Connecting Creative Communities: Mission Federal ArtWalk

April 27 & 28, 2019, 11am to 6pm, Little Italy, San Diego, FREE to Attend

“Art is not a luxury, it is a necessity…We believe art has the power to connect communities, cultivate new artistic talent and create a better quality of life for all through cultural enrichment.  Our mission is to make the opportunity of collecting original artwork accessible to everyone.”  

The April Artwalk San Diego is the longest-running and largest fine art festival in Southern California. For 35 years, Mission Federal ArtWalk has celebrated both visual and performing arts in San Diego and the festival attracts artists and art enthusiasts from around the world. 16 blocks fill up with thousands of attendees who come to view and purchase artwork, enjoy music and dance performances, and participate in interactive art experiences.  Artist applications are currently being accepted for all three festivals for both new and returning artists.  Visit the Artwalk San Diego website for applications and to learn more about this incredible event: https://artwalksandiego.org/.

Call to Artists:  Special Project Featuring Surfboard Art-Surfboard Art Auction for ArtReach

The festival is partnering with Rerip to create an art project that will be a fundraiser for artists and the community and a fundraiser for ArtReach, a not-for-profit partner that delivers art education in K-8 schools Countywide, focusing on Title One schools.   Rerip is providing 35 upcycled surfboards and more than 25 artists are transforming surfboards into original artwork.

Well-known musician Jason Mraz is just one of these artists taking part in the surfboard fundraiser.  San Diego artist Jeremy Sicile-Kira, an artist with autism and synesthesia—the ability to see letters, words and emotions in color, is painting a surfboard.   For his surfboard, Sicile-Kira will be painting ‘the colors’ of Mraz’s “Have It All” song from his latest album.

Rerip’s unique mission of keeping surfboards out of landfills makes the idea of turning boards into works of art something we can all be proud of.  “We are beyond thrilled to partner with Rerip this year to benefit ArtReach and support the San Diego art community,” said Sandi Cottrell, director of ArtWalk San Diego. “With Rerip’s generous donation, artists are able to express themselves creatively while helping ArtReach achieve its mission of providing free art classes to students who don’t have access to art programs in San Diego County!”

The boards will be displayed during Mission Federal ArtWalk at the Piazza della Famiglia (India and Date Streets) and will be available via a silent auction.  The Surfboard Art Auction bidding will open online in mid-April and continue throughout the two-day event. Art lovers who want to bid can register online now and view the surfboards on both the Mission Federal ArtWalk and ArtReach websites, as well as attending at the event in and bidding in person.

If you are an artist and you wish to participate in the program, please see the Call to Artists, and return your Application to us.  To learn more about ArtReach visit: https://www.artreachsandiego.org/.

San Diego’s Primo Wind partners with nonprofit Rerip to offer clean energy to powerless.

As you order online, fill up for gas, or turn on the heater this Holiday Season, please remember that, as of November 22nd, there are still 2.5 million people in Puerto Rico alone without power who were affected by the devastating hurricanes this past fall.

Primo Wind, a clean energy equipment supplier, has teamed up with Rerip, a 501c3 nonprofit, to put an end to this statistic via the “Primo Seeds” Campaign, and we need your help.   

Starting today, those who make donations to Primo Seeds via Rerip, will support the gifting of Primo Wind’s EnergiTree, a wind, solar, and battery system, to those schools, businesses, or homes that are still dark from the hurricanes that hit the Caribbean early this year. The EnergiTree provides enough power to completely run an average Caribbean home on 100% wind and solar.

“We couldn’t be more excited to participate with Primo Wind in the Primo Seeds campaign. Their innovative designs are just what the Caribbean needs right now to help get people’s basic needs met.  It is hard to talk about recycling surfboards when people don’t even have power.” said Meghan Dambacher co-founder and President of Rerip, a San Diego nonprofit company known for keeping surfboards out of landfills and advocating for clean energy.  

About Primo Wind

Primo Wind designs and builds patented micro wind turbine and hybrid wind/solar products. Primo Wind’s design creates accelerated wind flow and mimics wing and sail design. The systems provide efficient, quiet, clean, reliable renewable power with a small footprint and environmentally friendly designs that allow for seamless integration into the surrounding environment. Primo Wind’s Force Micro Turbines are perfectly suited as stand alone for off grid installations or for micro grid solutions and they don’t kill birds.

About Rerip

Rerip is a San Diego 501c3 organization striving to keep surfboards out of landfills while advocating for a cleaner surf industry.  Run by a team of volunteers, Rerip sets up locations for people to drop off their unwanted boards, fins and wetsuits. Always advocating for clean energy via innovation and collaboration, Rerip also hosts local events and awareness campaigns for surf and environmental education.  For more information about finding a surfboard recycling location in your area, what we do, or how you can help, please visit www.rerip.org.