San Fran Voice

Back in August, San Fran Voice had the opportunity to interview Bay Area painter Angela Simione. Her strikingly intense work sends both personal and political messages to her viewers. You can check them out on her art blog, The Shape of Secrets. But art is always much better in person. And Angela’s work can be seen this month at HANG Annex Gallery. The gallery is located on the 2nd floor of 567 Sutter Street. The artist will be there for the opening reception this Thursday, November 1st from 6-8. The exhibition, titled “Relativity” is part of a group show in which you can also see the work of Jose Arenas and Jeanne Lydon.

As you might have noticed, the Thursday of the event is the first Thursday of the month. If you didn’t already know it, that means its the Union Square Art Walk. Galleries are open throughout the area and the neighborhood is filled with creativity and fun. Learn more from this old blog post on the topic.

*The above untitled image is a 10″ x 10″ oil on canvas by Angela Simione.

Technorati Tags: art sanfrancisco painting gallery opening reception

When I first heard about the Mission Indie Mart (through local vintage designer Dena Rose) it was a small affair held in the backyard of the founder’s Mission home. The mart is still in the Mission but it’s grown too large for backyards and has moved into its new space at 12 Galaxies.

What is it? It’s a place where you can go to check out the creative works of all different types of local San Francisco designers. Need new clothes? Fashion designers are on site with their stuff. Thinking that accessories are more along the lines of your immediate needs? Those will be there as well. You’ll also be able to find antiques and crafts and all sorts of off-the-wall stuff. And since Halloween is just days away, you might find that perfect strange thing you needed to compliment your not-yet-complete costume.

Even if you don’t find something to buy, you’ll probably have a good time. There will be local music and BBQ food and that terrific atmosphere that comes about when over forty different designers come together in one space with their creative energy. At least that’s what I’m counting on since I’m going to (fingers crossed) finally make it to this event for the first time since hearing about it months ago.

It happens on Sunday, October 28th at 12 Galaxies which is at Mission and 22nd St. It runs from noon to five. See you there?

Technorati Tags: san francisco, mission, fashion, designer, indie, event

Over the past weekend, I met up with some new friends at a coffee shop on Polk Street that I’d never been to before. (It’s A Grind, located at the intersection of Washington and Polk.) I was early to the meeting and so wandered into some of the stores in the area that I hadn’t been to before. There was a curiosity and crafts shop with a name that escapes me which sold interesting trinkets and old typewriters. I stopped into Mascara Vintage and almost bought a new dress but reminded myself that I’m trying to confine my spending, even at the thrift stores. I enjyoed immersing myself in the oddities on display at stores throughout the area but managed to buy nothing before heading to the coffee shop.

This is an issue I’ve had for awhile and one which I brought up during that coffee shop conversation. I never buy art. I also almost never buy music. And I rarely buy designs from fashion designers, although I have on occasion. I feel odd about this. I feel like the desire to support local artists should extend to my purchases. And I suppose that it would if I bought those things. When I do buy music, it’s CDs at local concerts. When I do pick up art for some reason, it’s in support of local artisans. But it’s rare that I buy those things and I suppose that I feel like my commitment to supporting local art is more in the form of letting others know about it than it is in monetary support.

But I digress … the coffee shop meeting was wonderful. I connected with new friends, talked about a range of different creative topics and found myself surrounded by a large crowd of Sunday coffee drinkers who apparently are more familiar with this coffee shop than I was. When the hanging out session came to a close, a couple of the folks I was with were headed up the street to a nearby art jewelry gallery. I joined them because it was a place I’d never heard of that caught my interest. Once there, it also held my interest.

Velvet da Vinci is a small gallery (although I hesitate to say small since the space is rather large for storefront space on Polk Street) which displays the work of artistic jewelry. There are also metalwork displays which serve to accent the store and highlight the artistic nature of the jewelry. The current exhibit is an earring show … so within the display cases were hung unique earrings that looked like miniature sculptures one could adorn the sides of their heads with. The earrings were made of a range of different materials from plastics to metals to recycled items like the wheels from LEGO cars. I don’t wear much jewelry myself but can definitely see the artistic aspect to accessories and thought that the display highlighted that perfectly. Form and function at its finest …

The gallery is free to enter so maybe if you check it out, you can do better than me and actually support local artists with a purchase!

“Through Her Face” by Sytiva Sheehan

Sytiva Sheehan is a San Francisco Bay Area painter who is currently expanding into working in three-dimensional art. She is motivated by the desire to use art to bring awareness of important issues to others and to hopefully make some change in the world doing what she loves. In this interview with San Fran Voice, we learn about her work and her experiences in the city as well as what advice she has for other emerging artists.

What can you tell us about the basics of your artwork?

