By Luis Monteagudo Jr.
San Diego is known for its beaches, fish tacos and great year-round weather, but it may also be known as the pop culture capitol of the world thanks to its hosting Comic-Con every year.
Now, another link in San Diego’s pop culture chain has been added with the opening of the San Diego Comic Art Gallery, a small space located at NTC at Liberty Station, the former military base in Point Loma that has evolved into a hip, bustling residential and commercial development.
The gallery was opened last week by IDW Publishing, one of the leading comic book and graphic novel companies in the U.S., which recently moved its headquarters to Liberty Station.
IDW CEO and Publisher Ted Adams, who helped found the company in 1999, said he fell in love with the Liberty Station campus and the move made sense for business and artistic reasons.
“We’ve been looking to make a move for a while,” said Adams “We’ve been expanding rapidly, and simply have run out of room. At the same time, we’ve been looking for a space that more accurately reflects who we are as a company. When we started talking with the NTC, it became evident immediately that this would be a perfect fit. And with the gallery, we’re going to be able to show the community, and the world, just who IDW is. This move is the perfect next step in the evolution of our company.”
The inaugural exhibit of the gallery highlights the work of Kevin Eastman, the co-creator of the popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Eastman’s original drawings, including his first color sketch of the turtles in 1987, are displayed throughout the small gallery. There’s also a recreation of Eastman’s artist studio.
Eastman, a San Diego resident, was clearly exited to see his life’s work in the gallery at the exhibit opening last week.
“We assumed no one would see one single copy and here we are 30 years later,” he said.
Added Adams: “We both think comic art is true art.”
The gallery will be a permanent home to showcase comics, and includes a small retail shop. It will also feature events, author and artist appearances, art installations and celebrations.
The gallery is located at Barracks 3 in Liberty Station, at 2765 Truxtun Rd. For more information, call IDW at 858-270-1315.
Luis Monteagudo Jr. is a freelance writer and pop culture enthusiast who has attended Comic-Con for more than 20 years. He was written for the San Diego Union-Tribune, USA Today and numerous other publications.
