum. Most museums open at 10AM but plenty of people arrive earlier. I took public transportation to get up there and that was easy.

It had been a minute since I was here last. There were some new exhibits I thoroughly enjoyed:…read more Cafes and Cabarets: the spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec known for his beguiling portraits of Paris nightlife and immortalizing the cabaret culture of Belle Époque Paris. Chanell Stone: Undulation of a Rupture during a journey through the Mississippi Delta. Black and white photographs invite reflection on the Mississippi River as both a natural force and a historical passageway. The museum created an atmosphere of this exhibit with a deeply emotional connection and experience. Graciela Iturbide, arguably Latin America's best-known living photographer from Mexico. This exhibition surveys her most iconic photographs, primarily captured in Mexico, but also worldwide. Also, Dutch Paintings on loan from Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I came during the Great Exchange and it was free if you have membership with a participating museum. It's also free for San Diego residents on the third Tuesday of the month. Two things that surprised me: The first being half of upstairs was closed to prepare for new exhibits. Secondly, several Gallery Attendants behaved very strangely and were definitely not friendly or welcoming. There were two different exhibits where I was viewing the museum app on my phone and witnessed the attendants walking around in circles quickly. It was distracting and odd. I got the impression they didn't want me to linger but I ignored them and they finally stopped. I asked a question to another attendant and he seemed annoyed like I was disturbing him. The friendly women security guards were absolutely wonderful! Lastly, free parking was available for several hours as long as you previously registered with the city. Check out the map online for the different locations.

I have always loved visiting Spanish Village since I was a child. So many artiats in a small…read morecommunity. I really like Gallery 23 Southwest Artist's because there are so many different artists. Different than the other smaller galleries.