The Awesome Art Fairs & Parties this April!

stARTup Art Fair is a super fun hotel party all weekend long, where every room is full of a different artist’s original artwork

San Francisco will be hit with not one, but two big art fairs at the end of this month, so be sure to check them out!  End this month by learning about a new creative medium, whether it be dance, drag, or shibori dye!

STARTUP ART FAIR SF 2019
Check out this unique contemporary art experience where over 60 independent artists take over every room at the 3 story Hotel Del Sol in SF.  Each room is its own special art experience!  (Yeah, it’s pretty awesome).  SF artist Brian Singer is taking over the courtyard of the Hotel Del Sol with a large-scale installation called Privacy Policy Privacy Policy exploring the way we trade privacy for convenience with how our personal data is being sold or used by tech companies asking, “What is the true cost of “free” products?”  Also, expect good food, drinks, music and hella local artists too.

STARTUP ART FAIR SF 2019
APRIL 26 – 28
HOTEL DEL SOL
INFO & TICKETS

OAKLAND ART LIBRARY
The brand spankin’ new Oakland Art Library is a unique art experience that collects art from local artists and lends them out to you.  You’ll be able to check out ART, like checking out books at a library, and the “artists” are from all over the bay area and beyond, founder and curator Luke Fraser has art ranging from Vogue Magazine to San Quentin Prison.  Also expect drinks, music and most likely a fun afterparty.

OAKLAND ART LIBRARY
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 7 – 9PM
357 12TH ST, OAKLAND
INFO & TICKETS  

ART AND BOWLING
Come hang out with ArtSpan artists with free snacks and bowling at Mission Bowling Club.  You’ll be able to celebrate the works of the artists, Selby Cole, Tachina Rudman-Young, Sofia Shu, & Steven Stodor.

ARTIST RECEPTION AT MISSION BOWLING
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 6 – 8PM
MISSION BOWLING CLUB
INFO & TICKETS  

AFTER DARK: CANNABIS
The social, judicial, economic, and environmental impacts of cannabis legalization will be explored at this After Dark night at the Exploratorium.  There will be live plant displays and demonstrations of the federally controlled substance.  And if you want to checkout a great big guide on all the fun 420 events this Saturday we got you covered right here.

AFTER DARK: CANNABIS
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 6 – 10PM
EXPLORATORIUM
INFO & TICKETS  

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
This screening of Tony Labat’s video and performance works from 1977-1986 will concentrate on what he created as an undergraduate student at SFAI.  There will also be a Q&A with the artist after the screening.

TONY LABAT: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL VIEW INTO PERFORMANCE/ VIDEO
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 5 – 7PM
SCULLY GRAY BOY GALLERY, SFAI
INFO & TICKETS  

OUTDOOR DRAG SHOW
This tidal drag show straddles both sides of sunset and celebrates the full moon with performances from Jouissance, Miss Alabama Slamma, Mona Roll, and Syzygy.  There will also be light food and tea and looks served throughout the event.

GOLDEN HOUR: LOW TIDE
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 7:18PM
WAVE ORGAN
INFO & TICKETS  

OPEN HOUSE & STUDIOS
Check out the art by Graduate students at the San Francisco Art Institute at this open house and open studios.  See the next generation of artists’ work before they get famous!

GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE + OPEN STUDIOS
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 11AM – 2PM
SAN FRANCISCO ART INSTITUTE
INFO & TICKETS  

NOT-SO BASIC BRANDING
Led by Girl Gang Craft founder Phoebe Sherman, this two hour workshop will guide you through the process of building your own brand.  You’ll learn the tools needed to craft a good brand story, elevate your offerings, reach more clientele, and boost your income.

BASIC: A BRANDING WORKSHOP BY GIRL GANG CRAFT
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1 – 3PM
MAKER’S LOFT OAKLAND
INFO & TICKETS  

SHIBORI WORKSHOP
Join artist Jenny Fong of Modern Shibori as she leads a hands-on shibori (bind-resist dyeing) workshop.  You will be able to dye pieces of fabric to take home using organic indigo, fructose, and pickling lime.

SHIBORI WORKSHOP FOR FAMILIES WITH JENNY FONG
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 11:30AM – 1:30PM
ASIAN ART MUSEUM
INFO & TICKETS

MUSIC IN THE KITCHEN
Cellist Erica Miller and Violist Hanna Brock will share a new composition for improvised strings at Nook Gallery (yes, it’s an actual kitchen nook!) in Oakland.  The music will be simultaneously read by the two musicians at a table, then they will engage in a duet.

