Excellent Art Parties, Paint Battles & Performance Artists in SF
By Kirsten Chen and Alex Mak
If you want to mingle with performance artists at the top of their game, visit dozens of SF painters in their studios, or join a full-on Berlin style dance party with an international arts collective, then you’re in luck this week. November is jam-packed with really creative, immersive, and hands-on events around the bay (and when we say ‘immersive’ we’re not selling some ‘virtual reality’ or ‘AI’ bullshit, we’re talking about actual elbow rubbing with the actual artists, creators, producers, movers and shakers in our city). The next couple weeks are all about rubbing elbows with painters and performers, with photographers and protester programmers, with ravers and sculptures, with…there is something for every medium or palette…so jump in SF, the water’s just right.
Chill With Opera Singers
Have a drink with a bunch of professional Opera Singers at Piano Fight this Thursday. San Francisco Opera’s BRAVO! Club is hosting a get-together with the Adler Fellows, which means a Q&A with the world’s next operatic stars, there’ll be a panel discussion hosted by SF writers (including our own Alex Mak, who will be asking very important questions like, ‘what did you sing in the shower this morning?’ and ‘can the press bring their cocktails on stage?’). If you’re interested in learning a bit about that opera life, what it’s like being an SF performance artist, or you’re just into a good cocktail and conversation with people who enjoy art, then come on down. Everyone gets a drink ticket with admission.
Meet the Adlers—Unmasked Edition
Thu, November 1, 2018
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
PianoFight
$20 TICKETS includes one drink ticket
ART IN PROTEST
The Human Rights Foundation invites you to the opening reception for a show by North Korean defector Song Byeok, who’s also known as the “Andy Warhol of North Korea.” His work places an absurd, pop culture spin on the propaganda of North Korea. There’s also an interactive art installation “the Flash Drives for Freedom campaign” that asks people to donate old USB drives, which will be repurposed for empowering North Koreans with information on the outside world.
SONG BYEOK “LONGING FOR FREEDOM”
THURSDAY, NOV 1, 6 – 8PM
MINNESOTA STREET PROJECT
1275 MINNESOTA ST
A NEW MEDIA MIX ‘N’ MINGLE
Welcome the 2019 American Arts Incubator exchange artists at a happy hour at Gray Area’s Grand Theater! The artists in this cohort will be traveling around the world to engage with local communities and address social and environmental challenges. By using digital and new media techniques, these artists will be forming new ideas for a more resilient future.
AMERICAN ARTS INCUBATOR: NEW MEDIA ARTIST MIXER
THURSDAY, NOV 1, 6 – 8PM
GRAY AREA ART + TECHNOLOGY
2665 MISSION ST
Credit- Baltimore Sun
PROTEST ART FROM THE WOMEN’S MARCH
See the touring exhibition “Still They Persist: Protest Art of the 2017 Women’s Marches” at Pro Arts Gallery in Oakland. The Oakland version of this exhibition has been planned with local organizations and artists to turn the gallery into a safe place for sharing thoughts and ideas. Whie art can express our thoughts in a time of conflict, the exhibition will also include collaborative events to actively nurture viable change.
OPENING RECEPTION: STILL THEY PERSIST
FRIDAY, NOV 2, 6 – 9PM
PRO ARTS, 150 FRANK H OGAWA PLZ
WIN AT THE WATTIS
CCA’s the Wattis Institute wants you to come celebrate its 20th anniversary at the Jackpot! party. The artspace will be transformed into a game show set with games like the Price is Right, Family Feud, and other classics where you can win cash prizes. With artists doing the “commercial breaks” an an emcee named Arty McDeal, Jackpot! is your best move for a fun Friday night.
JACKPOT! A 20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
FRIDAY, NOV 2, 7 – 11PM
THE WATTIS INSTITUTE, 350 KANSAS ST
WESTSIDE SF OPEN STUDIOS
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. 2018 marks the 43rnd Anniversary of SF Open Studios! 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.
WEEKEND 4
NOVEMBER 3-4 WESTSIDE/FT. MASON
Fort Mason, Presidio, Richmond, Sunset, West Portal, Ocean View
FREE
Click here to view Google Maps of Artist Studios for Weekend 4
General info
MORE POWER TO THE YOUTH
All Bay Area youth under 24 are invited to get more politically activate by participating at YBCA’s first annual Calling Youth to Power. The event will address some of the most pressing issues of our time in a series of talks and town hall conversations. Local youth leaders and student activists will be leading the event and create opportunities for youth to connect with their peers and communities.
