LocalMakersConvergeatCrafted'sInauguralArtistShowcase●
Hundreds from San Diego's creative community gathered for an evening of art and acoustics.
On August 17, we hosted our first Crafted creative exhibition with Artist Showcase 01 as an extension of our dinner series.
Held at one of San Diego's premier up-and-coming venues in Quartyard, the event was home to a gallery of work by visual artists and makers from all over the county, including Mary Jhun Dandan, Moss Ortega, Austin Reed, and Doneliz Cayanan. There was also a slate of performances from musicians Luis Travels, Apollo Lason, Splavender, and Sister.
Over 400 were in attendance to witness the strength of the local creative scene. To invite guests into the minds of different creatives, each artist had their own installation space to display their work and do live art. In addition, musicians were allotted 45 minutes per set to play their songs and also spark vulnerable conversations with the audience. Altogether, the ambiance was designed for intimacy, immersion, and ultimately, collision.
Mary Jhun took guests on a journey through her life and decade-long career, using her motif of girls to represent her experiences. Adjacent to her installation, Moss welcomed guests to the "gang" and paid homage to the humble beginnings of his streetwear brand Original Good Stock. Austin broke out the spray paint and worked on a live piece while flexing some of his contemporary art chops, and Doneliz rounded out the group with his photo-essay capturing the unbridled energy of Barrio Logan, shattering any misconceptions about its Chicano community.
The evening was bookended by the musical performers, whose inspiration for songs ranged from heartbreak to self-love. The vibe and mood of the venue shifted with each set, starting with the upbeat bounce of Luis Travels' curated assortment of house songs and ending with the raw, melancholic sound of Sister.
All in all, the event was a resounding success. Artists were able to demonstrate their genius while meeting like-minded creatives, and conversely, the city of San Diego was given a small taste of the talent within its confines.
But while our event captured the attention of the city, for BASIC® creative director and Crafted cofounder Erwin Hines, there is still work to be done.
(Crafted)
With a mission to impact culture through a collision of different perspectives, Crafted is a social initiative that seeks to promote visibility and cross-pollination within San Diego’s maker community. This internal passion project by BASIC® brings creatives together through intimate, honest conversation.
(BASIC®)
BASIC® is an experience design company that thrives at the crossroads of culture and technology. Combining human intuition with systematic thinking, its work in strategy, design, and digital transformation is recognized for challenging business convention alongside the world’s most forward-thinking brands.