I work in acrylic, oil, pen, and 2D. I am currently enjoying learning 3D so that I can add that to the selection of what I do. Most of my work starts from a painting or storyboard. The paintings are based on characters to reflect life as it is (or life as you see it). For example, I personally love the elderly so I have taken one character and put her in many situations, even some that are troublesome to look at. This allows me to explore many different facets of life through one character. At the same time, it lets me send certain messages. For example, there is a MUNI (San Francisco bus) painting that reveals young people sitting in the seats reserved for seniors. In this particular painting, the elderly woman is hanging on to a pole. The idea behind this painting is that people who see this painting would not want to behave in this manner, making elderly people stand up while they are seated. Hopefully the image will stick in their minds and they’ll remember to stand the next time that they are on MUNI.

That sounds like a neat project. What projects are you working on now?

I am currently working on several projects. There are six new paintings which will probably be done in the middle of 2008. Also, I am currently a team member on another project for an animated short in 3D studio max. In the near future, I will be collaborating with San Francisco writer Tony Dushane on another animated short. Before Christmas, I will hang two 5-foot paintings at the Nervous Dog Coffee shop in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood. This is a special project for me because each painting took more than two years to complete.

What longer-term art goals do you have for yourself?

It would be my dream come true to find work as a full time storyboard artist. I’d continue painting for the rest of my life and hope that it would make a difference in the lives of others.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am inspired by artists, writers and musicians who all work together to create something larger than themselves. I enjoy attending art events with these people, particular those events which are culturally guided and politically aware. I’m also affected by tragedy in various forms, such as the problems of the elderly and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. In a way, these things inspire me also. I like activist art which works to change the world.

On working, creating and living in San Francisco …

San Francisco is choreographed by art, music and design. Art is absolutely everywhere. Portraits, Statements, and Stories. Things left out on the street too long will be dragged home by some artist who will use it to create something beautiful out of it. Recycled creativity, just like Stacy Alexander (previously interviewed by San Fran Voice), is prevalent. Each artist here has a focus but in the end they all work together to create something larger than just their own body of work.

As far as going to see art … I guess you can say my favorite galleries are the homes of other artists in the process. I love the mess, the tools, and the smell of wet paint. I love the art of planning, brainstorming, storyboarding seeing things in the raw, for a writer, I love the back-story, character development and commentaries. I do like to go to the art events in the mission because they are culturally guided and politically aware. I like art, which keeps the history of a culture, and I also like activist art, which changes the world.

What advice do you have for emerging artists?

I believe that people should paint what they love or paint what moves them, good or bad. If you like abstract - Paint it! If you like realism - Paint it! Don’t paint what is in style just because it is in style. Too much of the same is almost invisible. Keep art true to yourself. I have gotten rejected for a show because I paint what I like. This is when someone said “That’s Okay! Start a rejection folder; it’s healthy!”

As most of you already know, I’m working out the logistics of possibly putting together a sampler CD of music from the city. I received a lot of really great ideas and assistance about the CD from those of you who know more about making music in this city (and in general) than what I know. I’ve compiled that information and will be working on a business and marketing plan to further develop the CD. (If you’re going to do creative things, you should do them right!)

Although plans will be in the works, further developments will be unlikely to be announced before the beginning of 2008. The end of the year always goes so quickly, starting with San Francisco’s favorite holiday (Halloween) and continuing through all of the other holidays. Combined with the fact that I’m going to be taking the first non-working vacation since … week, since I bought my first laptop … for just a few days in December and am also going to be wrapping up my third book before the end of the year … things are just going to be too crazy to commit to this project before then.

But it gets first priority in 2008 and you’ll definitely be kept updated on the status of the project. At that time, I’ll work in close contact with the people who gave me such terrific starting points and we’ll see what we can make happen! Thanks for your interest in seeing this project go forward!

Technorati Tags: San Francisco, music, bands, event

As many of my regular readers already know, I spent the last few weeks back in my hometown. It’s always interesting going back home … for all of the reasons that going home as a grown-up means, of course … but also because it gives you such a refreshed perspective on your new home when you return. The first event that I went to after coming back to San Francisco was yesterday’s Capsule Design Festival in Hayes Valley. It was one of several events I’d considered for the weekend, including Lit Crawl and the Noe Valley Farmer’s Market and Festival. As usual, there were a number of different things to do here, things that involved creativity and art and that indescribable energy for life which I think is particularly unique to this area.

Did I love the Design Festival? Not particularly. It was crowded, which is great for the designers but difficult for actually seeing anything in order to buy it. But it was a good day. The sun was out. People dressed in unique fashions were milling around. I finally got to see some of the Hayes boutiques that I kept meaning to go see and hadn’t. And I was reminded of how interesting the world of fashion is here in San Francisco. We’re not known as any sort of fashion capital, but we have our own thriving fashion scene here with local designers and people who are interested in supporting local designers. I think, more than most places, fashion and art merge into one here. People walking down the street ARE art in this city.