CALLING YOUTH TO POWER
SATURDAY, NOV 3, 1 – 4PM
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
CYBER LANDSCAPES
Oakland’s Naming Gallery is opening a group show that exists in physical and virtual space– six artists have created a three-dimensional virtual reality painting structure. The exhibiting artists include local video artist Lanéya Billingsley aka Billi0cean and VR artist Judit Navratil. Visitors will also be able to explore a media artifact archive of the gallery.
INTENTIONS BASED ON A FUTURE WHICH HAS ALREADY HAPPENED
SATURDAY, NOV 3, 6 – 9PM
NAMING GALLERY
335 15TH ST, OAKLAND
SF/BERLIN ART PARTY – KEPLER 452B
An artist driven, 10-hour dance marathon that promises to “send you to planet Kepler 452b.” The Berlin Kepler crew with Art Director Ma Li are making their San Francisco debut at the Great Northern. An art happening combining, performance, installation, fashion, and music in collaboration with SF artists to construct the most energetic dance floor in San Francisco, “that generates positive energy and vibration allowing like-minded individuals and communities to resonate and connect.”
Music: Solar Henri Falk Nihiti (live) Transpose (live) [Max Gardner + Muon] Até Justin Anastasi
If you’re an artist living and working in the bay area, send your website to info@kepler452b.org for a special artist price!
SUNDAY, NOV 4 2PM – 1130PM
THE GREAT NORTHERN
HER ROOM, HER WORLD
Take advantage of free admission (to most art institutions) on the First Tuesdays of the month and visit Portia Munson’s solo show at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek. Munson has experimented with the color pink for nearly twenty-five years– this show features an installation made from thousands of discarded pink objects Her discarded objects connects to environmental, material, and cultural themes from a feminist perspective.
TUESDAY, NOV 6, 12 – 5PM
BEDFORD GALLERY
1601 CIVIC DR., WALNUT CREEK
A 21ST CENTURY SALON
The Midway Gallery has collaborated with interactive artist Marpi on a new series of “Binary Salons” where artists at the intersection of art and technology share their ideas. The Binary Salons are for artists, by artists, and this session focuses on public engagement. Some of the featured artists include a VR and XR (extended reality) developer and an autonomous spray painting robot.
BINARY SALON 05
TUESDAY, NOV 6, 6 – 9PM
THE MIDWAY GALLERY & ARTIST STUDIOS
900 MARIN ST
Get it on with artspan
Get it “On” with ArtSpan for a night of FUNdraising for the new Onondaga Art Center at San Francisco’s iconic Make-Out Room as we warm up the Mission for the final weekend of SF Open Studios. Enjoy the irresistibly danceable tunes of California band, Burnside, with live painting by rockstar artist Rachel Znerold throughout the evening. The party will continue with steamy DJ beats from Tyrone Cornelius! Come dance, drink, and donate to keep art alive and thriving in San Francisco. Let’s Get it On!
Wed, Nov 7, 2018, 7:30 PM
Make-Out Room
Tickets
CURIOUS CONTRAPTIONS
Catch the opening of the new temporary exhibition Curious Contraptions over drinks at the Exploratorium’s After Dark event. The exhibition features whimsical machines both new and old, with intricate arrangements of mechanical parts. When cranked, most of these automata perform a myth or a fairy tale!
AFTER DARK: CURIOUS CONTRAPTIONS
THURSDAY, NOV 8, 6 – 10PM
EXPLORATORIUM, PIER 15
A CONTEMPORARY HOUSE
The 500 Capp Street Foundation opens a new show with Mike Kelley, an influential contemporary artist from LA, called “Pushing and pulling, pulling and pushing” on November 3rd. His works will be installed throughout the former home (now museum) of late Bay Area artist David Ireland and alongside several of Ireland’s works. Curator Matthew Higgs will be sharing how Kelley’s art has impacted him both professionally and personally.
❤ MIKE KELLEY – A TALK BY MATTHEW HIGGS
THURSDAY, NOV 8, 7PM
500 CAPP STREET FOUNDATION
Storied: San Francisco w/ Broke-Ass Stuart !
Storied: San Francisco presents Two Storied Nights—a day and night of spoken-word art and music on Saturday. The paintings and photographs from the night before will still hang, and there will be music by DJ Lightnin Jeff G as well as beer and wine.
