Safe Haven, Dark Corners, a solo exhibition by Vanessa Rishel

The exhibition runs from September 21st to November 10th

OPEN RECEPTION: September 21st from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Event Location: Hill Street Country Club Gallery, 530 South Coast Hwy, Oceanside Ca 92054

PRESS RELEASE

Vanessa Rishel’s “Safe Haven, Dark Corners” Exhibition Opens at Hill Street Country Club

Oceanside, CA – September 7th 2024 – Hill Street Country Club is thrilled to announce the opening of "Safe Haven, Dark Corners," a powerful solo exhibition by South Bay San Diego artist Vanessa Rishel. The show will run from September 21st to November 10th, with a special opening reception on September 21st from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Vanessa Rishel's latest body of work delves into the complex realms of the psyche, utilizing dreamscape themes and a striking contrast of light and dark to explore the inner workings of identity and self-perception. "Safe Haven, Dark Corners" showcases Rishel’s unique approach to painting, where childhood trinkets, plushies, and anime aesthetics become models for her evocative scenes. This method imbues her black and gray scale oil paintings with a sense of realism and emotional depth.

The exhibition features "Insomniac Dreamscapes," a series that incorporates baby angel figures and elements of storytelling akin to comics and teen angel art. These elements are deeply intertwined with real anxieties and the quest for self-acceptance. Rishel invites viewers into a liminal space where memory, inner child, and personal trauma confront everyday harsh realities. Her work serves as both a refuge and a medium for exploring existential themes, encouraging introspection and dialogue about mental health and personal identity.

Exhibition Details

• Opening Reception: September 21, 2024, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

• Exhibition Dates: September 21 - November 10th 

• Location: Hill Street Country Club, 530 South Coast Highway Oceanside, CA

Join us for the opening reception to experience Vanessa Rishel’s transformative work and engage in discussions about her artistic vision. For further information, to schedule interviews, or to request high-resolution images, please contact Astrid@thehillstreetcountryclub.org 

In “Safe Haven, Dark Corners,” Vanessa Rishel presents an exploration of the psyche through her oil paintings. By integrating childhood trinkets, plushies, and anime aesthetics, Rishel creates dreamscapes that are both familiar and surreal. Her use of strong contrasts of light and dark imparts a dramatic intensity, drawing viewers into a narrative of self-discovery and emotional depth.

The series, “Insomniac Dreamscapes,” features black and grayscale paintings that juxtapose the innocence of baby angel figures with the stark realities of mental health and trauma. Through her art, Rishel addresses the interplay between memory, the inner child, and the often harsh realities of everyday life. These objects serve as anchors to the physical world, yet also symbolize projection, worship, and existential proof.

Rishel’s work invites viewers to peer through voyeuristic lenses into her inner world, challenging them to confront their subconscious and their relationship to divinity. The exhibition offers a space for reflection on personal growth, self-acceptance, and alignment with one’s true identity and goals.

About Vanessa Rishel
Vanessa Rishel is an oil painter and conceptual artist based in South Bay San Diego. Her art practice examines the formation of identity and the exploration of liminal spaces. Rishel's career includes notable residencies and exhibitions, such as at Teros Gallery, Phorm Studio, and Bread & Salt, and her work has been featured in various group shows across San Diego and beyond. Rishel is also recognized for her contributions as a writer, muralist, and live painter.

About Hill Street Country Club
Hill Street Country Club is dedicated to fostering community wellness and cultural engagement through the arts. Located in Oceanside, CA, we offer exhibitions, programs, and events that support BIPOC, Queer, and Working Poor communities, creating opportunities for creative expression and dialogue.

For media inquiries, please get in touch with Akiko Surai at Akiko@thehillstreetcountryclub.org

For further information about Vanessa Rishel and “Safe Haven, Dark Corners,” please visit www.thehillstreetcountryclub.org  or contact Akiko@thehillstreetcountryclub.org

Interlaced, a Solo Exhibition by Christian Garcia-Olivo

The exhibition runs from September 12th - January 10th

OPEN RECEPTION: September 14th at 12:00 - 4:00

Event Location: Gallery 201, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, 2820 Roosevelt Rd #204, San Diego, CA 92106

Gallery Hours: 8 am - 8 pm, Monday through Sunday

FREE ADMISSION | ALL AGES | ADA ACCESSIBLE

PRESS RELEASE 

New Gallery 201 Exhibition in ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station Navigates the Interplay of Culture, Identity and Existence. Gallery 201 at ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station debuts “Interlaced,” a thought-provoking solo show by Christian Garcia-Olivo that delves into the evolving nature of identity and culture.

