Art Unites

A platform informing, empowering, and uniting San Diego County artists | Originator Thank you for your walk and example.

Art Unites began as a one-time event titled “Art Unites.” Our event goals were to promote a message of “Respect for All,” following the controversial 2016 United States presidential election, and donate proceeds to a local music program for children. Art Unites rapidly developed into a dynamic and unifying resource for San Diego artists. Today, Art Unites is a multidivisional company with the foll

owing profile:

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Parent Company:
Art Unites

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Divisions:
Art Unites Community, Art Unites Bazaar, Art Unites Services, Art Unites Gallery

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Core Values:
Gratitude in all we learn and do
Kindness to everyone we meet and ourselves
Respect for all regardless of political, religious, philosophical, or artistic views, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, age, sexual orientation, economic status, or education level
Continuous learning for personal and professional growth

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Focal Art:
Visual art, music, movement, literature

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Vision:
Develop Art Unites into a leading San Diego products and services High Performance Organization (HPO)

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Mission:
1) Community. Unite San Diego artists with fellow artists and arts supporters via Art Unites gatherings and social pages
2) Opportunities. Provide San Diego artists with meaningful and professionally rewarding opportunities created by Art Unites and Art Unites Community Partners
3) Products and Services. Provide San Diego with diverse services and products created, redesigned or procured by San Diego artists

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Strategy:
Values-based activities and business decisions
Continuous network expansion

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Offerings by Division:
Art Unites Community - Art Unites COVID-19 Resource Guide, Art Unites Presents events, Art Unites Community Partner program
Art Unites Bazaar - Art Unites products
Art Unites Services - Art Unites art consulting, Art Unites Learning workshops and seminars, Art Unites affiliate marketing
Art Unites Gallery - Art Unites online art gallery

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Testimonials:
“The more Art Unites grows, the more hearts can be touched and minds soothed and inspired. You shine with such light and epitomize all that is most hopeful in humanity’s spirit.”
“A beautiful community filled with love and compassion, uniting the San Diego art scene one event at a time!”
“A fantastic community of artists with amazing core values.”
“Art Unites inspired me to use my artistry in supporting important causes.”
“Invaluable information and support - that’s the reason I’m proud to be part of the Art Unites Community!!!”
“Art Unites influenced my vision for my interdisciplinary art event.”

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Social Pages:
facebook.com/artunitesbazaar
instagram.com/artunites
youtube.com/channel/artunites
artunitesbazaar.com

02/12/2026

I’m so excited about this pre-Valentine’s guided song-making + strategy workshop! Join us on Feb 13 from 3:30–5:30 pm at Meraki Spaces in Pacific Beach. 🎶💘

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘆
~ $45

A guided song-making + industry insights & strategies workshop featuring visual artist and SMAKA founder Bastian Colores and me, Blanca Lucia Bergman

I’ll open the workshop with an engaging presentation: “How to Stand Out and Get Gigs as an Emerging Music Artist.”

Topics include:
• Overview of the current San Diego music landscape
• How to stand out in a highly competitive field (solo artists and bands)
• Strategies for securing gigs in the San Diego market
• Bonus: Curated shortlist of top San Diego venues, recording studios, event photographers, and marketing firms

For the majority of our time together, Bastian will guide us in judgment-free song-making using GarageBand. All skill levels welcome. Must have the GarageBand app installed on your device.

Come solo, with a friend, or as a pre-Valentine’s date. 💘

Tickets: Linktree, Eventbrite, The School of Imperfection

✨ Proceeds support MWA’s free mental health programs for San Diego County artists.

12/20/2025

I’ve thought about the popular and enduring question, “What is art?” for a long time. Here’s my conclusion and the working definition that guides my art viewing, appreciation, judging, curation, and even my mental health advocacy:

Art is anything that is designated as such.

Meaning, beauty, reflecting the times, purpose, a story, skill… none of these are required - only designation by a creator or viewer.

For me, broadening the definition of art offers 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 (the privilege of better understanding another human being) and expanded 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 (creating moments of joy, excitement, and connection that may not exist otherwise). It also gives 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 to people who can’t afford supplies, training, or transportation, or have limited mobility.