Community and expression sum up what Storied: San Francisco is all about. On Saturday, we’re extending our celebration of both with some of our favorite spoken-word artists and musicians in the city and Bay Area. You’ll still be able to browse our gallery of art from 11 photographers and 5 painters. Purchase their work to support them, the community, and us. Enjoy beer and wine at the bar, emcee Broke-Ass Stuart in the afternoon, and DJ Lightnin’ Jeff’s set. Saturday ($20 advance, $25 at the door) spoken-word artists: Broke-Ass Stuart (emcee) Yeva Johnson Ed Wolf Mason J.
The Smoking Nun Gallery
1114 Folsom St. (between Seventh and Eighth Streets), San Francisco
Friday, Nov. 9, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets
Saturday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. (w/ Stuart) Tickets
DESIGN A BETTER FUTURE
The San Francisco chapter of AIGA will be hosting this event to discuss how we can build a culture of design that fosters more inclusivity. When it comes to creating a space for marginalized people, companies and media tend to struggle. The event’s topics include confronting implicit bias, changing hiring processes, and investing in projects and companies by people of color.
COLOR MATTERS
FRIDAY, NOV 9, 6 – 8:30PM
AIGA SAN FRANCISCO, 130 SUTTER ST
HYSTERICAL ORGANS
If you missed the opening for the new installation at Classic Cars West, come meet artists Aubrey Learner and Mitsu Okubo at this event. The show features creepy “unnatural histories” and other twisted manifestations in the form of paintings paintings, prints, and other 2D works. New zines and prints from the artists will be available at this event.
ARTISTS’ RECEPTION: HYSTERICAL ORGANS
SATURDAY, NOV 10, 6 – 10PM
CLASSIC CARS WEST, 411 26TH ST.
EMERGING ARTISTS
The San Francisco Art Institute will be transformed into an all-campus art sale by current undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty at this special event. Be amongst the first to see and buy works from over 100 emerging artists while exploring their studios. SFAI has also planned related exhibitions, screenings, and other events, so it’s worth making the trip to its campus.
SFAI CONCENTRATE: STUDENT ART SALE + OPEN STUDIOS
NOV 10 – 11, 11AM – 5PM
SAN FRANCISCO ART INSTITUTE/ FORT MASON
PIER 2, SAN FRANCISCO
BENEATH THE SEA
swissnex works to connect education, research, and innovation. It currently has an exhibition from artist and diver Marie Griesmar with sculptures inspired by the marine architecture of coral reefs. As scientists learn more about the future of coral reefs, how can artists raise more awareness about these endangered environments? This event will answer this question from a variety of perspectives, including a Stanford professor and artist.
SCICOMM STUDIO 014: CORAL CONSERVATION
WEDNESDAY, NOV 14, 6:30 – 9PM
SWISSNEX, PIER 17, SUITE 800
MAY THE BEST PAINTER WIN
Watch the best artists in San Francisco compete for a spot at the Art Battle National Championship happening later this month. Painters have 20 minutes to create the best work in front of an audience before the winner is determined by an audience vote. Painters will create the best work they can in 20 minutes while the audience watches. This live competitive painting will go by in a flash, so make sure you don’t miss it.
ART BATTLE SAN FRANCISCO CITY FINALS
WEDNESDAY, NOV 14, 7 – 10PM
THE GREAT NORTHERN, 119 UTAH
TECH AND ART EXPERIMENTS
If you missed teamLab’s 2016 exhibition, you’re in luck because the interdisciplinary artist collective is bringing more of their digital and interactive works to Pace Palo Alto. teamLab’s practice combines art, technology, and design to create immersive environments that change in real time. This exhibition features flowers that are eternally blooming and wilting, so no two pictures will ever look the same.
TEAM LAB: CONTINUOUS LIFE AND DEATH AT THE NOW OF ETERNITY
THURSDAY, NOV 15
PACE PALO ALTO, 300 EL CAMINO REAL
DANCE MUSIC UNDERGROUND
Oakland’s Club Chai and SHADE are bringing South African DJ and producer DJ Lag for an exciting set at the Lab. Both of these creative groups are not only run by women of color but are also pioneering a multidisciplinary and shape-shifting practice for creatives in the Bay Area.
CLUB CHAI AND SHADE PRESENT DJ LAG
THURSDAY, NOV 15, 9PM – 2AM
THE LAB, 2948 16TH ST
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