Art beat: January gallery and exhibit openings

Art exhibits on display in January around San Diego include Frida Frenzy, James Austin Murray: Black Desert and Ashton Gallery Pop Up Art Exhibition.

1.1-26: Illuminating Rhythms

A number of swirling watercolor works, alight with movement, and juried by award-winning artist Thomas Schaller.

San Diego Watercolor Society, 2825 Dewey Rd., Bldg. 202, Ste. 105, Liberty Station, 619.876.4550, sdws.org

1.4-31: Frida Frenzy

An homage to the brilliance of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, through artist June Rubin’s whimsical watercolors and mixed media pieces.

June Rubin Studio/Gallery, 2690 Historic Decatur Rd., Barracks 19, Ste. 214, Liberty Station, 858.229.4571, junerubin.com

1.8-26: Head to Toe

This open, judged art show features two- and three-dimensional works that feature shoes and/or hats.

Brandon Gallery, 105 N. Main Ave., Fallbrook, 760.723.1330, fallbrookbrandongallery.org

1.12-2.9: Ashton Gallery Pop Up Art Exhibition

A few select, talented local and regional artists have been chosen to show off their creative works at this pop-up exhibit, hosted and organized by the Oceanside Museum of Art.

Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, 619.894.9009, ashtonartgallery.com

1.12-3.10: Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams & Wendy Maruyama: Executive Order 9066

A look at daily life in Manzanar, one of 10 Japanese-American internment camps in the United States during World War II, as seen through the lens of celebrated and respected photographer Ansel Adams and concurrently on view with work by Wendy Maruyama, who offers a contemporary analysis of these camps.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, 760.839.4138, artcenter.org

1.19-3.11: James Austin Murray: Black Desert

Artist James Austin Murray says his work as an artist “is about searching and it’s a little like searching in a dark room with a flashlight that will only brighten a few inches in front of it.” This exhibit also features the work of Mareo Rodriguez.

Madison Galleries, 320 S. Cedros Ave., Ste. 200, Solana Beach, 858.523.9155, madisongalleries.com

1.23-2.3: A Tribute to Pam Whidden: Models are to Artists Like Flowers are to Bees

The impact of art model Pam Whidden is highlighted in this exhibition, noting her as an “exceptional” and “expressive sitter with a reliable work ethic” for artists in the 1970s, teaching art modeling in the 1980s and creating The San Diego Artist Model’s Guild.

San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.236.0011, sandiego-art.org

1.28: Founded on Japanese Art: What Vincent van Gogh Learned from Japanese Woodblock

This art lecture explores how van Gogh’s work was influenced by Japanese woodblock prints that he brought over by the hundreds during the winter of 1886 to 1887.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 334 14th St., Del Mar, 619.232.7931, sdmart.org

1.28-2.14: Spring 2019 Alumni Exhibition

With a goal to “enrich and engage our community through art,” the community college art department gives alumni a chance to display their creative work for the public.

San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery, 7250 Mesa College Dr., D101, Clairemont Mesa, 619.388.2829, sdmesa.edu