Story and Photos by Cailin Acosta
SAN DIEGO – The saying “one man’s (or in this case, woman’s) trash is another person’s treasure” takes on a whole different meaning. Local San Carlos artist, Roni Breite held an open house at her private residence on Sunday, Sept. 29 for friends and family to view her creations and purchase them if they so desired. Every room in the house, even the bathrooms, had items on display on the walls.
Breite has been creating for six years and showed me the room she uses as her studio that used to be her daughter’s room who has since moved out. Being an avid crafter myself, I asked how she finds the time to create. Her friends commented that every Monday is her art day. This day is fully dedicated to her art and exploration of what she can create and put together.
Breite showed me a few paint cans that she found with paint on them. She added buttons and bottle caps to create faces or whatever she envisions as she is creating. Breite told me that the materials “tell” her what to make and she creates them.
The artist went to Moze Guitars in La Mesa and obtained old pieces of guitars and strings and created with them. Breite said those were not for sale.
Breite does not “dumpster dive” as that appears to be a popular trend on documentary shows. She occasionally finds items at garage sales to supplement what she finds on her own. Friends will call her before they get rid of items to see if she would be interested in them. She found an interesting piece of copper on a La Jolla bike trail and had to return and get it.
Earlier this year, Breite was hiking at Mission Trails and found a burnt fence post from the 2003 Cedar Fire that caused much damage to the area. She found a ranger and asked if she could have it. It is in her front yard and titled a renewal piece since rebuilding and life have happened since then.
She has five palm fronds, or palm spears as we called them by her front door. In each of the spears, she has copper wires and other media she likes to use and add inside. One of the spears has a necklace that used to belong to her stepmother.
Breite’s first show was at the Artisans Showcase at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in April 2024. The September showing was the first time she hosted an exhibit at her home and judging by the attendance, it was very successful as she sold 11 pieces. She had two pieces that were juried at the Ashton Gallery in North Park but were not sold. Breite said she will possibly be an exhibitor again at the 2nd Annual Artisan Fair at Tifereth Israel Synagogue which occur on March 30, 2025.
Click here to contact Roni Breite of Breite Ideas and Art Creations.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.