SOMArts Cultural Center

Moments #2: The Machines Next Time (Bobcat Ballet Act II)

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:19:00 -0700

The Right of Return (Bobcat Ballet Act II) - a decade later
by Jessica Tully
A duet featuring Audio Angel and Jessica Tully
Costumes by Tracy Ginsberg
Bobcats by Bobcat West

Performance: Saturday March 20, 2010, 11am, with a reception and public exhibition to follow until 1pm.
Tickets: $12 through eventbrite
Exhibition: March 20 - 26, 2010
Tuesdays - Fridays 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
SOMArts Main Gallery and Garden

In 2000, local artist Jessica Dylan Tully developed the performance piece The Right of Return (Bobcat Ballet) as a site-specific ballet with synchronized Bobcat Skid-steer Loaders, choreographed by resident children at the North Beach Housing Development prior to its demolition.

Ten years later Tully, along with longtime collaborator Audio Angel, will perform the next phase of the project as a duet in two Bobcat Loaders inspired by the stories of the former and current residents of the now rebuilt and renamed North Beach Place. Tully, along with SOMArts Cultural Center is inviting those involved with the project to reunite and explore how they were affected by displacement, demolition and their right to return to the newly rebuilt, reorganized and renamed North Beach Place.

This event is made possible in part to the generosity of Bobcat West.

Donations Graciously Accepted and Listed in Program. Donations 250 and above thanked with two tickets to the event and a limited edition print by Jessica Tully. Please follow link to donate.

Looking Back: 100 Performances Pics

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:44:11 -0800

Check out the SOMArts flickr page for images from 100 Performances for the Hole - Take Two, the opening event for the March exhibition “MOMENTS (Bringing Back the Now),” a special month of live art in SOMArts Cultural Center’s Main Gallery. The opening event featured a series of two-minute performances created for and around an old mechanics pit in the floor of the gallery.

You can view performances and ephemera from the unforgettable evening in the SOMArts Main Gallery. Or, join our flickr group and add your own images to the mix.

Exhibition: March 6 - March 20, 2010, Tuesdays - Fridays 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM and Saturdays 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Photos: Nadim Sabella. Created with flickr slideshow.

Zambra Fusion Bellydance: Coming on Saturdays

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:26:57 -0800

WHEN: Saturdays, April 10, May 8 and June 12; 11:3-1:30
WHAT: Work That Skirt! : Zambra Fusion Workshop Series For Bellydancers
WHERE: SOMArts Dance Studio, 934 Brannan St (use Main Entrance down long driveway)

Experience the earthy strength and fiery passion of Zambra (a Spanish/Arabic fusion) and
explore ways to integrate this styling and attitude into your bellydance repertoire.
Steps, turns combos and skirt work will be learned. The workshop warm will focus on strong
posture and expressive movement in hands and arms. For your comfort please wear a 10 yard
skirt (or more!). Improver level dancers and up are welcome. Visit www.rashanitribal.com
for more information.

Art SF for Haiti this Friday

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:54:34 -0800

In response to the devastating earth quake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, the San Francisco surfing and arts community presents an art exhibition and benefit to support the rebuilding efforts in Haiti. All profits generated from this event will go to the efforts of Architecture for Humanity in Haiti.

The show highlights an eclectic mix of more than fifty well established and emerging artists, along with photographers, movie makers and craftspeople. Many of the artists are creating pieces especially for this event, and that work will be given its own special space to be viewed. The evening will showcase a silent auction with original art pieces by numerous talented artists by the likes of Barry McGee, Brett Amory, Chris Burkard, Charlie Callahan, Adam Caldwell, Harvey Redding, John McCambridge, Elizabeth Pepin, Akira Beard, Truong Tran, Bill Osgood, Ho-Jun Lee, me, Audi, Dave Johnson, Scott Lucas, Ian Ernzer, Alecs Petro, Erin Kunkel, Matt Proehl, Katja, Lisa Coris, Art G, Rob Brodman, and many many more.

The San Francisco Community Art Show will take place on Friday March 12th from 5pm to 11pm at SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street in San Francisco. Organized by Paul Ferraris and curated by Robert Caririllo with Christopher Jernberg and Paul Ferraris.