Broadening the definition of art does not make masterful artwork, as judged by art experts, any less masterful.

If an AI piece, for example, were to induce positive change, introspection, joy, inspiration… why would I negate this?

My life isn’t perfect, and this year has served as a loud reminder, but my broad definition of art has enriched my life and made difficult moments transcendable.

-

📷 Jess Bergman 12.19.25

11/16/2025

Welcome back to ! 🌟

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

Today we’re sharing the final installment of Manuel Ceniceros’ . Enjoy!

Artist Statement:

I never plan anything when I take pictures—I just see what happens. When I’m out shooting, I don’t really see the photograph, I feel it. There’s no deeper meaning in that moment; my first and only reaction is usually, “that’s cool.” I’ll take maybe two or three frames of whatever caught my eye, and then I move on. I don’t think about it again until I see the image later.

When I go through my shots, I move quickly—almost just glancing at them. I mark whatever stands out. Sometimes it’s one or two images; sometimes nothing catches my eye, and that’s fine. The ones that do, I open in Photoshop. That doesn’t mean much yet—I might close it right away or make small adjustments to exposure or contrast, maybe a little dodging and burning. Basically, just what I’d do in a traditional darkroom.

If an image makes it that far, then I’ll stop and really look at it. That’s when I start to think about meaning. I ask myself, Why did you take this picture? Sometimes the answer comes right away. Other times, I just live with that initial “that’s cool” for a while—until the reason reveals itself.

📷 Manuel Ceniceros ()

11/15/2025

Welcome back to ! ⚡️⚡️

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

This week, our Artist is Manuel Ceniceros (). Follow along all week and show some love in the comments! ❤️ 💬

Artist Statement:

This image means a lot to me — it was the first photograph I ever had shown in a gallery. The exhibition, “Light in Darkness,” was put on a little over a year ago by Mental Wellness for Artists (.) The trolley is at the electric railway museum in National City.

11/14/2025

Welcome back to ! 🎉

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

This week, our Artist is Manuel Ceniceros (). Follow along all week and show some love in the comments! ❤️ 💬

Artist Statement:

This image is part of a project I call “Humanity.” I love photographing strangers I meet and always ask before taking their picture. Most people say yes. But I never just take a photo and walk away—I spend time talking with them, learning a little about their lives. This portrait was taken at the Imperial Beach Pier. He told me he’s been riding his bike there almost every day since he was a kid. Back then, he and his friends would hang out at the pier—and sometimes sneak underneath it to smoke a little. Now, as an adult, he still rides there daily for the exercise. He’s especially proud of his bike; it’s just like the one he had growing up, only now he’s found the same model in an adult size.

11/14/2025

Welcome back to ! ⭐️

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

This week, our Artist is Manuel Ceniceros (). Follow along all week and show some love in the comments! ❤️ 💬

Artist Statement:

W. Eugene Smith (), one of the greatest photojournalists of the 20th century, is known for his uncompromising integrity, emotional depth, and extraordinary ability to capture the human condition with raw honesty. There isn’t much on his IG feed, but please look up his work. It’s unforgettable. Smith has been described as “perhaps the single most important American photographer in the development of the editorial photo essay.” His images touch my soul. They pull me into another world, one that’s deeply human and often difficult to put into words. Look at his work, and you’ll understand what I mean.

“A photo is a small voice, at best, but sometimes — just sometimes — one photograph or a group of them can lure our senses into awareness. Much depends upon the viewer; in some, photographs can summon enough emotion to be a catalyst to thought.” - W. Eugene Smith

📷 The walk to Paradise Garden, 1946. Photo by W. Eugene Smith () / The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation

11/14/2025

Welcome back to ! 🎉🎉🎉

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

This week, our Artist is Manuel Ceniceros (). Follow along all week and show some love in the comments! ❤️ 💬

Artist Statement:

W. Eugene Smith (), one of the greatest photojournalists of the 20th century, is known for his uncompromising integrity, emotional depth, and extraordinary ability to capture the human condition with raw honesty. There isn’t much on his IG feed, but please look up his work. It’s unforgettable. Smith has been described as “perhaps the single most important American photographer in the development of the editorial photo essay.” His images touch my soul. They pull me into another world, one that’s deeply human and often difficult to put into words. Look at his work, and you’ll understand what I mean.

