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.
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.
Ceramicist Terrie Raphael, 77, who lives in the Outer Richmond District, does not like marketing herself.
On Nov. 9, the Legion of Honor began its 100th anniversary celebration with festivities including a cake picnic, screen-printing press and portrait station with the museum’s most prominent sculpture, a bronze cast of “The Thinker,” by Auguste Rodin (1904). A performance from the George Washington High School marching band ushered in the party with heavy drums and harmonic brass. As part of the Free Saturdays program, Bay Area residents delighted in free admission to the museum.
Fwimpletini Gaziti by Rob Summerlin
On Oct. 5, the Legion of Honor opened “Mary Cassatt at Work,” a new retrospective exhibit detailing the life and work of American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt. This is the first retrospective of Cassatt’s work in North America in 25 years. The Legion of Honor is the sole west coast venue. The exhibit was organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art in conjunction with the Legion of Honor and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
The Legion of Honor kicks off its yearlong centennial celebration with an almost non-stop weekend of free performances, exhibits, educational talks and art activities, Nov. 9-11.
Walking down Irving Street in the Outer Sunset, you may have passed by the sweet little community space called Sealevel, with its enthusiastic canine mascot, Finn, happy to greet passersby from the window. Unlike Finn, founder Jeana Loraine prefers to stay out of the spotlight, focusing on creating safe spaces for others to shine.
‘The Beef Parlor’: Illustration by Rob Summerlin