SAN DIEGO, CA (AUGUST 31, 2024) – ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, in collaboration with Dinah Poellnitz and The Hill Street Country Club, is thrilled to present a brand-new exhibition opening in Gallery 201 titled Interlaced, a solo showcase by San Diego-based artist Christian Garcia-Olivo. On display from September 12, 2024, to January 10, 2025, this exhibition delves into the intricate interplay between identity, culture, and the fluidity of existence. Audiences are invited to immerse themselves in a realm where the boundaries between self and society blur, unveiling the complexities of navigating spaces of uncertainty.

"Thanks to The Hill Street Country Club, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase my work in a beautiful gallery space at ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station,” said Christian Garcia-Olivo. “Through ‘Interlaced,’ I seek to unravel the threads of identity and culture, inviting viewers to embrace the fluidity and complexity of our existence. In a world where boundaries blur and identities intertwine, I hope my work inspires a deeper understanding of how we navigate and transform the spaces we inhabit."

Christian Garcia-Olivo’s work is a reflection of his journey as a queer Chicano artist, delving into tools of cultural heritage, resistance to societal norms, and the tension between personal and communal identities. His signature use of sculptural paint skins, reminiscent of smooth candy paint and woven Mexican textiles, creates a vivid tapestry that challenges conventional perceptions of art, identity, and belonging. 

Curated by Dinah Poellnitz, the inaugural David G. Fleet Curator-in-Residence at ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, Interlaced challenges the notion of fixed identity and whose values are inherited and perpetuated. The exhibit reflects the complexities of cultural hybridity, and the strength found in vulnerability, offering a critique of both personal and societal structures. 

Through this exhibition, Christian's work engages with the journey of identity, envisioning a future where fragmented identities are not only acknowledged but embraced, celebrated, and ultimately transformed. Christian invites viewers to consider the possibilities that emerge when individuals allow themselves to exist in a state of flux, where ambiguity becomes a source of discovery, creativity, and survival.

“Christian’s new exhibition beautifully embodies the spirit of exploration and transformation that defines ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station,” said Lisa Johnson, President and CEO of ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station. “We are thrilled to support this powerful exhibition and offer the community a space to reflect on and engage with these vital themes of identity and cultural fluidity. It is through exhibitions like ‘Interlaced’ that we continue to celebrate and amplify diverse voices and experiences within the arts.”

The new exhibit offers the opportunity to experience the power of art as a medium for exploring the nuances of identity, culture, and the spaces individuals inhabit—physically, emotionally, and socially. The exhibition will feature a virtual artist talk designed to deepen the engagement with Garcia-Olivo's work and foster conversations that resonate beyond the gallery walls. 

ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station and Hill Street Country Club invite the community to join them in celebrating the opening of Interlaced from 12 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, September 14 in Gallery 201. The exhibition will be on display in Gallery 201 (2820 Roosevelt Rd #204, San Diego, CA 92106) from 8 am to 8 pm each day through January 10, 2025. The public is invited to stop by Gallery 201 for the opening reception and to view the exhibit during open hours.

About ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station

ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is a premier destination in San Diego dedicated to enriching the city’svibrant arts and cultural scene through the revitalization of 26 historic buildings in the former NavalTraining Center. Spanning 100 park-like acres in Liberty Station, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is home to over 100 museums, galleries, artist studios, dance companies, fine dining establishments, creative retail spaces and other organizations. Visitors experience the arts, culture, creativity, and cuisine that are the hallmarks of the San Diego region and enjoy innovative experiences in a historic setting at ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station that inspires lives for generations to come. www.artsdistrictlibertystation.com /www.ntcfoundation.org

About Hill Street Country Club 

Hill Street Country Club (Hill Street, Oceanside, CA) curates and programs for the creative community throughout the San Diego region. As a holistic collective of art professionals, it exists to push the boundaries of art and culture, by redefining what art is, who can participate, and who benefits. The organization's mission is to elevate youth, BIPOC and overlooked artists and amplify their stories, fostering stronger connections with the public and laying the groundwork for generational change. Through its work, Hill Street Country Club challenges conventions and creates inclusive spaces for creativity and community growth. 