“A photo is a small voice, at best, but sometimes — just sometimes — one photograph or a group of them can lure our senses into awareness. Much depends upon the viewer; in some, photographs can summon enough emotion to be a catalyst to thought.” - W. Eugene Smith

📷 W. Eugene Smith ()

11/13/2025

Welcome back to ! 🎉

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

This week, our Artist is Manuel Ceniceros (). Follow along all week and show some love in the comments! ❤️ 💬

Artist Statement: This image brings back so many memories. It’s the clothesline in my parents’ backyard, photographed not long after my mom passed. Growing up, I used to help her hang the laundry and bring it back in. We had a dryer, but she rarely used it—only when it rained. I grew up in that backyard, and later, my kids did too.
Since sharing this image, a few relatives have asked for prints. It reminds them of my mom—their mom, too. Whenever I show it, at least a few people tell me it takes them back to their own childhoods. It’s the simplest things that hold the strongest memories.

11/11/2025

Welcome back to ! 🎉🎉🎉

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

This week, our Artist is Manuel Ceniceros (). Follow along all week and show some love in the comments! ❤️ 💬

Artist Statement: I’ll be honest — sometimes I struggle with depression and self-doubt. During those times, it’s hard to find the motivation to go out and make photographs. Creating simple studio still lifes has become one of the ways I help pull myself out of that fog.

One day, I went to the grocery store for something ordinary and tossed a few flowers into the cart. I photographed them while they were still fresh, but nothing resonated. A few days later, as I was about to throw them out, one wilted flower caught my attention — it spoke to me. I set it aside and shot a few frames on black and white film using only natural light. Out of five frames, only one truly worked. But that one image was enough to lift my spirits and get me back out shooting again.

So, if you ever see a studio still life in my feed, it probably means I was finding my way through one of those low moments.

11/10/2025

Welcome to the first ! 🎉🎉🎉

Each month, one San Diego County artist takes over for a one-week feature, sharing their art, process, and creative world.

This week, our Artist is Manuel Ceniceros (). Follow along all week and show some love in the comments! ❤️ 💬

Artist Statement: Why I’m Going Back to Shooting Film. I’m not returning to film for the “look,” and not because I believe it’s better. My reason is more personal than that. When I shoot film, I feel like I’m truly creating something. It demands my full attention. With only 36 frames on a 35mm roll—or 12 on 120—I can’t just fire away. Each frame asks for intention. I have to slow down, study the light, check the meter, and decide on the shutter speed and aperture that will bring my vision to life.

I develop my film at home. That process gives me control from start to finish. There’s a quiet satisfaction in mixing the chemicals, timing the development, and finally unwinding the film from the reel. That moment—seeing the negatives for the first time—still fills me with the same sense of wonder it did 45 years ago. Some feelings never fade.

People say shooting film is expensive, but is it really? It often takes me a week or more to finish a roll. My film cameras together cost less than my digital camera body. And even if it did cost more, that doesn’t bother me. Art has never been about convenience or affordability. It’s about connection, about feeling something. Creating something meaningful shouldn’t be cheap or easy.

Film is limiting—but that’s part of its beauty. Those constraints force me to be deliberate, to think, to care. As Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Art lives from constraints and dies from freedom.”

11/07/2025

🎨📚🎭🎶 Introducing !

Each month, Art Unites invites one exceptional artist from any discipline to take over the page for one week, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their art, process, and creative world.

The series celebrates the diversity of expression across and gives the Art Unites community a meaningful way to discover and .

Stay tuned for upcoming takeovers and follow along to witness the brilliance shaping our creative landscape.

(📷 )

10/18/2025

🕊️🖤

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San Diego, CA

Telephone

+16195400310

Website

http://www.artunitesbazaar.com/

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