San Francisco Voice

As you may know, photographer Ginny Mangrum caught my eye with stunning images of storage units (see the post). They turned my vision upside down and gave me a new perspective into something that is fairly every day. So, of course, I’m happy to be able to say that San Fran Voice interviewed Ginny and got some more info on what motivates this artist.
What can you tell us about the basics of your artwork? Specifically, how do you become drawn to the topics that you cover? My curiosities about empty public spaces normally filled with people contemplates memories …read more

Comments Off

Jeff Rolka will tell you in one breath that he got a Master’s Degree in saxophone performance as well as that his music is like ‘Neil Young and Sting have a drink at a Beatles tribute party’. What does this mean? That he’s got a unique style with some great influences and he’s got the training and the ability to back it up. He’s playing tonight at The Rockit Room so go check him out. But first see what he has to say in this interview with San Fran Voice.
What can you tell us about your musical history?
My history …read more

Comments Off

Take a guy that will tell you he used to busk on the streets of Philadelphia (without getting arrested and without getting rich), give him the experience of playing in a number of bands including one indie rock group that got some recognition and then move him out to the West Coast. What have you got? Chris Stroffolino, a guy who isn’t about to stop making the most of his musical career. He’s currently playing solo (with upcoming shows in the city at City Lights and at The Knockout) making a kind of music that merges instrumentals and emphasizes them …read more

1 Comment

As we found out recently from his San Fran Voice interview, Rob Owen is a local indie singer/songwriter whose work takes a serious look at emotional tumult but spins it with personal insight that makes it enjoyable to listen to. Rob’s new CD, Barefoot in the Rain, is filled with songs that exhibit this thread in his work. And while it could be difficult to listen to the heartache that he displays so matter-of-factly in his songs, it proves to be quite the opposite because of the tack he takes and the music with which he supports his message.
Take, …read more

Comments Off

I never knew that storage units could be beautiful. In fact, I spent some time this summer moving stuff into storage and “tedious” would’ve been the first adjective to come to mind. My perspective was broadened a little bit by a research piece that I did on local storage spots just because some of the neat high-tech security stuff they use and specialty storage units they offer are kind of fascinating. Fascinating, but not beautiful. After all, it’s storage.
Then, I was looking at the photographs of fine art artist Ginny Mangrum. Specifically, I was looking at Ginny’s collection entitled “Stored”. …read more

1 Comment

An interview with Philasonic needs no introduction because he’s able to tell it better than I can! Check out his MySpace for even more information.
What are the basics of your musical history?
I remember singing along to Elvis and Rolling Stones 45s when I was about 5 years old, on my Fisher Price record player. I began writing songs in the fifth grade, even though I couldn’t really play an instruments. In the 70’s and 80’s radio played a wide variety of music, from soul, funk, R&B, disco, synth pop, acid rock, light rock, progressive rock, new wave, second …read more

1 Comment

San Fran Voice trolls the online world to find video clips from and about San Francisco. Check the archives to see the ones that you’ve missed.  Posted here every morning at 9.
Explanation: Today’s YouTube pick is a clip from a documentary on Margaret Kilgallen, a San Francisco street artist.

Comments Off

* “Tantra Glows To Spite Death” – image from the Art Beacon web page (see links below)
 Local creative spirit Tantra Bensko is more than just an artist. She is a Tantra teacher and healer, an art director, a writer and more. Her art will be part of an erotic art show which in turn is part of a book release party happening at ArtSF this Saturday, June 16 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Learn more about her and her work from this interview that she did with SFV.
What can you tell us about the basics of your artwork?
In summary: …read more

1 Comment

 
Tiffany Joy is a worldly woman who has traveled and performed in South America and who moved to San Francisco in 2006 to pursue her lifelong dream of living in the city. As a strong female performer making her way in a world which is often still dominated by men and as a bilingual musician who has recorded in both English and Spanish, Tiffany Joy is an inspiration to creative young, multi-cultural women. Her strength lies in her ability to admit her own weaknesses (yes, even here in this interview), her self-motivation and self-promotion efforts and her unflagging belief in …read more

4 Comments

* California Homes – Under The Weeping Cherry by Salma Arastu, see her website for additional paintings*
Salma Arastu received a Masters of Fine Arts degree in India in the 1970’s and has been continuing to create art since that time. Moving to the United States in the mid-1970’s, she’s shown her work in New York City and is now sharing her creativity with us here in the Bay Area. In this interview, Arastu shares the theme of her work, its history and the direction she’s taking now, and her favorite areas in the Bay Area.  She’s showing at both Stanford …read more

Comments Off