The Chula Vista Art Guild is holding its 23rd Annual “Community Art Show” at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Arts Center from Oct. 14-28 with its awards ceremony and reception being held on Oct. 21 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Juried, the show has cash awards and artists must be 18 years and older. Artists are encouraged to bring guests and friends. During the reception awards will be presented for the winning works. First place prize is $300. Second is $200. Third prize is $100. Certificates and $25 each will be awarded for two Honorable Mentions. Sales of artwork is encouraged and will be conducted between the artist and the buyer.
In tandem with the art show, the Bonita Valley Garden Club is hosting its “Blooming Art in Bonita,” where local floral designers take a piece of art from the Community Art Show and interpret it through floral design.
This dual exhibit is open to all artists and floral designers in San Diego County.
Chula Vista Art Guild Publicity Margo Villa said submission for artwork is Oct. 14 and is open to anyone in the county. She said that the show has an array of artists that participate from students to professionals, and that this exhibit, in tandem with the “Blooming Art in Bonita” exhibit makes this exhibit a special event for all to attend.
“The work must be original and not created as a student workshop project,” she said. “All artworks must be two-dimensional, no pottery or sculptures, but any mediums of paintings and drawings.”
Bonita Valley Garden Club Bonita Art in Bloom chair Susan Currie said participants from the club and the public interpret what they see at the Art Guild’s exhibit through floral design. She said interested floral designers will go to the museum when the Art Guild exhibit begins on Oct. 14, pick out which art piece they would like to interpret, then bring their arrangements in for the Bonita Art in Bloom exhibit and reception.
“It is not only club members,” she said. “This is open to anybody, but we contact the floral departments at Southwestern College and Cuyamaca College, and they get very involved with this event. Students at Southwestern College do an incredible job.”
Currie said the floral exhibit is a one-day show on Oct. 27 with an open-to-the-public reception from 1-3 p.m.
“People can come in, look at the art, and figure out how they want to interpret the art they pick,” she said. “We ask that people be set up by the morning of Oct. 27, then we have the reception that includes snacks and drinks, and they get the opportunity to meet the floral artists. During the reception, there will be a ‘People’s Choice,’ no formal voting, but just a fun event for our club to be involved with.”
Currie said this joint show has taken place for more than a decade, apart from a pandemic hiatus. Currie said there is a notice in the museum for those interested in participating and hopes that more floral designers from around the county will join in this year. She said the exhibit is open to any floral designers, professionals or novices. Currie said anyone interested can call her at (619) 892-2993.
“It is a really nice event,” she said. “It is a nice, informal way to express your creativity. There is also another interest there with the art show.”
The Bonita Museum & Cultural Center is located at 4355 Bonita Road in Bonita. Anyone interested in participating in the art show or floral arrangements can contact the museum for more details.
