Watching the 28-minute, 10-screen film/art installation, “Lessons of the Hour,” by British artist/filmmaker Sir Issac Julien, is not as overwhelming as one might think. In fact, the flood of images, sounds and words, dedicated to the life of writer, orator, philosopher and social justice activist Fredrick Douglass (1818-1895), a former slave, allows the viewer to absorb and interpret the immersive experience in their own way.
The official count was 1,387 cakes (and at least that many participants) at the Cake Picnic on the morning of March 29, on the front lawn of the Legion of Honor Museum.
Illustration by Rob Summerlin.
Five years after the world shifted, Birdhouse Gallery invites the public to reflect on the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through Ari Salomon’s poignant photography exhibition, 6 Feet Apart, culminating in a closing reception and book launch on March 16.
Mark Twain may never have actually said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco,” but the sentiment surely stands – especially in the Sunset.
Art salons are nothing new. The tradition can be traced back to medieval Europe. Also, not new is the advancement of technology in art. Paint, brushes, musical instruments and devices for printing the written word were all advancements in human technology.
One of California’s most famous visual artists, Wayne Thiebaud (1920-2021), is so much more than his iconic (and unironic) paintings of comforting confections. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) is about to prove that with a complex exhibition called, “Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art,” opening March 22 at the Legion of Honor.
There are some spaces that take you back to another time, another way of being. On Bush Street at Franklin Street, that space is Audium, and that time is a 1960s San Francisco.
After moving to the Sunset seven months ago, Laurie Vázquez Scolari decided that the outside of her white and black house on Taraval Street and 45th Avenue, which neighbors refer to as the “See’s Candy house,” needed some extra color. Inspired by her mother’s immigration journey from Puebla, México, to California, Laurie decided to dedicate a mural to her mother as a tribute to her story, culture and strength while also making a larger statement about immigration laws.
On Saturday afternoons at the Legion of Honor, the artwork hanging on the walls is not the only thing that is on display. Jonathan Dimmock, the principal organist at the Legion of Honor, has been captivating audiences for decades with his performances. Every Saturday at 4 p.m., Legion of Honor museum guests are dazzled by his work.
When you walk past Eighth Avenue at Irving Street you will see colorful images of what is special about the Inner Sunset – flowering gardens, the bustling farmers market, a restaurateur serving a slice of pizza, Frisbee players, children with hula hoops, Golden Gate Park, a soaring hawk and the glowing sunset. These sights and more are depicted on a new community mural created by nearly 200 volunteers.
‘The Beef Parlor’: Illustration by Rob Summerlin
Originally, the very limited edition of artist Henri Matisse’s 1947 book of prints was going to be called, “Circus,” because the inspiration for several motifs concerned performing artists and balancing acts. However, during the two-year period of creating 20 color stencil prints (pochoirs), the title changed to “Jazz,” at the suggestion of Greek art publisher Tériade.
Since 2020, a quiet stretch of 37th Avenue in the Sunset District has been a hub of connection and creativity. Nestled between A.P. Giannini Middle School and Sunset Boulevard, and free from residential homes or driveways, this street has transformed into a vibrant space for markets, cultural events and community collaborations.
The Sunset District art community grieves the loss of Douglas Gorney, who died of a heart attack on Nov. 19. Gorney, a native San Franciscan, was 63 years old and lived in the Sunset the last decade of his life.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 