Presidents Statement- June 2026

The Guild artist membership has voted for the new board of directors for FY 2026-2027. By unanimous vote they have elected Jody Abssy, Jim Bliesner, Jennifer Byrn, Kevin Inman, Barb Leitzel. Mark Elliot-Lugo, Arlette Stella, Lily Tanzer, Leslie Pierce, Vira Ustianska, Angelika Villagrana, and John Ohl Webster. The board, in turn, selected officers returning Jim Bliesner as President, Kevin Inman as Vice President, Barb Leitzel as Treasurer, Joh Ohl Webster as Secretary and Angelika Villagrana as Membership Chairperson. The board affirmed Lelsie Pierce and Kevin Inman as co-chairs of the exhibitions committee

At the general membership meeting we reviewed the last years accomplishments and unveiled plans for the new fiscal year. Last years included the International Online Juried Exhibition (Sept/October), the Membership Exhibition (November), The Art of Now Exhibition (June). The Guild through its experimental atelier held a community engagement intervention called "One Day in the Life of Imperial Avenue" in partnership with the Barrio Artists Partnership and the Prebys Foundation. The Guild has held monthly life drawing studios at the Museum of Art and instituted the Guild "Gallery Incubator Project" providing valuable exhibition spaces at a variety of venues throughout the county. Paint-outs were held throughout the city on a monthly basis. The Guild also hosts monthly zoom artist discussion events where artists show their work and share methods, materials, ideas and opportunities with fellow members. Once again, the Guild selected and gave awards to artists at the Del Mar Fair.

Work and planning are underway for our next year, with confirmed exhibitions including the International Online Exhibition juried by Tina Yapelli, Professor and Senior Curator at SDSU, and the Membership Exhibition at Shift Gallery juried by Barbara Sexton, Artist and Professor of Fine Art, Mesa College. The Guild will also present a second membership exhibition at the Escondido Arts Partnership Gallery in April.

The Art of Now, Pushing the Boundaries" Exhibition, which continues until June 28 showing includes paintings, sculptures, installations, video, and a series of artists talks, a poetry session with SD Writers Ink, prizes from sponsor Blick Art and amazingly curated by Max Presnell-Director and Head Curator at Torrance Art Museum. This exhibition was open to all California artists. Kudos continue to flood in for the herculean work of board member Leslie Pierce. Artists are begging her to do it again next year. Send her an email or message on Instagram to go for it.

Exciting "Atelier" conceptual art and community engagement art interventions are being formulated. The life drawing, paint-outs, the incubator exhibitions and more are all on the (hard) work schedule of the new board.

The Guild is an artist run phenomenon going on its 112th year. We look forward to serving as the most valuable support council of the SD Museum of Art in celebrating its 100th anniversary. We will be supporting its fund-raising efforts for its new "community" addition.

Ask how you can contribute!

Onward,

Jim Bliesner

President