THE Magazine - Los Angeles

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library's art exhibition program - which began in the early 1920s - has since grown in both scope and recognition, and has earned the library a reputation as one of the outstanding venues for art in San Diego. Approximately eight exhibitions a year are held in the Main Gallery and four smaller ones in the Rotunda, both traditional settings that have showcased and wonderfully accommodated art that is sometimes far beyond traditional: limited edition artists' books, site-specific installations, photography, sculpture, mixed media, architecture, calligraphy, as well as imaginative and eclectic collections. Exhibitions have given deserved recognition to local artists including Joyce Cutler-Shaw, Patricia Patterson, Manny Farber, Italo Scanga, Zandra Rhodes, Russell Forester, Ernest Silva, Faiya Fredman, Jean Lowe, Viviana Lombrozo, Becky Cohen, Nina Katchadourian, Ethel Greene, Robin Bright, Raul Guerrero, Ellen Phillips, James Hubble, Jo Ann Tanzer, Christine Oatman, Roberto Salas, Marie Najera, Kim MacConnel, Robin Bright and others. Of particular note were three exhibitions of works by the internationally known artist Harry Sternberg, the last a posthumous exhibition in 2002. The exhibition program has explored far afield as well, with past exhibitions including work by William Wegman, Faith Ringgold, Ming Mur-Ray, Mauro Staccioli, Rolf Händler, David Teeple and Peter Dreher. The Athenaeum's Annual Juried Exhibition, and the biennial Artists' Book Juried Exhibition, are among the most prestigious in the area, and the most sought-after by entering artists. In addition to major shows in the gallery, the library also has a series of Rotunda Gallery Exhibitions that serve as community outreach collaborations, with institutions including UCSD's Mandeville Special Collections Library, San Diego State University, Children's Hospital, and the La Jolla Historical Society. The Athenaeum is in the business of books – collecting, lending, and publishing as well. The first Athenaeum publication was printed in 2001 to celebrate the Tenth Annual Juried Exhibition. Since then, seven additional publications have been produced, each in conjunction with the current exhibition presented in the Main Gallery, often in collaboration with the exhibiting artist. All of the catalogues are available for sale, many of which are numbered and signed by the artist. Click here to see a list and description of available publications. The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library's art exhibitions are on view during library hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30, and Wednesdays till 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission. Opening receptions, lectures and artist's walk-throughs are also free of charge.