Society of Decorative Painters Embraces San Diego Arts Community
(PRWEB) May 19, 2016 -- The Society of Decorative Painters (SDP) has partnered with several businesses in the greater San Diego area for its 44th Annual SDP International Conference & Expo next month, running June 6-11 at the Town and Country Resort. One of the largest and longest running decorative painting shows in the world, the public event is open to painters and artists of all mediums and skill levels, and will feature hands-on learning and exhibits.
“We’ve partnered with local organizations to embrace and engage San Diego’s arts community,” says Wendy Watson, President, Society of Decorative Painters.
The Society’s Board of Directors will start the weeklong artful journey at Charity Wings Art & Craft Center, a charitable organization that provides free creativity sessions to the greater San Diego community. With donations from DecoArt and Bear With Us, Inc., the members of the Board will teach a mixed media project to a group of 19 people from Real Options for Adults with Disabilities (R.O.A.D's) from the Oceanside Boys and Girls Club.
“We are very impressed with Elena Lai Etcheverry, Founder and Executive Director of Charity Wings, and her efforts to bring art to different groups in the San Diego area,” says Watson. “Charity Wings’ work with wounded warriors and people with disabilities especially interested me, and our Board unanimously agreed that it was important to involve the organization in our event.”
“Charity Wings is a place for people to gather, give back and create. This collaboration with the SDP Board hits all these points perfectly,” says Etcheverry. “Having them here to teach painting to our R.O.A.D’s group and share their passion will be a gift for everyone.”
Later in the week, Expo attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about Charity Wings by visiting booth #301. For a $10 donation, attendees can help paint an Alice in Wonderland themed mural, which will later be put on display at the 2016 San Diego Fair, a San Diego pastime since 1880, and be entered in a chance to win a DecoArt prize pack.
Expo attendees will also get a glimpse of Spanish Village Art Center, which is known as “San Diego’s coveted secret for art lovers”. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the site is a collection of working art studios featuring over 250 local artists, including painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay artists, gourd artists, photographers, printmakers, fiber artists, basket makers, mixed-media artists, glass artists, enamel artists and many more.
“Spanish Village Art Center is proud to be a part of the Society of Decorative Painters International Conference & Expo,” says Chris Stell, Board Member, Spanish Village Art Center. “We love supporting and working with the artist community.”
While some attendees will enjoy taking the traditional painting classes being offered, others will participate by painting scenery that is indicative of the surrounding beaches with a brush in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. The Society has partnered with local paint party business Paints Uncorked to put on a paint and sip class, the type of social affair that has created a new interest in painting in San Diego and across the United States.
Several other California-based teachers, businesses, and SDP Chapters will be participating. “Thousands of painters affiliated with SDP live in California. In fact, we have more than 30 Chapters in the Golden State, which is one of the reasons why we picked San Diego as the location for our 2016 event,” says Watson. “We are looking forward to a well-attended event, and encourage everyone who attends, San Diegans or tourists alike, to explore and embrace the San Diego arts community with us.”
To learn more about the Society of Decorative Painters and its annual event, visit http://www.decorativepainters.org.
ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF DECORATIVE PAINTERS
The Society of Decorative Painters (SDP) is a membership organization with members throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and 42 other countries. It has over 200 affiliated chapters that actively promote the art form through community service projects and painting-related activities. SDP publishes the industry’s leading decorative painting magazine, The Decorative Painter, and hosts one of the largest annual decorative painting conferences and expos that draws worldwide artists. For more information, visit http://www.decorativepainters.org.
Kristen Farrell, Craft and Hobby Association, +1 201-835-1209, [email protected]
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