By Judith Kahn

San Francisco Women Artists (SFWA), founded in 1887 as the “Sketch Club,” is a nonprofit arts organization in the Sunset District providing a supportive space for women artists of diverse ethnicity and experience.

Its belief in art’s transformative potential encourages and mentors its members, seeking empowerment and expanded “representation of women in the arts.”

The organization is proud of its lineage, and its many former members include artists Ruth Asawa, Dorr Bothwell, Imogen Cunningham, Eleanor Dickenson, Claire Falkenstein, Emmy Lou Packard, Dorothy Winslade and Ruth Bernhard.

As part of its mission, SFWA focuses on equitable practices that recognize the problematic history and status of women and people of color in our society and in the art world.

“Resolving deeply ingrained patterns and structures of inequality will take sustained attention and dedication, and to this end, SFWA invites and welcomes Bay Area artists of all genders and racial identities,” its website states.

SFWA’s Gallery first opened in Hayes Valley, then Presidio Heights, and since 2015, is housed in a newly remodeled building at 647 Irving St. Monthly themed competitions are held to select works to show in the gallery, juried by SF Bay Area art consultants, gallerists and art curators, with jurors resourced by Susan R. Kirshenbaum, exhibitions director. Each year, six shows are open to all Bay Area artists and 12 shows are available to SFWA members.

The SFWA Artist Salon is a second exhibition space within the gallery which offers Bay Area artists an additional opportunity to exhibit their artwork by renting wall space for a one-month period. In the salon, artists are selected by a SFWA member curator or by an outside group, such as Art of the African Diaspora (AOTAD), which “supports artists of African descent … through representation, professional development and building a creative community,” aligning it closely with SFWA’s mission.

This is one example of how SFWA connects to the larger community, bringing focus to other nonprofits and illuminating the diverse artistic community in the Bay Area. In March of this year, the Artist’s Salon hosted AOTAD in an exhibit by four Black Bay Area artists, and in January, Art with Elders (AWE) artists were represented in The Women of AWE.

Janice Rumbaugh, gallery director since 2005, is passionate about nonprofit organizations and the critical role they play in a community. She has a B.A. in Studio and Fine Art, with an emphasis in Conceptual Information Art from San Francisco State University.

In her final research project, Rumbaugh conducted her own exploration and documentation of Bay Area nonprofit arts groups. Her own art pushes the boundaries of traditional printmaking techniques, jewelry design, fiber/mixed media and digital art in a journey concerning “place, communities, and ancestors.” Examples of her work can be seen on the SFWA website along with the work of many other member artists.

SFWA determines the success of its in-house and outreach programs by the increase in growth and diversity of the membership. Artists from ages 18-96 find themselves in a “caring community and a beautiful venue where their art may be exhibited.”

SFWA artists conduct artist-in-action demonstrations that engage and educate the community in a variety of techniques in painting, sculpture, photography, encaustic art, glass art and jewelry making. Professional Development Workshops, which are open to the public, are offered throughout the year.

Its Student Intern Program partners with the Mayor’s Youth Education and Employment Program (MYEEP) to facilitate job readiness training, work experience and opportunities for personal growth for San Francisco’s youth. Interns train in-house for up to 20 hours per week in the hands-on experience of gallery dynamics, including small business operations, marketing and sales of art, and curating an exhibition of student artwork. Student interns carry out the installation and assist with promotion of the show, planning the reception and student artists’ discussion of their work.

As of 2022, SFWA has become the Art Curator for San Francisco’s UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health. On floors three to seven at UCSF’s 2356 Sutter St. location, Bay Area artists exhibit their work embodying a particular theme in the “Serenity” series, currently themed “Serenity: Dreaming.” The selected theme and artwork are chosen to contribute an atmosphere of calm, healing and uplift to patients and staff. Exhibits change three times each year. The opening reception for “Dreaming” will be Wednesday, June 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the public is invited to attend.

From the SFWA website, its perspective on art as a tool for wellness is explained.

“With the understanding that wellness is a holistic ideal, we embrace the transformative power of art as a core belief of SFWA. Art inspires, produces profound insights and can serve as a healing force.”

A member of Inner Sunset Merchants Association (ISMA), SFWA hosts meetings of the neighborhood nonprofit.

SFWA is funded by foundations, sponsors and individuals, as well as the California Art Council, California Relief Grant, SF Grants for the Arts, Neighborhood Arts Collaborative and the Voluntary Arts Contribution Fund.

For June, SFWA presents Bay Area artists in two exhibitions, “Black, White, and Shades Between,” juried by Emebet B. Korn, founder and director at Desta Gallery, Mill Valley. In the Artist Salon, Pride Month is celebrated with “Art of Pride – Moving Forward,” juried by Marti McKee, artist and activist.

SFWA welcomes the public to the exhibition spaces at 647 Irving St. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. For more information, visit SFWA’s website at sfwomenartists.org or call 415-566-8550.