If you’ve gone to an art show, visited a San Francisco museum or art gallery or otherwise looked at contemporary art in San Francisco, one or more of the following thoughts has probably popped into your head: That’s art? What on earth is that supposed to mean? How did they do that? Why? I could’ve made that! Heck, a kindergartner could have made it.
But rarely are the artists there to respond and explain.
That’s why the annual SF Open Studiosprogram in October is not to be missed: More than 900 San Francisco artists open their studios to let the public watch them work, pepper them with questions and shop.
Each weekend of October is dedicated to a different clump of neighborhoods in San Francisco. You wander among the studios at your own pace, and over the span of an afternoon, you might see sculpture, photography, ceramics, drawings, printmaking, painting, jewelry and textiles done by artists of all ages and experience levels. You’ll probably discover art in San Francisco in the most unexpected nooks and crannies. By Halloween, about 60,000 people will have visited art studios across the city, all for free.
The atmosphere of SF Open Studios is generally casual and laid-back, with the artists happy to talk to laypeople--unlike the vibe that tends to permeate holiday art fairs and markets. Inside the second-floor flat of a Hayes Valley Victorian one weekend, Philippe Jestin has displayed resin collages in the parlor and hallway, including his “Bloodlines” series that has red resin lines criss-crossing Renaissance-era portraits. Fun, colorful resin-mold mobiles dangle from the skylight of the French artist’s home/studio. Bread and cheese are set out in the kitchen for visitors. In a bomb-shelter-like basement a few blocks away, Christo Braun has used resin like paint, often applying multiple layers, to produce dreamy landscapes and abstract images priced from $1,000 to $10,000. He says that spas have bought some of his pieces, which can withstand water and humidity.
The open studios format was launched in 1975 by a small group of San Francisco artists who were not represented by galleries and who wanted to reach the public directly. It grew steadily and lead to the formation of ArtSpan, a nonprofit that organizes the annual open studios event and supports artists’ professional development and arts education for youths.
SF Open Studios is open, non-juried and uncensored. Once they register (with a nominal fee), artists can exhibit and sell their work, which must be current, original and made by themselves. They can attend ArtSpan workshops on marketing, PR and the business side of the art world, and use the organization’s publicity network.
October in 2011 is fortunate to have five weekends. That’s ten days’ worth of studios with open doors. For a condensed, one-stop version of SF Open Studios, you can head to the SF Open Studios Exhibition, which runs all month and includes the work of about 400 artists (who paid extra to be in the exhibit). Nothing, though, beats meeting the artists in person and in their element.
SF OPEN STUDIOSSaturdays and Sundays in October 2011, at 11 am-6 pm. Free.
October 1 & 2: Mission, Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, Castro, Excelsior
October 8 & 9: Sunset, Richmond, Hayes Valley, Haight, Upper Market, Twin Peaks, West Portal, Glen Park
October 15 & 16: SoMa, Tenderloin, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, Bayview
October 22 & 23: Fort Mason, Marina, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, North Beach, Financial District
October 29 & 30: Hunters Point Shipyard & Islais Creek Studios
SF OPEN STUDIOS EXHIBITION
September 30-October 29, 2011
SOMArts Main Gallery, 934 Brannan St. Free.
Features the work of more than 400 artists participating in SF Open Studios, with jurors’ awards. Free public reception Oct. 15 at 6-8 pm.
HOW TO NAVIGATE SF OPEN STUDIOS
SF Open Studios Guide, a free booklet with maps, images and articles about art in San Francisco, is available at various galleries and businesses around town. Each week’s San Francisco Bay Guardian contains a map and list of open studios for the coming weekend.
