News from SFAC, December 2009

In this issue...

New Public Art: Hybrid Species in a Living Cabinet of Curiosities
100 New Artworks at the New Laguna Honda Hospital
SFAC Welcomes New Staff
Neighborhood Cultural Centers Are Jumping With Holiday Activities
WritersCorps Book Named Best Poetry Book. They also have books and gifts on sale!

 

The Arts Commission’s Public Art Program announces two new major projects: Sunnyside Menagerie and Laguna Honda Hospital.

New Public Art: Hybrid Species in a Living Cabinet of Curiosities
Sunnyside Menagerie, 23 fantastical bronze creatures designed by the artist team of Wowhaus, was commissioned for the newly-renovated Sunnyside Conservatory and Gardens on Monterey Boulevard and dedicated on December 5th. This suite of sculptures was inspired by the Victorian notion of a conservatory as a living cabinet of curiosities filled with rare flora and fauna that hint at the possibility of worlds still unknown. The textured artworks, which include five unique hybrid species, are nestled at various locations along the garden’s walkways and are meant to be discovered and handled by visitors of all ages as they wander the grounds. We invite you to visit the conservatory to enjoy these newly installed sculptures. Press release...

100 New Artworks at the New Laguna Honda Hospital
The Public Art Program is currently installing over 100 original artworks at the new Laguna Honda Hospital. Since 1999, the Public Art Program has been working on a comprehensive public art program that will contributes to the quality of life at the new hospital which will open in the spring. You can get installation updates and an early “sneak peak” at the new public art by becoming a fan of SFAC Public Art on Facebook.

Left: Artwork by Linea Glatt installed at the new Laguna Honda Hospital.

The Arts Commission welcomes new staff.
Tyra Fennell has been appointed the new Arts Education Manager, and Beatrice Thomas has joined the Cultural Equity Grants team as Program Associate.

In her role as Arts Education Manager, Ms. Fennell will provide ongoing support for the Arts Education Master Plan; collaborate with the Visual and Performing Arts office of the San Francisco Unified School District; publish the arts education directory Inside/Out and maintain the Inside/Out website; develop professional development workshops for teaching artists and create programs and curricula with other city agencies. “Ms. Fennell will be an energetic and vibrant addition to the San Francisco Arts Commission staff and the cultural community,” stated Luis R. Cancel. “She will play an important role in ensuring that arts education continues to be a high priority goal of the Arts Commission and a key educational feature offered in our public schools.”

Prior to joining the Arts Commission, Ms. Fennell served as the director of programs for the Humanities Council in Washington D.C. where she managed all programs including partnerships with public schools, school administrators and community-based organizations. Ms. Fennell is also a singer and songwriter and holds a Masters in Education Administration and Policy from Howard University and a B.A./B.F.A from Eugene Lang University and the New School University, New York.

Beatrice Thomas has worked in a variety of curatorial, educational and community arts related positions with the City of Austin, Austin Community College and Flatbed Press Gallery. Ms. Thomas received her bachelor’s degree in film, video and theater from Hampshire College and a Masters of Fine Arts from The University of Texas, where she was a scholar in the Land Arts of the American West program. She is an exhibiting fiber artist and screen printer. Ms. Thomas participates regularly as an arts juror, panelist and speaker on a range of arts related topics, most currently arts, economics and the creative class. Her career in the visual arts includes chairing the Austin Art and Public Places Panel and serving as Program Manager of First Night Austin, an interdisciplinary, urban, arts festival for the City of Austin.

Neighborhood Cultural Centers Are Jumping With Holiday Activities and Events for the Whole Family.
At SOMArts:
“Invisible Homes” invites visitors to examine dreams of relocation and the challenges of integration. Through a variety of media, “Invisible Homes” looks at representations of home in light of the current homeless epidemic, the economic foreclosure meltdown, and globalization.
Exhibition Run: December 11, 2009 to January 22, 2010 (closed December 24 to January 4)
Reception: Friday December 11, 6 - 9 p.m.
FREE
SOMArts: 934 Brannan Street

At Bayview Opera House:
Third Annual Holiday Festival and Market features a toy give-away for children up to age 12, an all-day food and holiday gift market and activities for kids, and a tree and street lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. with Mayor Newsom and Supervisor Maxwell. Food and arts and crafts vendors can apply to sell their wares at the festival by emailing info@bvoh.org.
December 12, noon - 8 p.m.
FREE Bayview Opera House: 4705 Third Street

At Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts:
Carnival of the Animals: A Holiday Party Show and Auction
Exhibition Run: December 4 to 17
Live Auction: Thursday, December 17, 7 to 9 p.m.
FREE
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts: 2868 Mission Street

WritersCorps Book Named Best Poetry Book. They also have books and gifts on sale!
The Winston-Salem Journal has named the WritersCorps anthology Tell the World a best kids book. In their list of best books for youth, Tell the World was selected as the best poetry book. “This anthology would be great for classrooms and should be on every teacher’s wish list,” say the book reviewers. For more information, go to: http://www.sfartscommission.org/WC/tell-the-world-named-a-best-kids-book

Now through January 1, 2010 buy a book in the WritersCorps store, get one free! For more details, visit http://www.sfartscommission.org/WC/store. All proceeds from book sales go directly to helping our students and teachers. To learn about more ways to help WritersCorps, go to sfartscommission.org/WC.

Upcoming Deadlines:
Organizational Project Grants (OPG)
DEADLINE: January 29, 2010