SF Open Studios 2009

October is right around the corner and in San Francisco that means two things: Halloween gives us an excuse to wear "normal" clothes and SF Open Studios. ArtSpan, the organization behind SF Open Studios, has put out a guide to take around with you (available at numerous book and art supply stores around the city), as well as an online guide. Last year, I took photos at a couple venues (here and here) and interviewed several artists that are participating again this year. Spanning five weekends, the tour is organized geographically, so there's almost guaranteed to be something in your neighborhood.

The Preview Gala
When: Saturday, October 3, beginning at 6pm
Where: 934 Brannan Street
Details: Enjoy cocktails and hor d'oeuvres while viewing over 400 works by participating artists. Tickets start at $50 and can be ordered online. Suggested attire is dressing and artistically inspired - why not wear a piece by Joui Turandot, as I did to ArtSpan's benefit auction in March?

Weekend One: October 10 & 11
Neighborhoods: Bernal Heights, Castro, Duboce, Eureka Valley, Glen Park, Mission, Noe Valley, Portola
Marie Bourget and Brian McDonald at The Blue Studio
Nining Muir at ActivSpace
Katie Gilmartin in her studio

Weekend Two: October 17 & 18
Neighborhoods: Buena Vista, Diamond Heights, Fort Mason, Haight, Hayes Valley, Marina, Mount Davidson, Pacific Heights, Richmond, Sunset, Ocean Beach, Twin Peaks, West Portal
Fernando Reyes, Javier Chalini, and Noah Dasho at Fort Mason
Barbara Kleinhans in her studio
Phillip Dvorak in his studio
Philippe Jestin in his studio

Weekend Three: October 24 & 25
Neighborhoods: Financial District, North Beach, Potrero Hill, Russian Hill, SOMA, Tenderloin, Bayview, Excelsior
Mike Kimball and Erika Meriaux at SOMA Artists Studios
Phillip Hua and John Haines at the Noonan Building

Weekend Four: October 31 & November 1
Neighborhoods: Hunters Point Shipyard
Mirang Wonne and Leslie Morgan at Hunters Point Shipyards

Weekend Guide 9.24.09

It's another busy weekend in the Bay Area! Whether or not you've got your leather outfit picked out for the Folsom Street Fair, be sure to stop by these shows:

Openings and Events

Katie Gilmartin at the Triton Hotel Mezzanine Gallery on Thursday September 24, 5-7pm

Mike Kimball at Sun Gallery on Friday, September 25 5-8pm

Steve Javiel painting live in Mint Plaza on Saturday, September 26, 11am-5pm

Fernando Reyes at Underglass on Saturday, September 26, 6-9pm

Ongoing Shows

Brett Amory at 111 Minna Gallery through September 26

Leslie Morgan and Katie Gilmartin at City Art Gallery through September 26

Megan Wolfe at Cafe Royale through September 27

Brett Amory at Sandra Lee Gallery through September 30

Leslie Morgan at Frankee Uno through September 30

As usual, for more shows featuring artists interviewed on Arteaser, check out the Arteaser Calendar. Also, get updates when new shows are added to the calendar by following the Arteaser Twitter feed!

Weekend Guide 9.16.09

Forget Friday - This week has so much mid-week activity, I had to move the Weekend Guide up a day! Check it out:

Openings and Events

Steve Javiel painting live at Harlot on Wednesday, September 16 9-11pm

Joui Turandot at DISH on FASHION at the W Hotel on Thursday, September 17 7-11pm (RSVP required)

Brett Amory painting live at Ambassador on Thursday, September 17 8pm-12am

Ongoing Shows

Sarah Newton at Berkeley Art Center through September 20

Brett Amory at 111 Minna Gallery through September 26

Leslie Morgan and Katie Gilmartin at City Art Gallery through September 26

Megan Wolfe at Cafe Royale through September 27

Leslie Morgan at Frankee Uno through September 30

Katie Gilmartin at the Triton Hotel Mezzanine Gallery through October 21

Fernando Reyes at Underglass through October 24

As usual, for more shows featuring artists interviewed on Arteaser, check out the Arteaser Calendar. Also, get updates when new shows are added to the calendar by following the Arteaser Twitter feed!

Weekend Guide 9.10.09

Somewhere between rummaging through your closet for old Barbie dolls and turning the plastic playthings into art at the Altered Barbie workshop this weekend, get inspired by work from other Bay Area creatives:

Openings and Events

Steve Javiel painting live at the Fillmore Center on Thursday, September 10 7-10pm

Fernando Reyes in Estuary Art Attack on Friday, September 11 6-9pm

Leslie Morgan at Frankee Uno on Saturday, September 12 6-9pm

Ongoing Shows

Sarah Newton at Berkeley Art Center through September 20

Brett Amory at 111 Minna Gallery through September 26

Leslie Morgan and Katie Gilmartin at City Art Gallery through September 26

Megan Wolfe at Cafe Royale through September 27

Fernando Reyes at Underglass through October 24

For more shows featuring artists interviewed on Arteaser, check out the Arteaser Calendar.

Weekend Guide 9.3.09

Ahh, Labor Day. The warmest greeting to a new school year was always an almost immediate long weekend. Time to contemplate one's summer flings and course schedule... or, if you're in San Francisco this weekend, time to get out to a new round of art shows:

Openings and Events

Brett Amory at 111 Minna Gallery on Thursday, September 3 6pm to late

Megan Wolfe at Cafe Royale on Thursday, September 3, 8pm-midnight

Leslie Morgan and Katie Gilmartin at City Art Gallery on Friday, September 4 7-10pm

Ongoing Shows

Sarah Newton at Berkeley Art Center through September 20

Leslie Morgan at Frankee Uno through September

Fernando Reyes at Underglass through October 24

For more shows featuring artists interviewed on Arteaser, check out the Arteaser Calendar.

One Year Anniversary!

A year ago today, I published my first story on Javier Chalini here on Arteaser. There was no explanation at the time of what Arteaser was and in many ways I was still figuring that out myself. Over the last year, I've published stories on 34 San Francisco Bay Area artists and attended numerous gallery openings and events, including the contemporary art fairs in New York. Since I've turned on Google Analytics last October, the site has had about 3300 unique visitors from 73 countries. On the qualitative side, the feedback I've recieved from artists and readers has been really positive and encouraging.

In short, I'm happy with how the first year of Arteaser has played out and my only regret is not having more time to meet with artists and participate more in the vibrant art city that is San Francisco. I'd like to thank all the artists that I've covered, as well as Natalie Hegert of ArtSlant, fellow SF art bloggers Michael Yochum of SFArtNews and Alan Bamberger of ArtBusiness, and members (past and present) of the SF gallery scene that have embraced Arteaser: Sharon Reaves of Reaves Collection, Kent Baer and Eli Ridgway of BaerRidgway, Jenny Hay of HANGArt, as well as the many who have let me take photos at their venues!

Finally, I'd love to hear more from readers on what you think about the first year of Arteaser? Please leave a comment with your thoughts :)