About the Artist

Christian Garcia-Olivo (b. 1988, Santa Barbara, CA) is a San Diego-based artist known for his innovative exploration of acrylic paint as a sculptural medium. In December 2020, he debuted his first solo show, Untitled 2020, at Bread & Salt in San Diego, setting the stage for a dynamic artistic journey. Christian’s work is featured in the San Diego Civic Art Collection and the Mesa College Library, and he has exhibited his art internationally in Italy and Spain, as well as across Southern California at the San Diego Art Institute, San Diego Central Library Art Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santa Barbara and at Permanent Storage Projects in Los Angeles. Christian has received recognition for his contributions to the art world, including an Honorable Mention at the Athenaeum’s 28th Annual Juried Exhibition.

Treacherous Titties

A solo exhibition by Berenice Badillo

August 11 - August 28th

Audre Lorde in her book The Cancer Journals (1980) stated that pain should not be wasted. Cancer came for me in 2023 and turned my life upside down. My whole world stopped, and I felt scared and powerless. I decided to utilize this solo show, this website www.treacheroustitties.com  and my poetry book Will My Nipple Rise like Jesus to tell my story. I was right in the middle of restoring a mural I painted in 1997, in Chicano Park, which houses the largest collection of Chicano murals in the world. Together with my girl gang www.xoque-artinmotion.com we painted the 65-foot behemoth and created the tallest mural in the park made about women, by women, for women. I used art as my beacon, my pen as my sword, and my tears as the oil in my engine to get through Cancer. Inspired by the words of Audre Lorde, I created alchemy out of my Cancer diagnosis and made Cancer my bitch. Yet, my life has forever changed, and, like many survivors, I worry if it will return.

Breast cancer stories are often taboo. On average, 2.3 million women get breast cancer worldwide. The coronavirus-19 pandemic caused delays in diagnosis and management. Latinos in America have the highest incidence of Cancer. Latinas are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with more aggressive cancers. Black women have a 40% higher death rate from breast cancer than any other racial and ethnic group, despite having a slightly lower incidence than White women.

If you have just been diagnosed with breast cancer or know someone who has, remember grief is important. If a woman decides to get reconstruction it’s not “a free boob job” and if she doesn’t, flat is beautiful and great warriors have scars. Don’t give advice or try to fix it, the best thing you can do is hold someone's hand.

Poetry from the exhibition

Artist in Practice: Cole Douglas

July 11th - August 7th

On Display

From July 11th - August 7th at the Hill Street Country Club will host multi-disciplinary artist Cole Douglas (he/him) as he expands on his existing series of abstract mixed-media works on canvas. These new pieces are of a previously unprecedented scale, taking full advantage of the gallery’s open space to develop new techniques and build a more robust mark-making language. Visitors are invited to visit and view works as Cole’s work progresses and attend a public open house with light refreshments to meet the artist.

Artist Statement

After an injury induced identity crisis, I found myself seeking a resolution to the pain I’d felt after carrying the burden of being a Black man in a white America. I soon found that painting and time in nature were a panacea to my ills. The nexus of my identity as a Black man in addition to these activities presented me with the foundation of my work: negroes nature nurture. That is, the juxtaposition between the Black American and natural experience. I present the Black experience in a meaningful way, seeking resolution to our issues and a future reimagined with healthy, thriving, and carefree Black people. 

 I blend gestural acrylic palette knife strokes with energetic oil stick lines to inspire reflection, growth, and the sowing of seeds. Leveraging these mediums, I am able to create an active painting that explores the possibilities of a fruitful Black future. Through these paintings, an intentional reconfiguration of Black values and actions is had – resulting in meaningful change for future generations. That is, the sowing of seeds in our garden.

 The process used to create these radical abstractions lend towards continual discovery as opposed to a specific final destination. This process-based approach, inspired from my engineering background, creates boundless expression to encapsulate all feelings that exist within a given situation allowing the works to serve as both a medium of healing and a path forward to change for myself and others. Creating a community for other people like me searching for healing and love.