What: Art SF for Haiti Community Art Show

When: Fri, March 12, 5pm – 11pm

Where: SOMArts Cultural Center’s Bay Gallery

Action Speaks! #3: Fight the Budget Cuts Follow Up

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0800

When: Tuesday, March 16, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Where: SOMArts Main Gallery, 934 Brannan St, San Francisco

On February 1, the San Francisco Arts Commission approved a $104,000 budget cut for SOMArts in 2010-11. Last month we held a Community Support Board Meeting to discuss advocacy and to develop strategies to deal with the potential budget cuts for SOMArts. Action Speaks! #3 will be a follow-up meeting to see where we stand on developing those ideas. Members of the arts and cultural communities of San Francisco are invited to speak out and share their ideas for community outreach, fundraising and advocacy.

The success of ALL our ideas hinges on community support, fun, collaboration and creativity, so if you rent our space, show your work or volunteer at SOMArts—please join us and tell us what would excite you, what you think would be successful, and how you can help.

Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to debbok@somarts.org.

For more information, call (415) 863-1414.

MOMENTS is Coming—Be There!

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:05:58 -0800

Please join us on Saturday March 6 for 100 Performances for the Hole - Take Two, the opening event for the March exhibition “MOMENTS (Bringing Back the Now),” a special month of live art in SOMArts Cultural Center’s Main Gallery. The opening event features 100 two-minute performances created for and around an old mechanics pit in the floor of the gallery. We will have plenty of food and drink so stay for the night. The event is free, but a sliding scale entrance donation (between $2 and $20) is encouraged. Donations will help support the Commons Fund for curatorial residencies at SOMArts. No one is turned way for lack of funds. Please RSVP to this facebook event page here—96 RSVPs and counting!

Lastly, SOMArts is proud to be partnering with Bay Area Video Coalition (BVAC) to broadcast this event to their cable access channels 76 and 29. This unique event and may never be recreated, so don’t miss out!

What: 100 Performances for the Hole - Take Two
When: March 6 from 5:58 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: SOMArts Cultural Center Main Gallery

Art Works!

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:04:00 -0800

To quote the new slogan of the NEA, “art works!” Co-curator Hannah Regev caught some of the SOMArts staff, artists and volunteers in action as they installed the beautiful works in “Prints Byte: the cutting edge of printmaking.” Check out their images and photos from other recent installations here.

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys getting to know what goes on behind-the-scenes, join SOMArts Curator and Gallery Director Justin Hoover and Hannah Regev for a curatorial walkthrough this Saturday, February 27 at 3:00pm. Admission is free.

Reminder: Politics of Printmaking Discussion This Saturday

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:50:09 -0800

Prints Byte: the cutting edge of printmaking has been receiving great reviews and support, but it is not over yet. Upcoming programming includes a panel discussion on the history and politics of printmaking as well as a closing celebration with a curatorial walkthrough and reception.

The Prints Byte panel discussion will occur Saturday February 20, 3:00-4:30 in the SOMArts Main Gallery and features participating artist Art Hazelwood, artist, curator and political activist; Robert Flynn Johnson, curator emeritus, Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; and Steve Lopez, gallery director of ArtZone 461 Gallery. The talk will be moderated by Don Farnsworth owner and director of Magnolia Press with opening remarks by SOMArts executive director Lex Leifheit, SOMArts curator and gallery director Justin Hoover, and Prints Byte Co-Curator Hanna Regev. Admission is free, donations are welcome.

Photographs by Nadim Sabella. Slideshow created with flickr slideshow.

We Need Your Help!

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:48:00 -0800

Dear Friends of SOMArts,

On February 1, the San Francisco Arts Commission approved a budget that includes a significant cut to all six cultural centers, including SOMArts. If the budget is passed as-is, SOMArts could see a reduction of as much as $104,000 in 2010-11. This is equal to more than 10% of our operating budget and will significantly impact the accessibility of our space and services to the community.

The cut for SOMArts is more than the 10% maximum decrease outlined in Section 515.01 of Article 7 in the City’s Business and Tax Regulations Code. We are asking District Supervisor Chris Daly to uphold the existing legislation by restricting the reduction of funding to SOMArts to 10% ($58,734.00) or less, or to add back the difference in funding.

Your support would be invaluable in helping SOMArts maintain its existing programs and services. You can do this by calling, writing, or emailing your legislators no later than Friday, February 19th. Let them know how a reduction in services and programming could affect you if the budget cut of more than 10% passes.

