SAN DIEGO – Now in its 24th year, ArtWalk, San Diego’s largest and best-known art festival returns to downtown San Diego’s artsy Little Italy neighborhood this April 26 and 27, 2008 from noon to 6 p.m. both days.  

ArtWalk features fine art from 400 California, Arizona and Mexico-based artists including painting, sculpture, glasswork, and photography. This year’s festival involves more live performances than ever, presenting music and dance from some of San Diego’s bands and dance groups.

“ArtWalk has become a Spring ritual in San Diego.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to re-connect with your favorite artists from previous years, and see how their work has evolved.  There will be many new artists in our palette this year, and we have been very excited about the variety and caliber of the work.  So if your empty walls are calling out to you, ArtWalk is the place to be to discover how affordable it is to own original art.”

“As a global technology leader headquartered in San Diego, we’re proud to create, sponsor and participate in many meaningful community events throughout the city and county,” said Ed Brown, president and chief operating officer of Cymer.  “This is our second year supporting ArtWalk, and we value the artistic and cultural experience this enriching event offers attendees. We’re proud to be the premiere sponsor again this year, and encourage San Diegans to come out and enjoy the festivities.”  

The free festival brings in more than 100,000 visitors to ArtWalk each year, and gives attendees an opportunity to spend the day enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Little Italy and the event’s festive atmosphere while contributing over $1,000,000 into the local arts economy.  

Just minutes from the well-known Gaslamp District and conveniently located within walking distance from the train and trolley stations, the event is easily accessible for both locals and visitors alike.  

ArtWalk takes place over 14 city blocks with artists showcasing their artwork on East-West streets from Beech Street to Fir Street, with India and Kettner Boulevard as the main thoroughfares through the event.  

ArtWalk offers an array of activities and entertainment for everyone to enjoy, including highlights such as:

KidsWalk

Located at Amici Park, KidsWalk gives children and families an opportunity to find their inner artists and come and enjoy visual and performing art in a fun and creative way. Different organizations inspire kids through hands-on interactive activities including Shoes of Hope and Mural Project, Ocean Art, Face Painting and Animal Masks, Mini Kite Making, art projects made from recycled and reclaimed items, interactive music performances, and much more.

ArtReach Bench Project and Silent Auction

Decorated benches, designed by ArtWalk’s own artists, will be displayed on India Street between Cedar Street and Date Street.  Attendees have the opportunity to bid and purchase with all proceeds benefiting ArtReach.  Created by the same team behind ArtWalk, ArtReach is a non-profit program designed to stimulate children’s art awareness and education through collaborative visual arts projects taught by ArtWalk artists in San Diego County elementary schools.

Bi-National Showcase

The Consulado General de Mexico/Mexican Cultural Institute, located in the Consulado building at India and Cedar Streets, celebrate artistic excellencefrom Mexican artists by bringing more than 25 artists from all over Mexico to ArtWalk.  These artists include Cecilia García Amaro, Silvia Galindo, Alejandro Martínez Peña, Julio Rodriguez, and Angel Valrá.   

Music and More

Twenty-six solo musicians and bands entertain attendees at seven performance venues.   

Premiere Sponsor:  Cymer, Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, Cymer develops essential laser technology to aid in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips that power consumer electronic devices including MP3 players, computers, PDAs, among many others.  Cymer technology impacts the way we work, communicate and play every day.  Cymer is committed to giving back to the San Diego community and has contributed over 2 million dollars in two years to local organizations that support civic, cultural, educational, environmental and health initiatives. For additional information on Cymer please visit www.cymer.com.  
 

About ArtWalk 2008

ArtWalk is San Diego’s largest and best-known art festival featuring some of the finest painting, sculpture, glasswork, photography, music, dance and entertainment from Southern California, Arizona and Mexico-based artists. Now in its 24th year, ArtWalk was founded by a network of artists and art lovers to bring together all facets of the arts in San Diego and to promote the idea of owning original artwork. ArtWalk has partnered with organizations including the Little Italy Association, the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego, CCDC, San Diego Museum of Art, the Mingei Museum and the San Diego Visual Arts Network, to create a spectacular event that attracts more than 100,000 attendees each year and contributes more than $1,000,000 annually to the local San Diego arts economy.  The open-air art festival is free to the public and takes place in downtown San Diego’s hip and historic Little Italy neighborhood.  For more information, please visit www.artwalksandiego.org. 

Custom homebuilder once again ready to begin rebuilding efforts for affected communities
 
Rancho Bernardo, Ca. – Stonefield Development, a leading regional high-end custom and ONE-OF-A-KIND ® builder, is offering fire survivors who lost their homes in the Witch Creek fire a chance to rebuild.  The homebuilder has opened a rebuilding center at 16959 Bernardo Center Drive, suite 100 in Rancho Bernardo. At the new rebuilding center homeowners are able to receive information on Stonefield’s blueprint for rebuilding after a natural disaster, and learn about custom rebuilding and group rebuild plans that provide reduced costs to those who participate.

