The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is one of only 17 nonprofit, membership libraries in the United States - and is located right in our very own downtown La Jolla. The Athenaeum is a rare cultural institution and offers a depth and accessibility of resources and programs found nowhere else in the region.
Outside of the day to day educational programs and resources, the Athenaeum hosts an eclectic schedule of art exhibitions, classical, jazz and new music concerts, lectures, and studio art classes. To accommodate area locals who religiously attend these year-round cultural treats, the Athenaeum put together the A List - a membership group for young professionals that take a fresh perspective on art and music and join together at the Athenaeum to view, create and inspire.
As a member of the Athenaeum's A List, you and a friend will enjoy 4 to 5 A List events per year, with art exhibitions, live music, complimentary drinks and door prizes; plus the perks of an Athenaeum membership, including invitations to exhibition openings, art class discounts and more.
Combining an artistic urban edge with authentic cultural class, recent Athenaeum A List events include Raise the Bar, Member's Choice and Body/Art. In 2008, the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is venturing to their second studio location - School of the Arts - in University Heights to present an all-new A List event: Ready to Wear on Thursday, January 31, 2008.
Ready to Wear is presented in conjunction with Allison Andrews of APA Consulting and Fashion Events by Allison. A smart partnership indeed, Ready to Wear will encourage attendees to stop looking and start doing. As guests transfer their creative energy from the La Jolla museum to the University Heights art studio, they are invited to unleash their inner fashion designers and let innovation take control.
Says Athenaeum Public Relations Manager Kristina Meek, "With the A List, we try to keep our followers on their toes. Every event is unique. Every so often, we do a hands-on event, where we let people express their creativity, like with this next one, which is focused on DIY fashion, something we've never tried before. Even people who don't think they can be creative come to these events, see the excitement and get swept up into it. It's something different. We want to make art fun."
Guests will bring their favorite old T-shirts, or simply peruse the provided racks of tees, and become a fashion designer for the day. Creative fun design ideas will abound as guests decorate and alter their T-shits of choice. Special guests to aid your soon-to-be masterpiece are local jewelry arbiter Micha, of Micha Designs, screen printer Leslie Valentine of LAZER Sheep Company, screen printer Gina Grossini, Very Gary New Jewelry, Lychee Line, Miss Delish Designs, Chi Stylez, and Collar Free. From subtle changes to elaborate creations and re-creations, attendees are in control of an eclectic offering of jewelry, screen printing, leather and accessory design resources.
As A List members and new event guests make style history, DJ Markalan of FreeLit will fill the University Heights art studio with inspiring rhythms, Karl Strauss will provide complimentary beer, and favorite San Diego boutiques and fashion designers will showcase and sell their styles.
Kristina continues, "Since the A List is a membership group (although nonmembers are welcome) we get a lot of the same people coming back again and again, so everyone gets to know each other and makes new friends with shared interests. We really want people to feel at home at the Athenaeum - whether at our main location in La Jolla or at our studio in University Heights."
The Athenaeum consistently weaves a new youthful edge into the classic realm of music and art. While mature membership may have defined the La Jolla Athenaeum in past decades, the A List is now "raising the bar" and transforming the Athenaeum appeal from classic and reserved to creative and rewarding.
Helping make the A List Ready to Wear event possible are APA Consulting, Karl Strauss, DiscoverSD.com, and San Diego CityBeat. For more event information and A List membership information visit ljathenaeum.org.
Athenaeum School of Art in University Heights
4441 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92116
Date: Thursday, January 31, 2008
Arrive: 7:30pm
A List members: Free + 1
Nonmembers: $10 at the door
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