Arts and CultureNews

NEW YEAR, MORE BAY AREA ART EVENTS

The Bay's best newsletter for underground events & news

Did you make a resolution to be more creative in 2019?  Start the year off right by attending an arts-related event that you wouldn’t normally go to, even if that event happens to be a party!  From DIY taxidermy to shibari (yes, the bondage practice), the Bay Area continues to be a little, um, weird at times, and this month is full of events where you can embrace that.

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE PEOPLE
& The Others, a POC photo collective, is opening a photo show at Classic Cars West during Oakland’s First Fridays.  The styles and formats of the photos are as diverse as the collective’s members are, but still feel unified, and there will be local DJs spinning throughout the night!
OPENING RECEPTION: AND THE OTHERS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 6 – 10PM
CLASSIC CARS WEST, 411 26TH ST
INFO

 

ONE NIGHT STAND STORY
Watch as 7 brave souls take the stage at Make-Out Room to share stories about their most intimate and embarrassing one-night stands.  The evening promises regrettable romps and questionable choices— maybe you’ll end the night with a new story of your own.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: A ONE NIGHT STAND STORYTELLING SERIES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 7 – 10PM
MAKE-OUT ROOM, 3225 22ND ST
INFO & TICKETS

 

CLASSICAL AUDIO ART
The San Francisco Tape Music Festival is America’s only festival devoted to the performance of audio works projected in a three-dimensional space.  While we’re also unclear on what exactly that might entail, the 24-speaker sound system should be a unique musical experience for any listener.
SAN FRANCISCO TAPE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019
JANUARY 4 – 6
16TH ST VICTORIA THEATER, 2961 16TH ST
INFO & TICKETS

 

SEEING SIGNS
Learn more about the vintage neon lights hanging above the streets of Chinatown on a tour led by a local author and a photographer.  This tour will include insightful pieces of city history about some of San Francisco’s oldest signs.
SF NEON WALKING TOUR
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 4 – 5:30PM
CHINATOWN YMCA, 855 SACRAMENTO ST
INFO

 

FUTURE LANDSCAPES
Join interdisciplinary artist Tosha Stimage for a collage and weaving workshop where participants can address difficult social problems with art.  This workshop focuses on imagining the reconstruction of historical, social, and geographic inequity.
DECOLONIZE THE IMAGINATION: FUTURE LANDSCAPES WITH TOSHA STIMAGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 6 – 8PM
BERKELEY ART MUSEUM & PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE
INFO & TICKETS

 

A DOG SHOW
Hashimoto Contemporary is presenting Dog Park, the debut solo exhibition for artist Katie Kimmel.  Kimmel’s ceramic vases and sculptures are full of friendly energy, and include adorable dogs of all shapes and sizes inspired by those she has encountered in real life.
OPENING CEREMONY: DOG PARK
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 6 – 9PM
HASHIMOTO CONTEMPORARY, 804 SUTTER ST
INFO

 

SNOWING WITH A CHANCE OF ICE CREAM
Catch the last day of “PINKMAS”, a pink winter wonderland, at the infamous Museum of Ice Cream.  Instead of the standard sprinkles, explore Instagram-worthy rooms decorated to look like a gingerbread house or a unicorn disco.
PINKMAS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM, 1 GRANT AVE
INFO & TICKETS

 

#MEMORIESOFTHEUNIVESE
The Growlery (and the Pacific Felt Factory) presents a night of screenings and a talk with Alysse Stepanian.  Stephanian combines art and poetry about both real and fictional events in her 3D animations and hybrid collaborative performances.
OPENING RECEPTION: ALYSSE STEPHANIAN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 7 – 9PM
PACIFIC FELT FACTORY ARTS COMPLEX, 2830 20TH ST
INFO & TICKETS

 

A+ WORKS AT SFAI
Works by three artists who have taught at the San Francisco Art Institute— Susan Hauptman, Irene Pijoan, and Richard Sheehan— will be shown at this exhibition.  The late 80’s and early 90’s are some of the most important periods at of the art scene at SFAI, and these artists’ influences upon the school can be felt across the ages.
OPENING RECEPTION: A+
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 5 – 7PM
MAIN GALLERY AT SFAI FORT MASON CAMPUS
2 MARINA BOULEVARD, PIER 2
INFO & TICKETS

 

MUNIART2019
The Poetry Society of America has collaborated with the city’s transportation agency to present Muni Art 2019, where 100 Muni buses will be transformed into galleries.  Some of the poets and artists included the collaboration will speak about their creative process.
MUNI ART 2019 POETRY READING & PANEL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 6 – 7:30PM
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY (MAIN LIBRARY)
100 LARKIN ST
INFO

 

CHICKS WITH GUNS
Chicks with Guns is a compelling cultural portrait of female firearm owners in America by photographer Lindsay McCrum.  The portraits are powerful, unexpected, and relevant to today’s conversations on gun violence.
OPENING RECEPTION: CHICKS WITH GUNS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 5:30 – 8PM
MODERNISM, 724 ELLIS ST
INFO

