Treasure Island’s ‘Doves/Bombs’ Art Show Tackles Conflict and Community

Out looking for meaning and answers? Doves / Bombs might be the art show for you, but you’ll have to trek to Treasure Island for it.

Many of us struggle to sit with opposing truths. Our therapists warn us about black and white thinking; our spiritual leaders advise us to be careful about moral absolutism; our political scene pushes us to think in either / or, diametrically opposed, clearcut terms. The truth is that being a human today is very messy.

Doves/Bombs is a multimedia exhibition that examines the tension between peace and conflict. It’s set to open on Saturday, November 16th from 5pm to 8pm at Pelota Gallery on Treasure Island. The curators have embraced the contradictory location and incorporated it into a powerful message about conflict and conflicting ideals.

Background on Treasure Island

Treasure Island is man-made. Back in the 1930s, the world’s economy was in the dumps and the Bay Area knew just the remedy: Build a giant, geometric artificial island and hold an expo to tout the unity of the Pacific. How could they possibly know that only five years later the West Coast would plunge into a brutal war? 

Originally intended to be a pleasure airport after the exhibition ended, Treasure Island turned overnight into a Naval station. In fact, the Navy avoided The City’s complicated acquisition process and simply seized the land. Not only was the island used for traditional warfare; it also became a place where the government experimented on homosexual people to ‘cure’ them.

Treasure Island’s Future

Now, Treasure Island is in a new phase, one that includes padel and pickleball,  wine tasting, and now groundbreaking, daring art exhibitions.

Doves / Bombs is curated by Chad Abbley, Matt Gonzalez, and Shrey Purohit and features artists including  Tom Colcord, Anna Firth, Chad Hasegawa, Liam Herb, Milo Moyer-Battick, Tricia Rainwater, Shrey Purohit, Lauren Szabo, and Miriam Sweeney. 

“‘Doves/Bombs’ reflects on how spaces and societies can embody both conflict and community,” says curator Shrey Purohit. “Mounting this exhibition at Pelota Gallery, a new arts venue on Treasure Island, connects contemporary artistic dialogue with the island’s complex history.”

How to Get There

Getting to Treasure Island can be intimidating. The show encourages people to carpool. While BART doesn’t have a stop on the island itself, there’s a 24 hour bus called the 25 Treasure Island that connects San Francisco. There’s also pretty affordable ferry service at $10 roundtrip; just don’t miss the ferry back. You cannot currently bike from SF directly to Treasure Island, but you can do it from Oakland. The sun sets before 5pm, so keep that in mind as you plan your route. 

Event Details:

– Opening Reception: Saturday, November 16, 2024, 5-9 PM

– Location: Pelota Gallery at Bay Padel, 29 Avenue G, Treasure Island, San Francisco

– Rideshare, Public transportation and carpooling encouraged