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Art Ignite: A Female Artist Showcase & Party to Save SF’s Box Shop

Updated: Jun 20, 2024 10:20
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“Art Ignite” is an artist showcase on June 22nd that brings together 15 incredible female artists for a party unlike any other. You’ll get to dance along to some great DJs, meet the artists, hear about their projects, and see some of the artwork in person. All this and more to benefit a vibrant studio space in SF, The Box Shop which is losing their space in 2025 and looking for a forever home.

SF’s Box Shop – photo from The Box Shop

More About Event: Art Ignite

I originally learned about this event through one of the artists who was telling me that mosts all of the creators coming are large-scale artists who have brought their work to Burning Man. The process to bring something to Burning Man is pretty extensive. It’s a juried submission process and then you work closely with Burning Man’s art department once you’re there to make sure your structure is placed in the right spot and also structurally sound and able to withstand any interactivity and the natural elements of The Playa.

At this event, we can expect to see some incredible art from the phenomenally talented featured artists. Flaming Lotus Girls always have very intricate and impressive large-scale art. For Art Ignite, you will get to see and interact with a massive 12-foot heart sculpture called “Pulse” which pulses at the same rate as your own heart.

Art Ignite at The Box Shop Event Poster

About The Event From The Box Shop Team:

“The Box Shop has a diverse community of artists with more than half of our community being women. The arts in general and especially the industrial arts are predominantly male-dominated. In the midst of this, The Box Shop and the Bay Area have dozens of talented and inspiring female artists creating awe-inspiring works of art. We are putting on this event to highlight, celebrate, and hear from these artists through panels and a showcase where people can explore artworks and talk to the artists. The event is both a fundraiser for The Box Shop and an opportunity for people to directly support the artists by buying artworks and donating to their crowdfunding campaigns.”

Flaming Lotus Girls: Pulse – photo from The Box Shop

Full List of Artists

I’m a mega fan girl for many of these incredible female artists that you’ll see at Art Ignite.  Some of these artists are currently working on their pieces which will debut at Burning Man this year. Where possible, I’ve included links to their fundraising sites, as many of these projects are self-funded.

Flaming Lotus Girls will showcase “Pulse”, @flaminglotusgirls
Caroline Ghosn – Temple of Together (Burning Man 2024 Temple), @templeoftogether
Cjay Roughgarden – Naga & the Captainess (Burning Man Honorarium 2024), @naga_and_the_captainess
Dana Albany who will share her beautiful piece “Release” (Burning Man Honorarium 2024),@danaalbany
Anna Gribovsky – “Apex of Azure” (Burning Man Honorarium 2024), @apexofazure – see photo below of this piece
Sam Cooler with Art for Open Spaces – Light Curve (Burning Man Honorarium 2024), @samfabricates
Julia Jerome sharing “The Reckoning” (Burning Man Honorarium 2024), @juliajeromeartist
Melissa (Syn) Barron – Tip of the Iceberg (Burning Man 2023), @tip.ofthe_iceberg
Even Howard @evenhoward @houseinthemoon
Eveline Darroch @evelinedarroch
Haideen Anderson @haideen415
Jessica Hobbs @jesshobbs
Jessika Wrecca Welz @wrecca_living_ancient
Jenny Mount @jennymountdesign
Karen Cusolito @karencusolito
Tracy Swedlow @tracyswedlow

Tickets and Full Details about “Art Ignite” can be found here

Anna Gribovsky’s “Apex of Azure” – photo from The Box Shop

About The Box Shop

It supports a diverse community of artists, particularly in the industrial arts, and has been a significant part of the Bay Area’s creative scene for over 20 years. The Box Shop provides workspace, resources, and a collaborative environment for artists – many of which are industrial artists who create large-scale artwork. Unfortunately, The Box Shop’s current lease is ending March 2025. They’ve been working for a while now to find a permanent home for the entire Box Shop community and have been tirelessly raising money to help support this vision. So far, they have raised 3/4th of their ultimate through donations and grants. The profits from “Art Ignite” on the 22nd will contribute to this vision of a forever home.

More About The Status of The Box Shop From Their Team:

“We are working on securing a permanent home, so we can continue supporting Bay Area artists and nurturing the creative community we have built over the last 20 years. We have already raised over $9 million through private donations, government grants, and SBA loans, but we still need to raise $3 million to close the remaining gap. This will allow us to purchase a property and build out a new forever home. Help us Save The Box Shop by donating here and attending our Art Ignite showcase party fundraiser.”

SF’s Box Shop – photo from The Box Shop

Where to Find The Box Shop Online and In-Person:

SF’s Box Shop – photo from The Box Shop

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Katy Atchison

Katy Atchison

Katy has lived in The Bay Area since the age of 3. While other kids were attending summer camp & soccer practice, she was raised selling wares at craft shows with her working artist parents and spent vacations in a small 1920s Montana log cabin. This has all given her a unique perspective on the ever-changing texture of San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area. Currently a blend of all that is The Bay Area - she's a web designer at a tech-company, artist and DIY teacher.