A cut of $104,000 is equal to the following:

· 89% of the entire cost of the Main Gallery Exhibitions & Programs this year, which showed over 1,041 Bay Area visual artists in 2009

· Half of the total grant support that allows SOMArts to provide below-market events space and production assistance

· 66% of the direct expenses for Technical Services

· More than the entire cost of the Day of the Dead Festival, Classes, and Fiscal Sponsorship programs combined.

SOMArts has been committed to providing small arts organizations, artist collectives and underserved communities a flexible home to achieve their vision of creative success for 30 years. This cut comes at a time when artists need affordable work space, publicity, and technical support more than ever. Already this year, more than 40 Bay Area nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects have come to SOMArts for support.

Click here for a copy of this message to forward to members of your community, and for a list of key legislators.

Thank you for your continued support.

Let Me Take You To Funkytown: Roller Disco

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:05:00 -0800

What: Roller Disco
When: Friday, February 26, 2010, 8:00pm to Midnight
Where: SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St (@8th)

Come join D. Miles, San Francisco’s “GodFather of Skating” and the Black Rock Rollers at SOMArts as we bring back the effort to get a roller rink in San Francisco. This is the first of many roller disco events we will be presenting as we prepare to raise funds for the Black Rock Roller Disco at Burning Man 2010. Come on out and get your skate groove on with the Black Rock Roller Disco and have a funky good time with us!!!

Admission: $7 in Disco Costume; $10 if no costume; $5 for C.O.R.A. members. $5 for skate rental. Both blade or roller skates are available. For more info, email Sk8GodFather@cora.org

NY Gypsy All-Stars at SOMArts Feb 20

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:00:00 -0800

What: New York Gypsy All-Stars & Husnu Senlendirici
When: Saturday, February 20, 9pm
Where: SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St
How much: $30 online, $35 at the door

This February, the Yore Folk Dance Ensemble is bringing Husnu Senlendirici to SOMArts for a night of music and dancing. The Village Voice says, “Husnu Senlendirici, 33, is arguably the best of Turkey’s younger generation of clarinetists, of which Turkey boasts many utterly awesome specimens. He specializes in the folk music of the Aegean region in which he was raised, but went on to become a master of Balkan, Romany, and progressive jazz and folk styles as well.” For more information about the event and ensemble, visit our calendar.

i live here:SF

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:33:22 -0800

SOMArts Executive Director Lex Leifheit is the most recent face of i live here:SF, an online photography project, conceived of by artist Julie Michelle, inviting San Francisco residents to enjoy and participate in sharing many facets of life in this city with each other and the world at large.

Lex is photographed here in the Prints Byte exhibition, on display in the Main Gallery at SOMArts through February 27.

If you or someone you know lives in San Francisco and would like to participate, visit the i live here:SF website for more information.

Action Speaks! #2: Fight the Budget Cuts! Community Feedback Event for Fundraising & Advocacy

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:46:39 -0800

When: Tuesday, February 16 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Where: SOMArts Main Gallery, 934 Brannan St, San Francisco

On February 1, the San Francisco Arts Commission approved a $104,000 budget cut for SOMArts in 2010-11. Help us fight the cuts by coming together to share ideas for advocacy and plan a fundraiser. SOMArts’s Executive Director Lex Leifheit will present some ideas that have been suggested by the staff, including a benefit concert, printmaking marathon, and online auction.

The success of ALL our ideas hinges on community support, fun, collaboration and creativity, so if you rent our space, show your work or volunteer at SOMArts—please join us and tell us what would excite you, what you think would be successful, and how you can help.

A light dinner will be served, so please RSVP in advance to debbok@somarts.org.

Opening tonight: Prints Byte

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:55:52 -0800

Please join us tonight for the opening of “Prints Byte: the cutting edge of printmaking.” We are trying something new and hosting a brief curator & artist talk at 6:30pm. Come early if you would like to hear more about the ideas and artists who shaped this show, or come between 7pm and 9pm to celebrate and enjoy music by DJ Juan Luna-Avin. We hear that The Great Tortilla Conspiracy will be making an appearance!

In addition to more than 30 artists, several organizations and collectives will be participating in this exhibition, including Chrysalis Print Studio, Creativity Explored and Mission Grafica, among others. “Prints Byte” explores many of the ways that the field of printmaking is redefining itself with new technologies, new processes and new direction.

For more information about events related to Prints Byte, click here.

