Did you hear about the $22 million theater complex that was unveiled yesterday at the Old Globe in Balboa Park? Wow. What a phenomenal achievement for San Diego, the nation and the arts community. It will be the sixth largest theater in the country. To find the support and funding for that kind of project in these economic times confirms the notion that art must be supported by patrons in order to thrive and that despite tough times people recognize the value of art and culture in soothing our cultural psyche.

It’s tough to ask for money to support the arts while children go hungry and families live on the street. Yet, without the arts to reflect our imaginings and relieve our sometimes relentless reality, this life is less worthy of the struggle. Artists take risks and express beauty and pain in ways that we need. And art takes many forms – some that is familiar or humorous and some that is awkward and just plain weird. Sushi, A Center for the Urban Arts, located in San Diego’s East Village, has been home to more of the latter than the former, so it has a harder time finding big dollar donors. Its support has always been grassroots.

Sushi provides a home for artists who are usually struggling, yet still committed to offering up contemporary, multidisciplinary art for our collective enjoyment. It has been a center of alternative art in San Diego for nearly 30 years, yet like so many other non-profit organizations, has been battered by the financial tightening of the past year.

Will you join me in supporting Sushi? I don’t always understand what I see there, but San Diego shouldn’t lose one of the only places that supports art that’s pretty much on the opposite end of the spectrum from The Old Globe. Communities that value art need both.

We are asking for whatever you can afford (from $10 – $100, it all counts). Our goal is $30,000 by January 15th to pay for 2010 programming. Highlights for 2010 include Dutch artist Oscar Prinsen, Russian physical theatre company ARTEL, international Fringe Festival favorites Die Rotten Punkte and San Diego’s own acclaimed choreographer, Patricia Sandback.

In addition to our online ask, we are selling some furniture here on Craig’s List and all proceeds will be donated to Sushi. We’re also cooking up a really cool all-ages photography class with Paul M. Bowers that will happen in January, with proceeds going to Sushi (watch the Sushi homepage for more info soon).

Thank you for reading, considering and hopefully making a contribution today by clicking on the ChipIn link on this page.