My 2 Cents, 12-14-2025

I deeply respect the 3 people (Angelika, Jim, and Kevin) I have dealt with at the SDMA Art Guild. I told Angelika that I would be leaving the Guild for various reasons. She wished me well as did Jim a little latter. Then Jim made the mistake of asking me "What do you think we should be doing?" Here is my heartfelt reply:

I believe you guys know best.  It is a question of whether I wish to support either you guys or the museum with time and money.  For me those are both yes or no propositions that are linked together.  I would like to support your efforts but I found I was too narrowly focused on an ArtGym and not interested enough in the alternatives (good as they are) in what is going on during the Atelier.  Kevin seems to have his own vision and I was delighted that a person mentioned (during an OMA art share) that their piece started in a life drawing session at SDMA.  I have shifted to dedicated muses and/or hiring my own models.  I don't need and I don't think I am needed for what Kevin is doing (God bless him). Angelika runs a brilliant art share and I have tried to emulate her in the program where I did an emergency pick up when another suddenly dropped it at OMA.  I am not interested in shows generally unless I wish to support a gallery.  I am also not comfortable with exclusively museum membership shows where the money raised goes only to the museum.  I am sorry if I have the details wrong but that should give you a feel for where I am coming from.   

SDMA opened up an in-museum gallery when I joined.  That has turned out to be a fluke.  Kevin is now trying for a once every 2 years... I do not think SDMA's heart is in the right place and are actively (if inadvertently) repressing the powerful San Diego art scene.  San Diego art is the only advantage that SDMA has and they have squandered it.  Even now, it appears to me, they are taking money from artists to support 'tea parties' and not giving back.  I believe they are a failing institution and will go down.  I do not think they will come to their senses in time.  Their actions and failures are putting a heavy drag on the Guilds success and the art scene in San Diego generally.  

In answer to your question I think you should amicably but completely sever ties with SDMA.  This will lower the fees for joining the guild by eliminating the museum portion.  Guild members can continue as SDMA members at their own discretion.  The Guild could still arrange shows, open to all but discounted for members, with valuable community galleries.  Split the profits 40% galleries and 60% Art Guild in order to support community galleries.  Offer prizes. A few of those prizes should be membership in the Guild.  Donate to the museum for an annual and exclusive Guild show in the museum (which used to be a wonderful thing).   Have fundraisers for Guild support of a paid director and staff as well as an oncall lawyer and accountant. Volunteer run organizations die.  Promote artists sites and encourage people to support artists through their sites.  Many artists need patrons if they are to do truly interesting work. 

Finally I believe in and generally only work with 'Yes' art groups.  SDAI was that way once.  Patric at the Studio Door is that way now.  In other words, people or groups that enable artists that come to them.  When I was co-running the ArtGymSD at SDAI we said yes to any artist that came to us or we could pry out of hiding.  We saw and had many once in a lifetime experiences by becoming art enablers.  If you separate from SDMA you have that potential to be a Yes art institution in San Diego enabling San Diego regional artists.

I figured you, my friends, family, patrons and followers would like to know...

Richard

Here are some pictures from enabled ArtGymSD events past