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Great, Artsy Events in the Bay

The Bay's best newsletter for underground events & news

We sprint to the end of San Francisco summer with a lots of great, artsy stuff to do.  Arguably the busiest time of year for events in the bay, and once we hit November the temperature and the party schedule drop like a baritone. so get out there while ya can!

Astro botanical’s Celestial Gardens Autumn Lights #AutumnLightsOakland

ILLUMINATE LAKE MERRITT

Immerse yourself in over 50 larger-than-life art and lighting installations around the Gardens at Lake Merritt.  A variety of Bay Area artist have created works that range from small clay works to large, Burning Man pieces for the Garden’s annual fundraiser.  This unique Oakland tradition will also include dancers, live music, locally-produced food, and more.

7TH ANNUAL AUTUMN LIGHTS FESTIVAL

OCT 18 – 20, 6 -11PM

GARDENS AT LAKE MERRITT

666 BELLEVUE AVENUE

TICKETS & INFO


FORM IN THE REALM OF SAN FRANCISCO

Catch the opening for the first monographic institutional showing of San Francisco-based artist Léonie Guyer.  Her paintings, drawings, and books include abstract shapes and other minimalist sensibilities, but the artist has also painted directly onto the walls of the site.  The show has been curated by CCA Wattis’ director as part of the Institutions 20th anniversary programming.

LÉONIE GUYER: FORM IN THE REALM OF

THURSDAY, OCT 18, 6:30 – 8:30PM

WATTIS INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS

360 KANSAS ST

INFO


A REFLECTION ON PERSONAL SPACE

the luggage store presents an exhibition by Ferris Plock and Kelly Tunstall that attempts to nurture and protect their personal space and internal processes.  Plock is known for highly detailed works that are inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printing while Tunstall paints large-eyed female figures in a variety of mediums.  They also create works under their collective KeFe that blends the pair’s artistics visions to explore artistic and everyday processes.

FERRIS PLOCK & KELLY TUNSTALL, PRESERVATION

FRIDAY, OCT 19, 6 – 8PM

THE LUGGAGE STORE, 1007 MARKET ST

RSVP & INFO


Conservatory of Flowers, photo by Golden Gate Park.org

BOTANICALS AND BREWS

Social Kitchen and Brewery and Temescal Brewing set up shop monthly at our Victorian greenhouse, telling the tall tales of botanical brewing and proffering their delicious elixirs. The evening commences in the Conservatory as guests meander verdant, humid pathways with a craft brew in hand. As day turns to night, the Conservatory of Flowers becomes a blank canvas for Photosynthesis, a series of artistic illuminations on the Conservatory’s iconic façade. Enjoy luminosity, great music, curated food trucks and beer and wine service hosted by We Bring The Bar.

FRIDAY 10/19  6:30PM

SF CONSERVATORY OF FLOWERS

INFO


 

FINNISH-AMERICAN FURNITURE & DESIGN

Ditch the line at Tartine Manufactory and head straight to Heath Ceramics located at the back of the building.  The San Francisco pottery company has collaborated on a limited-edition collection with Artek, a Finnish furniture company.  See their Tea Trolley with custom glazed tiles and other one of a kind pieces over drinks and bites at the opening reception.  

ARTEK + HEATH OPENING RECEPTION

FRIDAY, OCT 19, 6 – 8PM

HEATH CERAMICS, 2900 18TH ST

RSVP & INFO

A MOONWALK-ING DRAMA

Third Eye Moonwalk is a drama that incorporates audio-visual installations, music, meditation, and performance. Watch a discipline of the Way of the Moonwalk embark on a dangerous spiritual quest in this live performance co-presented by Catharine Clark Gallery and Minnesota Street Project.    

JON BERNSON’S THIRD EYE MOONWALK: LIVE PERFORMANCE

FRIDAY, OCT 19, 8 – 9:30PM

MINNESOTA STREET PROJECT, 1275 MINNESOTA ST

TICKETS & INFO


OPEN STUDIOS WEEKEND AT HUNTERS POINTSHIP YARD

SF Open Studios, the oldest and largest open studios program in the country, is an annual, month-long art event in October and November that showcases over 800 emerging and established San Francisco artists in their studios. This fall 2018 will mark the 43rd anniversary of SF Open Studios, running for five weekends with a fresh neighborhood map and schedule. We invite you to explore our city and find amazing art at every turn. You’ll discover an authentic connection to your art community and artwork in myriad forms, from painting, photography, and printmaking to glass, metal sculpture, and more. The event connects collectors with artists for engaging dialogue and a glimpse into the life of the working artist; SF Open Studios simultaneously helps artists build their mailing list, gain new admirers, and ultimately sustain a living making art.