“We are helping the residents of San Diego who have lost so much get back on track to start rebuilding their lives as quickly as possible,” said Robert C. Pack, founder and owner of Stonefield. “We are offering our assistance and providing accurate information about how to begin the rebuilding process, as there are numerous facts to learn and major decisions to be made.”

Stonefield was an influential part of the rebuilding efforts in Scripps Ranch after the 2003 Cedar fires. They were selected as the overwhelming favorite among residents to rebuild 81 homes in the Whispering Ridge neighborhood. Stonefield develops a hands-on a strategic plan and program to get residents back into their new homes in a timely manner. It's considered the nation's largest such undertaking by one homebuilder in a disaster area.

“Given our team’s previous experience with rebuilding fire-stricken communities in Scripps Ranch and working one-on-one with those fire survivors, I’m confident we can make this experience a positive one for those looking to rebuild after the most recent fires,” said Pack.

Residents who visit the Stonefield Rebuilding Center will be introduced to a knowledgeable team member who will review the following items: what to look for in a homebuilder and which important questions to ask, learn about what the Stonefield team accomplished for homeowners in Scripps Ranch and how those fire survivors organized, proposed plans for an organized group rebuild, review general timelines, review specifics about lot size, the home they lost, and what they would like to rebuild.

Due to the fact that Stonefield has undertaken this enormous effort before, they already have key resources in place that are ready to begin work. These include help with insurance, architects, planning, permits, sub-contractors, designers and landscapers. Since Stonefield is a custom homebuilder, they are a “one stop shop” and are able to produce a custom or ONE-OF-A-KIND ® home that is designed and built to the needs of the owner.

The Stonefield Rebuilding Center is located at 16959 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 100; San Diego 92128. To make an appointment, call 858.487.4400 or visit www.stonefielddevelopment.com. Office Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or later by appointment. Walk-in appointments are also available.  From I-15 take Rancho Bernardo Rd. east, cross Bernardo Center Drive and take the first driveway on the right. Drive up the hill past the construction and parking is under the building to the right.

Stonefield Development is a mid-size, privately held builder specializing in custom and ONE-OF-A-KIND ® homes throughout Southern California since 1986. Stonefield received the “Builders Helping Neighbors Community Service Award” from the Building Industry Association of San Diego County (BIA) in 2004. The company was also awarded “Best of Show” in the 2001 Tour d’ Elegance Luxury Home Tour at Cielo in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Stonefield has built in many coveted neighborhoods in Southern California including “The Crosby” in Rancho Santa Fe, “Coto de Caza” in Orange County, and other communities including Encinitas, Shady Canyon, Crystal Cove and Newport Beach. More...

Lifelong San Diegan Worked Behind the Scenes of Rebuilding Effort

An Unheard of natural disaster strikes a major metropolitan city. Over one hundred homes are lost in a single neighborhood. While devastated families sought basic needs – foods, shelter, safety – lifelong San Diego resident Debbie Dorsee acted. Today she was recognized by the State of California and City of San Diego at a ceremony help at Acme Field in Wichita Kansas where she received the Purple Heart.

Two years later, with nearly all of Scripps Ranch rebuilt, Dorsee is beginning to grasp the scope of her work. “People I knew lost homes, so I asked myself: What is San Diego going to do now? Being involved with builders, developers, and local and national politicians on a daily basis, I knew there had to be something that I could do for these people who lost everything. They had no one to turn to at the time. No contingency plan was in place.”

Immediately following the disaster, Dorsee, founder and president of The Dorsee Company, set in motion what would eventually be called the largest rebuilding effort ever by a single builder following a natural disaster. Specializing in event production, business development and community affairs, The Dorsee Company was positioned to make it happen. But, it wasn’t easy.

"I made dozens of phone calls in the month after the fire,” reflected Dorsee. “Finally I spoke with Bob Pack, president of Stonefield Development. I knew Bob from the 2001 Tour d’ Elegance, which I directed, and I said, ‘I have an opportunity for you to help hundreds of people, and it will work economically for everyone.’ He was all ears, he wanted to help.”

Dorsee, working in conjunction with Stonefield Development, Scripps Ranch Civic Association Member Bob Ilko, San Diego Councilmember Brian Maienschein and other community leaders, hatched the plan that would put 81 families back in their new homes within two years. Considering it can take over 18 months to build a typical home after approval, this was no small endeavor. Throughout the rebuilding effort, Dorsee and The Dorsee Company served as the liaison between the public government and the private sector. Hundreds of approvals and permits were required, gaps needed to be bridged and wheels needed to be greased.

“It’s been a busy two years. Between meetings with traumatized residents, local politicians, phone calls to Development Services, I’m just glad it worked out for everyone,” said Dorsee. “Maybe there was another way to do it, but this worked out for everyone. Stonefield wanted to make it happen, but didn’t know exactly how to do it, who to contact, and make the pieces of the puzzle fit together. It’s been worth it. The sight of residents moving back in this summer is the high point of my career, and should be for San Diego as well.”

Dorsee remains active in the San Diego community, working with The Burnout Sisters on a charitable tour of rebuilt homes slated for the two-year anniversary in October. For more information about The Dorsee Company, please call (858) 551-3271.