TABLE MUSIC
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 3 – 5PM
NOOK GALLERY
INFO

DRAWERS DRAWING CLUB
Drawers is a group of people drawing together, with no experience necessary.  2727 California welcomes drawers of all levels (and ages) to come together in their sunny Berkeley space.

DRAWERS DRAWING CLUB
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 3:30 – 5:30PM
2727 CALIFORNIA STREET
INFO

2019 SF ART BOOK FAIR
The deadline to be an exhibitor at one of San Francisco’s biggest festivals dedicated to artists’ publications has been extended!  There are over 100 independent publishers, antiquarian dealers, artists, collectors, and enthusiasts who exhibit, so don’t be afraid to apply. 

APPLICATIONS DUE FOR 2019 SF ART BOOK FAIR
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 10PM
1275 MINNESOTA ST
INFO

WHILE I’M WAITING/ EXHIBIT OPENING
While I’m Waiting is a group exhibition from the artist collective THINK MAKE TANK about the notion of waiting.  There are 13 artists who interpret the exhibit’s theme through eviction, Visa, death, and Amazon boxes.

OPENING RECEPTION: WHILE I’M WAITING
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 6:30 – 9PM
CODE AND CANVAS
INFO

HUSH-HUSH PRESENTS DREAM BODIES
HUSH-HUSH presents its first festival Dream Bodies.  There will be 4 days of parties, performances, screenings, workshops, and readings for local and faraway babes.  Kick off the festival by catching some DJ sets and drag at the Stud.

DREAM BODIES FESTIVAL
APRIL 25 – 28
INFO

ART MARKET SF: CONTEMPORARY & MODERN ART FAIR
Discover and acquire new art at the eighth annual Art Market San Francisco, the Bay’s leading contemporary and modern art fair.  There will be over 75 galleries exhibiting at the fair, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.

ART MARKET SF: CONTEMPORARY & MODERN ART FAIR
APRIL 25 – 28
FORT MASON CENTER
INFO & TICKETS  

NEON SPEAKS
The Neon Speaks Festival and Symposium brings together people who celebrate vintage neon signs and wish to preserve them as community landmarks.  Designers, architects, historians, preservationists, and other interested people are invited to share their how-to knowledge and discuss case studies.

NEON SPEAKS FESTIVAL AND SYMPOSIUM
APRIL 26 – 28
THE TENDERLOIN MUSEUM
INFO & TICKETS  

WHITNEY WALLS
Written by a Cal student Eleanor Hammond, Walls is a new music that follows the story of sculptor and Whitney Museum’s founder Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.  Her story of liberation as an artist will be told through 21 original songs and an impressive 12-person cast.

WALLS: A NEW MUSICAL
APRIL 26 – 28
LA VAL’S SUBTERRANEAN THEATER, BERKELEY
INFO & TICKETS  

PLAY ME: BRAD VALENTINE
Catch LA-based Brad Valentine at this live performance of “Id”, a new audio-visual experience that explores how consciousness breaks and rebuilds.  The project uses archived footage taken over the last two years by the artist. 

PLAY ME: BRAD VALENTINE
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 7 – 9PM
SWIM GALLERY, 509 ELLIS
INFO 

TASK OF REMEMBRANCE
Join the Chinese Culture Center at the opening reception for the latest iteration of its Present Tense Series with a group art exhibition.  The show reflects on the complexity, gravity, and responsibility of remembering.

OPENING RECEPTION: PRESENT TENSE 2019: TASK OF REMEMBRANCE
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2 – 4PM
CHINESE CULTURE CENTER
INFO & TICKETS  

http://www.2blocksofart.org/

2 Blocks of Art

May 4th 1-5pm
6th Street between Market & Howard
FREE

New in 2019, the art walk is happening on a weekend afternoon to allow for more daylight to view the feature of this year’s event: 6th Street murals! As always, this free event brings over 75 artists to 20 locations within two blocks of 6th Street (between Market and Howard). The art walk will feature a range of exhibits and live performances in galleries, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and various other storefronts — even a laundromat.

Also, don’t miss the live painting from SUGABUS Media on Stevenson Street, as they transform a large, blank canvas into a work of art on the theme of “people in motion,” with the aim to highlight the beauty and devotion of the City and neighbors; and Sketchpad Gallery’s “Sketch the Block” — the wildly successful, 2 Blocks of Art exclusive one-night sketch-con, hosting artists in the fields of visual concept, comic books and video games, which is back for its third year.

#2BlocksofArt