Open Studios Weekend 2

Saturday Oct 20 at 11 AM – Sunday Oct 21 at 6 PM

Hunters Point Shipyard
Horn Ave, San Francisco, CA

INFO


 

THE ART OF THE MUSHROOM

Hi-Fructose magazine has curated a group show that explores artists’ interpretations of the hallucinogenic mushroom.  Their October issue also features a special 12 page insert featuring work from The Art of the Mushroom. The trippy show will include works by artists like Mark Ryden, Gary Taxali, and Marion Peck; the works are available online for pre-sale before the show opens.

HI-FRUCTOSE PRESENTS: THE ART OF THE MUSHROOM

SATURDAY, OCT 20, 7 – 10PM

THE COMPOUND GALLERY, 1167 65TH ST

INFO


CONTACTING WARHOL FANS

Cantor Arts Center’s latest exhibition shows some never-before-seen photos from Andy Warhol’s contact sheets and other examples of his iconic work.  The selections from a collection of 3,600 contact sheets present a range of Warhol’s photos from 1976 to his death in 1987. Learn about his engagement with gay culture of the 1970’s through a lecture from the show’s co-curator and a spotlight tour of the exhibition

QUEER WARHOL: CURATOR TALK + TOUR

SUNDAY, OCT 21, 1 – 3PM

CANTOR ARTS CENTER AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY

328 LOMINA DRIVE AND MUSEUM WAY

INFO


SKETCH YOUR LIFE

ARCH has invited Australian artist Liz Steel to share the keys skills that aspiring artists need to sketch faster and more accurately.  Steel’s urban sketching practice has changed her life by giving her a way to document the everyday and develop more confidence in her art.  

LIZ STEEL: SKETCHING MY LIFE

MONDAY, OCT 22, 5 – 6PM

ARCH ART SUPPLIES, 10 CAROLINA STREET

RSVP & INFO


Reading & Q+A with M. NourbeSe Philip

CCA’s MFA Writing Program is hosting M. NourbeSe Philip for a performance and conversation about her books and her writing practice.  Philip’s work also includes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction pieces that show a dedication to social justice. She examines themes of gender, race, colonialism and the effects of language in both traditional and experimental forms of writing.      

READING & Q+A WITH M. NOURBESE PHILIP

TUESDAY, OCT 23, 6PM

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 1111 8TH ST

TICKETS & INFO


BODYWARP WORKSHOP

MoAD’s Emerging Artist Program finalist Indira Allegra will lead a group movement workshop and a Q&A at this intimate event.  She explores weaving as performance art and the underlying tensions found in physical spaces. The act of weaving extends to include the crossing of any two forces held under tension, which allows the artist to use social, physical, and emotional tensions as a material.   
MOVEMENT WORKSHOP AND Q&A WITH INDIRA ALLEGRA

WEDNESDAY, OCT 24, 6 – 8PM

MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, 685 MISSION ST

RSVP & INFO


CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPES

Catch the opening reception for photographer Richard Learoyd’s fourth exhibition at Fraenkel Gallery.  The show features photos of new large-scale landscapes taken in Yosemite and Big Sur. Learoyd’s detailed style has pushed the artist to customize his own camera and room-sized camera obscura in his studio.  His one-of-a-kind color prints will also include new series of still life photographs with flowers in various states of decay.          

RICHARD LEAROYD: WORK FROM TWO ROOMS

THURSDAY, OCT 25, 5:30 – 7:30PM

FRAENKEL GALLERY, 49 GEARY

INFO


TECHNOTICHUACAN DJ NIGHT

Celebrate Day of the Dead at a live DJ and video art set that presents the intersectional story of Latinx contemporary life through a living, digital mural.  Over 14 Latinx video artists have created digital visuals that cover topics like border politics, de-colonialism, LGBTQ visibility, pop culture, and other aspects of daily life.  TechnoTihuancan aims to combine narratives of Latinx life to create more visibility for these marginalized communities.