There’s a fundraiser event over at 111 Minna tomorrow night. I normally don’t recommend fundraiser events because they’re expensive and let’s face it, they’re often just a little on the dull side. But Beats4Boobs, which raises money for breast cancer awareness, is one of those events that hip and cool and filled with fun even though it’s about the fundraising. It’s got art and fashion, food and music and it’s only $20 to get in which isn’t bad for 7 hours of action (from 7 p.m. - 2 a.m.) And Minna’s a cool spot so you can check that out in the process if you’ve never been there.

Do you love supporting local artists? Does the idea of finding a great outfit from a local designer at an outdoor market in the Mission sound like the best idea for a weekend plan that you’ve heard in awhile? Can you even think of a reason that you wouldn’t want to check out this DIY event that happens every month?

It’s the Mission Indie Mart, an event that was started by local creative spirit Kelly Malone who sells vintage designs there. In addition to vintage, you can find design and craft. And you can also get your mouth around some organic hot dogs and fresh lemonade. As described by Kelly, the Mission Indie Mart is “a bbq meets a craft fair meets a trunk show meets a nice flea market”. There are experienced designers and those fresh out of college, all mingling in

The event has been growing monthly, starting off in June with just ten vendors. Last month’s event was close to twenty vendors and the one coming up should be around thirty. The event’s going to be moving locations to accomodate the increased size but this month it’s over at 25th and Guerrero. It’s this Sunday from 11 - 5.

Learn more on MySpace. Support local art!

Stacy Alexander is a versatile Bay Area artist who uses mosaic art, among other mediums to share her perspective on the world. She’s a recycler who uses found and re-used objects to create her pieces, frequently letting the items dictate what the work will be about rather than trying to design a piece and then find the right materials for it. Asked to finish the sentence, “The life of an artist is …”, Stacy tells us that it is “a heavenly hell full of insecure securities, pain and joy”. Stacy not only lives this life herself but also supports the work of other Bay Area artists through her Live Journal blog. In this interview with San Fran Voice, she tells us more about her mixed-media work and her life as an artist in San Francisco.

What can you tell us about the basics of your artwork?

I am an avid recycler who, as a mixed media artist, allows the materials to speak to me and tell me what to make. Often, I will lace my compositions thematically with current events (in particular women’s issues or political issues that resonate with my beliefs). Mosaic art is just a small part of what I do, but I try to incorporate mosaic into a lot of my assemblages and collages.

How would you describe mosaic art to someone that was unfamiliar with it?

Mosaic is the perfect medium for anyone who hates to throw out something that can be recycled. Simply put, it involves pieces of anything that can be adhered to another surface. Glass, wood, fabric, paper and tiles all fit into this category, but the art doesn’t stop there! I have made mosaics out of bones, buttons, bottle lids, broken tempered glass and sticks.

If your art could be seen anywhere right now … any city, any particular museum or gallery, by any one person … where would you want it to be?

I am a fan of Frida Kahlo and do many pieces based on her work, her persona and her life. I’d love to see something I did hanging in the Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico City.

What projects are you working on now?

I always have many artful irons on the fire. Currently, I am working on a series of collages and assemblages that represent women’s friendship. I also have some mosaic furniture in the works and am sketching out an installation that has to do with tiaras (What Paris Hilton calls, “princess hats”….rolls eyes) that represent people who I admire.

My work is currently hanging at Institute of Mosaic Art, 3001 Chapman Street, Oakland, CA.

How does the city inspire or affect your art work?

Many of my materials are area-urban-specific. I also get a lot of energy from the city and pace my energy to its internal beat.

Do you have a favorite gallery in San Francisco?

It would be very difficult for me to narrow it down to one since I do mixed media work and am influenced by all types of art. I love the Fraenkel Gallery for photography, but I also enjoy the Himmelberger and many others.

What do you think the average visitor to San Francisco should know about the art scene here?

The art scene in San Francisco has a distinct, expansive flavor unlike that of any other city. One can find anything here in a friendly, easily-accessible way that other major art cities do not offer.

What is one other thing that you think we should know about your work?

My work is ever-evolving, changing by the week, the day and the hour. I am not afraid to challenge tradition and to try new things and I’m not necessarily all about ego.

Oh, and I like to show my support for fellow Bay Area artists through a Live Journal blog called bayart-news.

* painting by Ryoko Tajiri

Ryoko Tajiri is a Bay Area artist whose paintings come from the Bay Area Figurative movement. A description of the work by the artist includes: “I simplify the figure and environment into only the necessary shapes. My paintings represent new perspectives of daily life experiences.” To learn more about the work, you can check out Ryoko’s San Fran Voice interview.

If you happen to be in Sacramento this weekend … or you’re interested in heading there for the weekend … check out Ryoko’s paintings at the Art Foundry Gallery there. Tomorrow is the opening reception from 6-9 in the evening. The paintings will be in the gallery through October 6th. Visit Ryoko’s website to learn more.