About Artists in Practice

Artists in Practice: Artists in Practice is a studio development and exhibition opportunity curated by the collective efforts of Hill Street Country Club. This innovative program is designed for artists who seek to explore ideas and create new works of art free from the constraints typically imposed by institutional deadlines and art world expectations. At Hill Street, we believe in fostering an environment where artists can use the gallery space as an experimental studio, thereby encouraging a sense of liberation in their artistic practice.

This program offers artists a unique opportunity to exhibit their in-progress and completed works as a ceremonial act of letting go, allowing them to transition into new phases of their creative journey. Our goal is to support artists in creating the pieces they are most passionate about and to explore those ideas that occupy their thoughts perpetually, without the paralyzing fear of failure. Through Artists in Practice, we aim to cultivate an atmosphere where artistic experimentation and freedom are paramount in the art-making process, thus enabling artists to push the boundaries of their practice and embrace the full potential of their creative visions.

The Bigger Picture:

Guaranteed Income for the Future of San Diego

March 18th - April 8th

Open to the public for gallery viewing: Tuesday–Saturday  |  2:00–8:00 pm

Come visit our new exhibition at our Oceanside Art and Cultural District hub location designated by the California Art Council.

In 2022, Jewish Family Service of San Diego rolled out San Diego for Every Child, a Guaranteed Income Project which provided direct cash assistance to families in need. To share the moving stories of those impacted by this pilot program, JFS has created “The Bigger Picture: Guaranteed Income for the Future of San Diego” – a traveling photo exhibit featuring vibrant oversized photos that give a poignant glimpse into the everyday lives of the families assisted.

The families pictured here are 4 of the 150 households who received $500 dollars a month for 2 years to spend on whatever they need with no restrictions, no work requirements, no strings attached. These parents and children opened their homes to fine-art photographer Michele Zousmer who has captured moments of connection and intimacy that become more and more possible when the burden of financial stress is eased.

“Social justice starts with economic equity,” says Khea Pollard, director of San Diego for Every Child. “Our guaranteed income project is designed to support families who were not only hit hardest by COVID-19, but who were struggling to make ends meet before. Similar programs throughout the state have proven that direct, unconditional cash programs lead to greater success for participants, alleviating cumbersome processes and in turn, enriching their personal and professional lives.” 

This project was funded in part by a 1.4 Million dollar allocation from the California state senate, 

supported  by senators Ben Hueso (District 40) and Toni Atkins (District 39). In a press release at the project’s launch, Hueso said, “It's time to end the narrative that people experiencing poverty simply need to work harder or make better choices. Income inequality is at its highest rate since right before the Great Depression and is, at least in part, a result of policies and laws in this country that perpetuate poverty and racial inequity.”

Special thanks to Lashawnda, Wendy, Kelvin, Abdul and their families for sharing their stories with us. 

Fine Art photographer Michele Zousmer employs her camera as a powerful instrument to amplify the voices of individuals and communities often marginalized by society. With an unwavering commitment, her photographic journey encapsulates the essence of human existence and emotion, capturing moments that resonate with life's profound experiences – love, loss, vulnerability, and strength.

About San Diego for Every Child 
San Diego for Every Child is a nonprofit initiative housed under the 501(c)3 of
Jewish Family Service of San Diego, one of San Diego’s oldest and most impactful nonprofit agencies. The SDEC coalition is dedicated to cutting the experience of childhood poverty by 50% by 2030. Their mission is to create a San Diego County where every child has their basic needs met by ensuring all children in our region have nutritious food to eat, live in stable housing, receive adequate healthcare, and have access to quality childcare and education. 

Editor : Akiko Surai

"THE BIGGER PICTURE" COMMUNITY RECEPTION

Date: Saturday, March 30, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Location: The Hillstreet Country Club | 530 S Coast Hwy Oceanside, CA 92054

RSVP Here

Learn more about why guaranteed income works and Jewish Family Service’s Economic Mobility and Opportunity programs by visiting www.jfssd.org/EconomicMobility.

mark Chamness | SEPTEMBEr 2nd

OPEN RECEPTION : September 2nd at 5:00PM to 8:00PM

EXHIBITION DATES : SEPTEMBER 2nd to DECEMBER 9th

Exhibition programming begins in October.