2018 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS: DJ & VIDEO ART REMIX

THURSDAY, OCT 25, 6 – 9PM

SOMARTS CULTURAL CENTER, 934 BRANNAN

TICKETS & INFO


TALK ABOUT SOUTH ASIAN ART

Learn about South Asia art studies with art historians, curators, and artists at this new day-long symposium taking place on UC Berkeley’s campus.  The Institute for South Asia Studies has recently launched a new initiative to encourage more conversation, learning, and sharing about South Asia art.  Panel speakers include professors from Stanford University and CCA, and curators from Asian Art Museum.

BAY AREA CONVERSATIONS: THE ARTS OF SOUTH ASIA AND ITS DIASPORAS

FRIDAY, OCT 26, 10:30AM – 4:30PM

INSTITUTE FOR SOUTH ASIA STUDIES

10 STEPHENS HALL @ UC BERKELEY

INFO


VIDEO MAZE

Experimental music and video duo XUXA SANTAMARIA (artist Sofía Córdova and Matthew Gonzalez Kirkland) have created a video maze using media from the Internet Archive.  Their footage mixes together video games, Second Life, early screensavers, chat rooms, and even Myspace to create an uncanny experience of alienation.

WALL

FRIDAY, OCT 26, 7 – 9PM

INTERNET ARCHIVE, 300 FUNSTON AVE

TICKETS & INFO


SF Open Studios 2018 – Weekend 3 – Southeast

WEEKEND 3: OCTOBER 27 & 28, 11AM-6PM – Dogpatch, Potrero Hill, Bayview, Bernal Heights, Portola, Excelsior, Balboa Park, Visitacion Valley, Outer Mission, Diamond Heights, Glen Park, Islais Creek

SF Open Studios, the oldest and largest open studios program in the country, is an annual, month-long art event in October and November that showcases over 800 emerging and established San Francisco artists in their studios. This fall 2018 will mark the 43rd anniversary of SF Open Studios, running for five weekends with a fresh neighborhood map and schedule. We invite you to explore our city and find amazing art at every turn. You’ll discover an authentic connection to your art community and artwork in myriad forms, from painting, photography, and printmaking to glass, metal sculpture, and more. The event connects collectors with artists for engaging dialogue and a glimpse into the life of the working artist; SF Open Studios simultaneously helps artists build their mailing list, gain new admirers, and ultimately sustain a living making art.

INFO


TRASLACIÓN  

Traslatión is a curatorial collaboration that brings together 7 artists who share the experience of leaving their countries and being in the Bay Area at a point in their lives.  The word traslatión also refers to the long, circular movement of a planet and a tendency to return to its original position. The group show features visual, sound, and performative pieces .    

TRASLACIÓN: FORMA DEL LENGUAJE / LENGUAJE DE LA FORMA

SATURDAY, OCT 27, 6 – 9PM

CRTL+SHFT COLLECTIVE, 1430 34TH ST

INFO


BODY RADICAL SCORES & PERFORMANCES  

The de Young is celebrating Anna Halprin’s career through a selection of performances, film screenings, workshops, and participatory events.  She has pushed the boundaries of dance to address social issues, connect with other people, and foster communities. This performance features a group of multidisciplinary artists who have collaborated on experimental score-based choreography.  There will also be short-form works engaging different spaces of the museum.

HALPRIN PERFORMANCE LAB

SATURDAY, OCT 28, 11AM – 12PM

WILSEY COURT AT THE DE YOUNG MUSEUM

INFO


FUJIWARA FILM NIGHT

Contemporary artist Simon Fujiwara is known for combining performance, film, sculpture and text in his immersive installations.  He examines the influence of contemporary media– marketing, advertising, social media– on the construction of personal identity in his work.  As part of The Lab’s Experience It series, the artist will speak on why he chooses his approach, how he connects with his audiences, and provide a better understanding of the “it” in his art.        

EXPERIENCE IT: SIMON FUJIWARA

MONDAY, OCT 29, 6 – 8PM

THE LAB, 2948 16TH ST

INFO


HOUSE OF RISK

Woodworker and sculptor Sylvie Rosenthal has been creating works that are fantastical and humorous– imagine snakes swallowing teapots or kinetic birds and other animals that blend with architectural spaces.  Looking at her detail-oriented creations wood and steel creations are detail-oriented is a great way to get in the mood of Halloween.

SYLVIE ROSENTHAL: HOUSE OF RISK @ CCA

TUESDAY, OCT 30, 5 – 8PM

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 1111 8TH ST

INFO

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Kirsten Chen

Kirsten Chen

@kirstensly bay area art enthusiast and writer

i'm trying to be as famous as the spice girls