Port of San Diego's new public art committee, comprised of arts professionals including artists, curators, architects, and administrators, found that "Unconditional Surrender" didn't meet the requirements of the new Master Plan and voted not to accept it.

The Board of Commissioners decided to accept the permanent statue anyway. Needless to say, the group assigned to guide the Port in these decisions is none too pleased. Check out KPBS coverage by Angela Carone's on their reaction. And for a more detailed perspective from a member of the committee, read David White's (of Agitprop) thoughts and letter to the Port Commission.

Then let us know, what do YOU think?

The 2011 Orchids & Onions Awards Ceremony & Silent Auction was held on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at the Westfield Horton Plaza Event Space and historic Balboa Theater in downtown San Diego. The ceremony was personably (and articulately) emcee'd by linguist Grant Barrett, Co-host of NPR's "A Way With Words."

Terri Mitchell of Pr1ze provided the fresh, new branding that served as inspiration for the incredible party and ceremony set design by Bells & Whistles. Also complementing the pre-party was a stunning, otherworldy installation of Orbiting Gollypods by Jason Xavier Lane and Tend Living, and a VIP oasis we could live in by Hold It Contemporary Home, with art by Alexander Salazar Fine Art. 

Last but not least, let's face it. A party can be as pretty as you please, but if the food and drinks are lacking... well, let's just say Stone Brewing Company Catering was unbelievably awesome. They have also been very generous, long time supporters of Orchids  & Onions, and hosted the beer again this year. Simply said, we love and appreciate Stone! Click here for a complete list of sponsors, and links to their websites.

Now for the Awards... click on the link for photos and more information about each - and to let us know what you think (agree? disagree?) by leaving a comment.

Official 2011 Orchids

Official 2011 Onions

Extra special appreciation goes out to the Onion representatives (4 out of 5!) who took the time to join us at the 2011 O&O Awards Ceremony, and speak on behalf of their projects. It is hugely appreciated, and helps us  fine-tune the program, and keep the dialogue alive. We are most grateful for your participation and information.

Last night at the Orchid-winning Balboa Theater, we announced this year's Orchids & Onions. Take a look and let us know if you agree! Click on the image below to see the winner list, photos and jury comments on SignonSanDiego.com. Check back in a couple of days for the complete comments and photos right here.

click on image for more info and to purchase tickets
click here to have a look at (and pre-bid on) all the fabulous 2011 Silent Auction items

You may have seen Grant Barrett at the San Diego Architectural Foundation's last PechaKucha Night on July 20th, at which he enlightened and entertained us with his presentation entitled "Obscenity Truths." We were sold, and he wasn't even trying to sell us anything.   

We are thrilled to announce that Grant has agreed to share his way with words with us by serving as our emcee at the 2011 Orchids & Onions Awards Ceremony & Silent Auction on October 27 at Balboa Theater! Grant is a public radio host, a lexicographer specializing in slang and new words, a journalist, and an editor. He is co-host and co-producer of the nationwide language-related public radio show A Way with Words, which is independently produced and distributed by a nonprofit in San Diego. He's also an editor for Voice of San Diego, a nonprofit source for analysis and investigative journalism. He has worked as a lexicographer for Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Collins, and compiled and edited his own  "Official Dictionary of Unofficial English" (2006, McGraw-Hill) and the "Oxford Dictionary of American Political Slang" (2004, Oxford University Press). He's written on language for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Malaysia Star, the academic journal American Speech, the professional journal Copyediting and other publications. He serves as an officer of the American Dialect Society, a venerable organization devoted to the study of English in North America.Though born and raised in Missouri, Grant has lived at length in New York City, Paris, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and now lives in sunny California with his wife - also a linguist/ lexicographer, and their son.