 

MAPPING MATCHBOOKS
The Tenderloin Museum opens the latest addition to its Ephemera Exhibition with the new Matchbook Map Exhibit.  Visitors will be able to use a searchable, interactive touchscreen map that connects vintage matchbooks to their present-day sites.
OPENING RECEPTION: THE MATCHBOOK MAP EXHIBIT
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 6 – 9PM
TENDERLOIN MUSEUM, 383 EDDY ST
INFO

 

GOOD TASTE
Take part in an intimate community dinner and discussion examining the impact of cultural and identity misrepresentation on food, art, clothing, and health.  As part of the multidisciplinary exhibition Reorienting the Imaginaries, this event aims to inspire subversion from current social norms.
RECLAIMING IDENTITY: A DINNER AND CONVERSATION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 6 – 9PM
SOMARTS CULTURAL CENTER, 834 BRANNAN ST
INFO & TICKETS

 

SCENES OF SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco-based artist Emily Fromm opens a solo exhibition filled her colorful illustrations of urban scenes.  This is also an exclusive opportunity to see out some art that will be in the new Terminal of the San Francisco International Airport— several of Fromm’s paintings were commissioned for this project.
OPENING RECEPTION: NO VACANCY
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 5 – 11:30PM
111 MINNA GALLERY
INFO

 

THE ART OF PARTYING
Support the de Youngsters initiatives at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco by purchasing a ticket to its annual party.  This Art Party will have a selection of activities to spark your curiosity for both the young and the old.
ART PARTY
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 6 – 9PM
DE YOUNG MUSEUM
INFO & TICKETS

 

ANDY GOLDSWORTHY TOUR
Did you know that the Presidio has the largest collection of Andy Goldsworthy art on public view in North America?  Check out the four installations by the environmentalist artist on this three-mile guided hike.
GOLDSWORTHY IN THE PRESIDIO – GUIDED ART HIKE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 10:30AM – 1PM
PRESIDIO OFFICERS’ CLUB, 50 MORAGA AVE
INFO & TICKETS

 

MAD FOR MOCHI
Celebrate the Japanese New Year by partaking in the tradition of mochi pounding.  The event will also include music and dancing, and be a colorful way to kick off the year.
OMOCHITSUKI! MOCHI POUNDING CELEBRATION
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 12AM – 1PM
ASIAN ART MUSEUM
INFO & TICKETS

 

EXOTIFY ELSEWHERE
This group show at SWIM Gallery is a powerful response to the historic fetishization on femme bodies and cultures not rooted in whiteness.  Instead of being oppressed or excluded, Exotify Elsewhere is a space where artists challenge traditional exclusion and oppression while working towards more justice.
OPENING RECEPTION: EXOTIFY ELSEWHERE II
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 6 – 8PM
SWIM GALLERY, 509 ELLIS ST
INFO

 

DIY TAXIDERMY
This one-day comprehensive class will teach you the complete process to create a taxidermy ermine, a short-tailed type of weasel.  All materials— including the cute creature, RIP— will be provided in the class.
DIY TAXIDERMY ERMINE WORKSHOP
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 10AM – 6PM
PAXTON GATE, 824 VALENCIA ST
INFO & TICKETS

 

NAPA LIGHTED ART FESTIVAL
Light projection artists Karen Monid and Ross Ashton will discuss the piece they’ve created for the facade of the Goodman Library.  Their large-scale light piece is part of the Napa Lighted Art Festival, which transforms the city streets into a gallery.
MEET & GREET WITH PROJECTION ARTISTS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 3 – 4PM
ARCHER HOTEL NAPA (HOTEL LOBBY)
1230 1ST ST
INFO & TICKETS

 

CALLING ALL BURNERS
Did you know that you can experience the lifestyle of the Burning Man community all year-round at Fly Ranch, a 3,800 acre piece of land in Northern Nevada?  Fly Ranch will be used as a cultural incubator for the community to turn their ideas into more longer-term projects.
CAN WE LIVE OFF THE LAND?
MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 6 – 7:30PM
3092 16TH ST
INFO & TICKETS

 

SHHHIBARI DRAWING
Develop your “voyeuristic observation skills” at this shibari life drawing event.  There will be a tied live model (both nude and clothed) holding a quick pose for artists to sketch throughout the night.
CAN WE LIVE OFF THE LAND?
MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 7 – 10PM
PRIVATE VENUE IN SOMA
INFO & TICKETS

 

TEDXSOMA
Listen to new ideas from visionaries who are shaping the future of masculinity, religion, mindfulness in policing, language, facts vs. truth and more.  The lineup of speakers will also include fnnch, the artist who painted those honey bears around SOMA.
TEDXSOMA 2019
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 5:30 – 9:30PM
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
INFO & TICKETS

 

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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