20th ArtWalk Liberty Station draws a crowd for art, music, food and more

ArtWalk Liberty Station was back for its 20th year over the weekend, drawing thousands of visitors to see works by more than 175 artists from around the United States and Mexico showcasing their paintings, photography, glass, ceramics, jewelry and sculptures.

The festivities at Ingram Plaza in Liberty Station’s Arts District in Point Loma kicked off Aug. 1 with a ticketed preview party where guests could get an early look at the artwork and mingle with the artists.

The rest of the weekend Aug. 2-3 offered free admission and a lineup of live music, food vendors, a beer and wine garden and a KidsWalk area offering activities and projects.

“I wanted to just expose my two young kids to art … and get them out and away from video games a bit,” said Marjorie Montemayor, who visited with her two school-age sons.

Her 11-year-old, Johan, was impressed. “It’s pretty cool to just see what people are capable of,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing how you get an idea, you can put it on a piece of paper and it turns into artwork.”

“You can go to a big-box store or online and buy generic pieces of art,” said Curt Brooker, director of ArtWalk San Diego, which presents a series of events around the area each year. “But this is a chance actually to talk to an artist and figure out what inspires them and what makes them do their art.”

Pop artist Jon Max, who goes by the name J Maxx, said he aims to make a strong impression on viewers with mixed-media work that often incorporates striking colors with animated images.

“Art’s about taking it to that next level,” he said. “A lot of times you want to have that ‘wow’ effect, and depending on scale and imagery, I think it comes off really nicely with these vibrant colors.”

A display from abstract painter Alejandro Martinez-Peña of Tijuana included an acrylic-on-canvas piece called “Luciérnagas,” the Spanish word for fireflies.

Art is “like a triangle,” Martinez-Peña said. “It’s about me the artist, the piece and you who are watching. You are part of the creativity because you are imagining something inside of you.”

A few steps away, Tom Marosz displayed his glass art sculptures and crystal cubes.

“I just flat-out like to make things that look cool,” Marosz said. “I do work occasionally that is supposed to ‘mean something,’ but not very often. … I like doing the process itself.”

Vanessa Peacock bought two prints of illustrated Southern California beach scenes from artist Joe Vickers that featured cresting waves, a whimsical pair of seagulls and palm trees reaching toward the sky at sunset.

“I just love the colors of it; they are so vibrant — typical San Diego,” said Peacock, who attended the festival at the suggestion of her friend Suzanne Hitztaler.

“I’m not artistic myself, so I enjoy seeing what other people will come up with in their mind, how they put that on paper or whatever their medium is,” Hitztaler said. “I just find joy in that.”