Encinitas San Dieguito Art Guild

The San Dieguito Art Guild was organized in 1965 by a group of twelve enthusiastic artists who lived in the San Dieguito area. Their purpose was to promote greater understanding and appreciation of the fine arts in the area. After 4 locations in Del Mar the guild moved to Leucadia on Highway 101 in 1975. It has been in Encinitas ever since. In 1994 the San Dieguito Art Guild merged with the Offtrack Gallery (originally Offtrack was one word) which was, at that time, located in the Pannikin Coffee Shop in the old yellow train station on Highway 101. From there the guild moved a couple more times and is currently located at 2nd and D Streets, downtown Encinitas. A second, temporary, location in the Lumberyard Shopping Center was opened this year.

GALLERY 1,  500 Second Street, Encinitas
HOURS  Daily 11am-5pm, open until 8pm on Friday and Saturday

GALLERY 2, Lumberyard Shopping Center, Hi-Way 101, Encinitas
HOURS M-Th 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm and Sat/Sun 9am-8pm

Membership currently is a little over 200 artists, who work in oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, mixed media, photography, jewelry, pottery, glass and much more. Membership: Single Adult $65, Family (two relatives per household) $75, Youth age 15 to 18 $30

To visit both galleries allow about an hour at least.

Once a month they have a reception with wine and hors d’œuvres. They alternate between the galleries. Times and dates can be found on the website:  www.OffTrackGallery.com.

Once a year they host our very popular,  2-day Mother’s Day Weekend Artists’ Studio and Garden Tour.

The artwork in both galleries is changed at least in part every month. There is always something new to see. They are all local artists and many of them paint scenes of local north county. Nothing in either gallery is mass produced or imported. Whether you are looking for a large painting to hang over your fireplace or a small piece to tuck into your powder room — chances are you will find it in one of the Off Track Galleries.

The Guild and the galleries are run entirely by member / volunteers. They have a board of directors including president, secretary, treasurer, webmistress, publicity, newsletter, parliamentarian and so on.

The Off Track Galleries are not your typical snooty, high-priced galleries. Because they are an all volunteer work force and the guild is non-profit, you will find the prices to be very affordable.