UnFair

By Patricia B. Dwyer

Back for its fifth year, San Diego’s largest contemporary art fair is bigger than ever. ART SAN DIEGO (ASD) will bring more than 13,000 visitors from around the globe to see 60 interdisciplinary exhibitors from near and far.

The four-day event (November 7 to November 10) at the Activity Center in Balboa Park will be divided into four sections called “districts”: contemporary art, contemporary product and furniture design, mid-century and modern art and solo artists booths.

“ASD 2013 will incorporate both artists and designers who offer a more interactive environment,” says ASD founder and executive director Ann Berchtold. “Viewers are less frequently expected to admire works simply hung on the wall. Instead, they’re called on to participate in the exhibition actively, which frequently leads to more immersive and moving experiences.”

Along with artist exhibitions and live performances, ASD will host talks on collecting art. The goal of these experiences is to propel visitors to purchase the participating artists’ “investment grade” works, as Berchtold describes it.

“It is important to any community that people collect and invest in art,” she says. “And due to the nature of the costs involved with putting on an event of this size, this endeavor will only be successful and continue if people buy art from artists and galleries.”

This year’s theme, [COLLIDE], focuses on and encourages the intermingling of art forms including fashion, film, dance and digital art.

ASD’s attendance rates have risen 30 to 50 percent each year, which Berchtold attributes to San Diego’s growing mix of “creative collisions.”

“It’s an exciting time to be in San Diego,” she says.

11/7-11/10: ART SAN DIEGO Contemporary Art Fair
Balboa Park Activity Center, Balboa Park
Day passes: $15
artsandiego2013.com