The Hill Street Country Club presents OUTSIDE THE MALL, recent works by Mark Chamness 

Mark Chamness, a Californian artist based in Oceanside, is exhibiting new works in fibers and what the artist calls “discarded urban plastic” at the Hill Street Country Club September 2nd to December 9th, 2023. Mark’s work draws from legacies of abstraction, his training as a painter and carpenter, and his daily experiences of the last several years with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

The last three years have been a time of significant personal and cultural change. Many people have been reexamining the domestic space and reconnecting to labor-intensive hand work. Though Mark’s practice stretches back much farther than that, these new works have evolved to include new materials from 2020 onwards. While supply chain issues and shipping made some materials harder to come by, there has been no shortage of single-use plastic. Mark collects bags caught in bushes or left on the beach, cuts them into strips, and tufts the strips into his needlepoint. Each piece becomes a record of its time, incorporating the stories embedded in the environment around him.

“I deal in fragments. I love things that are stuffed in between the cracks, that are unimportant, things that are tossed aside.” - Mark Chamness

Mark lives as a carpenter by day. He started working with wood in high school and transitioned into art making as funding for woodshop started waning. He eventually entered Cal Arts as a painter in 1992. Blending these traditions is at the core of his practice and allows the work to bounce back and forth between art and craft, structural and decorative, sensual and conceptual. 

 Join us for the opening reception on Sept 2nd from 5pm to 8pm at the Hill Street Country Club 530 South Coast Highway. Oceanside, CA, 92054.

Exhibition Programming begins in October. 

Our gallery is wheelchair accessible with street parking.

Contact: dinah@thehillstreetcountryclub.org

Editor : Akiko Surai

ARtist in practice | July 2023

OPEN RECEPTION : July 8th at 7pm to 9pm

Exhibition Dates : July 8th to July 30th

 The Hill Street Country Club welcomes artists Tarrah Aroonsakool and Marcos Rodriguez-Mallard for an experimental collaborative installation.

From July 8th to July 30th the gallery at the Hill Street Country Club will be taken over by two local artists interested in how capitalism and consumer culture impact the natural world and direct interactions with our environment, each other, and ourselves. Bringing forth themes of mental health in relation to the natural world around us, and the broad scope of human experience, and trauma. The final installation will evolve and change with opportunities for the public to visit while in process, please note: this exhibition includes graphic depictions of animals.

Marcos Rodriguez-Mallard (they/them) (on the right) is an undocumented Mexican artist based in San Diego, working in mixed media, photography, and video. Their projected video, Tarrehe in Miquiliztli (Escucha la Muerte, Listen to Death), shows animals that have been killed on local roads. Marcos sees these paved streets as interventions in the landscape driven by religion, necessity and industry. In allowing people to move to and from work and home, streets and cars have disrupted the natural patterns of animals with a certain degree of collateral damage. The artist can be heard speaking a text written by Maurillo Sànchez Flores in Nahuatl and Spanish meditating on death, the visceral reality of it, and the philosophical question of what happens when an animal, person, or culture dies. The piece invites the viewer to consider how they situate themselves in or against the landscape and how willing Western colonialism and capitalism is to sacrifice lives and whole cultures in the name of convenience and profit. Marcos will also exhibit several mixed-media pieces along this same theme.

Tarrah Aroonsakool (she/her) ( on the left) is a San Diego-based artist interested in materials and people deemed “less than” by Western capitalist structures. Her previous works have included depictions of human and animal bodies as consumer objects represented in a range of repurposed materials. Using discarded materials and waste to make art is central to Tarrah’s creative impulse and helps her to look at the world around her differently. She has recently moved deeper into abstract sculptural works and will be experimenting with slowing down and reconnecting to material and craft. 

Visitors are invited to schedule viewings as the installation progresses and attend an opening Satuday July 8th 7pm to 9pm. This paired installation is part of Hill Street Country Club’s Artist in Practice which invites artists to use the gallery as an extension of their own studio and experiment within an exhibition opportunity,

Editor: Akiko Surai