Arts & Culture Newsletter: Singer-songwriter Beck knows how to heal a breaking heart

Singer-songwriter Beck in concert in L.A. in 2017.

This week, the San Diego Symphony at Rady Shell, ArtWalk at Liberty Station, “Pablo Picasso” at New Village Arts, Jim Gaffigan and more

Aug. 3, 2023 5:30 AM PT

Good morning, and welcome to the U-T Arts & Culture Newsletter.

I’m David L. Coddon, and here’s your guide to all things essential in San Diego’s arts and culture this week.

I owe Beck a note of thanks, and it’s long, long overdue. In lighting the way out of the darkness of a breakup as he did on his 2002 album “Sea Change,” he did the same for me at the time.

Of course I knew about the healing power of music, but I didn’t see it coming from this guy. The Beck playing in my head was the Beck of “Loser,” “Where It’s At” or “Devil’s Haircut,” this kind of nerdy renegade from L.A. who mashed up electronics, rap and angst into his own brand of alt-rock.

Then came “Sea Change,” composed in the wake of Beck’s failed relationship with costume designer Leigh Limon. Weary, wounded, questioning, its 12 tracks tapped into the sensitive singer-songwriter Beck who had probably always been there in the first place. Wandering from retrospective (“The Golden Age”) to bitter (“Lost Cause”) to broken (“Already Dead”), “Sea Change” was Beck’s equivalent of Bogart’s Rick slumped over a bourbon, haunted by Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa, in “Casablanca.”

Beck, six albums later and long married to actress Marissa Ribisi, comes to town Tuesday for a concert at Viejas Arena. I’m guessing he’s in a better place these days. So am I. Thanks again, brother.

Classical music

I’ve been to the Rady Shell enough times now to have nailed the basics: First, unless you already reside downtown, take the trolley to Jacobs Park; avoid the hassle of getting out of the Convention Center garage after the show. Second, even in a hot summer like this one has been, bring a sweater or jacket. It gets chilly by the beautiful bay. Third, prepare to get to know your neighbor because seating is close.

With all that understood, you can’t go wrong with concert tickets at the Shell. On Friday night, it’s “Beethoven By the Bay,” with a repertoire that includes the master’s “Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58.” Pianist Eric Lu joins the San Diego Symphony, which will be conducted by Johann Stuckenbruck.

Visual art

Visitors walking around the booths at ArtWalk Liberty Station.

The Shell isn’t the only outdoor arts destination that’s heightened San Diego’s cultural profile. The growth of Liberty Station’s Arts District in Point Loma merits laurels, as well. Besides providing a home for the city’s dance companies, artisans and crafts people, it will provide a new space for Cygnet Theatre in 2025.

And then there’s ArtWalk. The popular fine art festival that also is held in Little Italy in the spring and Carlsbad in the fall makes its summertime stop in Liberty Station this weekend. More than 175 artists from both sides of the border will be showcasing and selling their works.

What’s not to like? You’re outside. You don’t have to buy anything (admission is free). Parking? There’s lots of it at Liberty Station.

More visual art

Herbert Siguenza in New Village Arts' "A Weekend with Pablo Picasso."

If you head to Carlsbad to see Herbert Siguenza’s one-man show “A Weekend With Pablo Picasso,” and you should if you haven’t seen it before, you can further your Picasso education at home. The Musee National Picasso in Paris’ website offers an online collection viewing page that you can browse or study or both at your leisure.

I didn’t count how many Picasso works, in various media, are on the site for clicking and viewing up close, relatively speaking, but the pages keep going and going.

A couple of caveats: The accompanying information with each Picasso work is in French, so learn, brush up or skip the text altogether. I also found at least one Matisse tossed in among the Picassos. The two were friends, and rivals, so maybe that explains it. There is a Matisse Museum, by the way, in Nice, but as far as I can tell no online access to its collection. Guess you’ll have to make a trip to the South of France.

Streaming standup

Jim Gaffigan in a scene from his comedy special "Jim Gaffigan: The Pale Tourist."

Contrary to what you may suspect, I am not Jim Gaffigan’s publicist. I do tout him when he brings his standup show to town or when one of his comedy specials hits Amazon Prime. So bear with me once again. Better yet, catch Gaffigan’s new “Dark Pale” special on Prime, which was taped during a performance in Tampa.

It’s a departure in a way for Gaffigan. No obsessed-with-food jokes to speak of, though there’s a very funny sequence on Starbucks and (I can’t believe I’m writing this) Starbucks culture. As always, Gaffigan is self-deprecating, sardonically observational … and clean. This is his 10th streaming special, so he’s doing something right, and he doesn’t need me.

U-T arts & entertainment stories you may have missed this week:

A collection of various ice cream flavors. This guide contains a list of places to find desserts after 9 p.m.

UCTV

University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:

“Discussion of the Film ‘Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors’”

Roman Koropeckyj, professor in the Department of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Languages & Cultures at UCLA, joins moderator Sasha Razor for a discussion of Sergei Parajanov’s film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors,” sharing insight into Ukrainian culture and history. Koropeckyj discusses the making of the film and details the complexities of Ukrainian culture and history, including the Hutsul ethnic group around which the film revolves. They contextualize the political volatility during the film’s production and broaden discussion to a longer history of Ukrainian oppression, all the way to contemporary struggles.

“German Big Business and the Holocaust”

Explore the chilling intersection of business and genocide with renowned author and historian Peter Hayes in a riveting talk about German corporations’ complicity in Nazi atrocities. This insightful presentation unravels how the pursuit of profit led to an unholy alliance, enabling persecution, exploitation, and the ultimate destruction of Europe’s Jews. From the display of personal artifacts in the Auschwitz Museum, Hayes traces the involvement of corporate Germany back to the rise of Nazi rule in 1933. Join us as he sheds light on the lesser known, yet critical role that businesses played in fueling the Nazi war machine.

“Creating with Machines: Understanding the Ethics of AI-Generated Content”

Generative AI machines can create artwork, music and even realistic text that resembles human creations. However, these AI systems can also produce misleading or harmful content. The ethical implications involve issues like intellectual property, authenticity, and accountability. Who owns AI-generated art? How can we ensure transparency and trust in AI-generated information? Can AI infringe upon human creativity and job security? Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute professor David Danks discusses how we need to strike the right balance between technological advancement and ethical considerations. This requires careful thought, regulation, and ongoing discussions to navigate the ethical landscape of generative AI responsibly.

And finally, top weekend events:

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: Aug. 3-6.

Coddon is a freelance writer.