Design Your Valentine at SOMArts's Printmaking Workshops

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:27:00 -0800

As part of the upcoming exhibition “Prints Byte,” SOMArts is offering two very special Valentine’s themed printmaking workshops. Tuition is $50 and includes materials.

To register, please read the registration and attendance policy, and fill out a registration form.

Valentine’s Day Printmaking Fest for Grown-ups
Saturday, February 13, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
For Valentine’s day, dip a naked toe into the fabulously fun art of printmaking! Linocut transforms the simplest of images into bold, dramatic prints that can be transferred to paper or fabric. In this workshop you’ll carve a simple design and then use your linocut plate to print colorful and unique rainbow-roll Valentines. The hand-printing techniques you’ll learn will enable you to continue printmaking at home! Beginners welcome. Instructor: Katie Gilmartin

Valentine’s Day Printmaking Fest for Kids (age 8-13)
Saturday, February 13, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Come explore the serendipitous world of monoprints using your fingers, brushes, rags, rollers, leaves, fabrics, stencils — and dazzling color! At the end of your printing time, you will take home cards and images for Valentines. Monoprints are unique images, so no two prints are ever exactly alike. Bring with you a few leaves or flowers, doilies, or other thin, flat items you are willing to ink up in your printing experiments! Instructor: Sarah Jelley

Reminder: Curatorial Residency Q&A Today

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:04:15 -0800

Last-minute reminder! SOMArts is hosting a virtual opportunity to talk directly to The Commons program organizers and ask any questions you might have about the application process, today at 2pm. Chat online, in real time, with SOMArts’s Executive Director Lex Leifheit, and Curator & Gallery Director Justin Hoover. To access the online chat room, paste this url into your browser: http://www.chatzy.com/491156529827.

Submit! Deadline for 100 Performances for the Hole is This Week

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:34:35 -0800

Image credit: Ariel Goldberg, 100 Performances from the Hole #1—Garage Biennale)

With 100 Performances for the Hole—Take Two, San Francisco’s premier experimental performance art exhibition returns, and we want YOU to submit! Beginning at 5:58pm on March 6, SOMArts will commence a progression of one hundred two-minute performances, concluding when all pieces are completed. This tour de force of the gentle expresses the zeitgeist of Bay Area experimental culture and beyond.

To submit a work please fill out the online submission form. Deadline for submissions is January 31.

For examples of past two-minute performances, presented at The Garage, click here.

Reminder: Figure Drawing & Curatorial Walkthrough Today

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:38:56 -0800

The sun is shining! Looking for an excuse to get out of the house … or a reason to flex those creative muscles? Look no further.

What: Saturday Morning Figure Drawing at SOMArts
Where: Brannan St entrance, upstairs classroom
When: every Saturday from 10:30am to 1:30pm, except holidays
What else: admission is only $8, moderator and live model provided. Drop-ins are always welcome.

What: Curatorial Walkthrough and Closing Reception for Invisible Homes
When: Saturday, January 23, 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Where: Main Gallery
What else: Visit the gallery for one last time before Invisible Homes comes down. This is your chance to barrage the curator with your comments and questions.

Reminder: Visual Arts & Community Conversation Tonight At SOMArts

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:39:00 -0800

Have you ever wondered how the city’s six cultural centers select visual artists and serve the community as a whole, or individually? Tonight, you can learn more about the role of the cultural centers in building strong communities through the arts, and have your questions answered during “Definitions,” an open forum with visual arts representatives from each of San Francisco’s six cultural centers - African American Art & Culture Complex, Bayview Opera House, Queer Cultural Center, Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center and Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, as well as SOMArts. This is the first event of the Community Leadership Roundtable Series, a new program designed to foster dialogue between the public and the cultural centers about leadership and cultural communities.

What: Definitions, an open forum moderated by SOMArts Curator & Gallery Director Justin Hoover
When: 7:00pm, Thursday, January 21, 2010
Where: SOMArts Main Gallery, 934 Brannan St
Free Admission

Queer Cultural Center Seeks Submissions for Chronotopia

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:08:26 -0800

In keeping with the theme of this year’s National Queer Arts Festival, “Making History,” the Queer Cultural Center has announced the call for entries for its visual arts exhibition Chronotopia, which will take place in June 2010 at SOMArts.

Chronotopia will present work that engages queer history as its catalyst. This exhibition explores the past, present, and future temporalities of queer people and records histories in new and challenging ways.

For more information, or to download an entry form, visit www.queerculturalcenter.org.