Art

Tonight: A Reception for Local Artists at Secession

/ Todd_Lappin

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Eden Stein from the freshly reincarnated Secession Art & Design studio is having an artist reception tonight, and you are so invited:

Please join us on Friday, April 10, 6:30 – 9:30 pm to celebrate our brand new show featuring Jon Fischer and Rob Sakovich. Both artists draw from their own experience to identify moments that made them who they are and the parallel between personal path and urban change.

Secession, now with roots at 3235 Mission, is finding its balance and growing. Thank you for being our biggest supporters. Thank you spring for the longer days, beautiful light that fills the new gallery, and hopefulness. It’s all a perfect combination for an amazing night to experience local art, shop, and be part of our community.

IMAGES: Top, a view of 29th Street looking east toward Mission by Rob Sakovich. Below, From the Hill by Jon Fischer.

Which of These Murals Should Help Visitors Discover Bernal’s Lost Tribe of College Hill?

/ Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

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The  Bernalese peoples from the Lost Tribe of College Hill hope to be less lost. Or, more found. Or, at the very least, clearly branded.

This desire is now being expressed in the form of a mural the College Hill Neighborhood Association has commissioned with artist Josh Talbott. The mural will be installed on a cinderblock shed at 3600 Mission Street (at Appleton), and it will act as a visual point-of-entry for southbound traffic. The College Hill News says:

All three of Josh’s designs are meant to make you take notice of our corner of South Bernal—the Lost Tribe of College Hill is ready to be found. And our new College Hill logo—with wayfinding to the Bernal Cut Path—will be incorporated into the winning design.

Want to see Josh’s designs up close? Please join the College Hill Neighborhood Association at the Glen Park Library on Sunday, April 26th, at 4 p.m. to see his artistic inspiration and to log your vote in person.

“Discovery” is the name of the proposed design shown above.

Below, we see two other alternatives, “For Love” and “The Arrow of Time,” respectively:

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Which is the most fabulous? Which will do the most to put our College Hill neighbors on the map? All Bernalese are invited to learn more about the proposed designs and vote for your favorite online by April 30.

PHOTOS: by  Josh Talbott 

Tonight: Celebrate the Amazing New Bikes-to-Books Map Created by Rebel Separatist Burrito Justice

/ Todd_Lappin

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All these years of fomenting insurrection and geopolitical intrigue among the La Lenguan peoples have enabled rebel propagandist Burrito Justice to develop some very formidable cartographic skills. Yet sometimes, he uses those skills to support worthy causes.

In the latest case, Burrito Justice has created a rather gorgeous bike-touring map of San Francisco’s literary history, and there’s a party tonight, March 18, at the fashionable Bender’s Bar in The Mission to celebrate its publication:

Bikes to Books Beer Social and POSTER RELEASE party!

Wednesday, March 18, 7-9 pm
Benders Bar and Grill
806 S. Van Ness, SF

Join Nicole Gluckstern and Burrito Justice, the creators of literary bicycle tour “Bikes to Books,” for our annual beer social where we’ll be unveiling our latest iteration—an expanded poster version of the Bikes to Books map now with more authors, more historical context, and more nifty visuals. We’ll be talking up our collaborative mapping project and tour and fielding questions while enjoying some tasty adult beverages at our fave neighborhood watering hole, in the first of a series of “Bikes to Books” events planned for 2015. 
 
Combining San Francisco history, art, literature, cycling, and urban exploration,  “Bikes to Books” began as an bike ride homage to the 1988 street-naming project spearheaded by City Lights founder and former San Francisco Poet Laureate, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, in which twelve San Francisco streets were renamed for famous artists and authors who had once made San Francisco their home. First published in The San Francisco Bay Guardian and then in October 2013, with the generous assistance of City Lights Books, the physical map has been available ever since in many of San Francisco’s finest book emporiums, and is appropriate for use as a navigational tool, a history lesson, and a unique work of art in its own right.

ALSO: 7×7 just published a celebrity interview with Burrito Justice, which you can read right here. An excerpt:

Quick-fire round:

(7×7): Precita Park or Bernal Hill?

(Burrito Justice): Bernal

Bike or MUNI?

Muni. (OMG do I have Stockholm syndrome?)

Capp or Bartlett?

Capp. Tough love but Capp

Three words that describe SF to you:

Plus ça change.

IMAGE: Burrito Justice

Bernal Artist Creates Interactive Message Sign About Precita Park

/ Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

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Bernal Heights Artist Jon Fischer has created a very cool, very fun art piece that’s all about one of our Bernal treasures (and your interpretation of it):

Neighbor Jon here; I’m a Precita Ave resident and designer of the Hillside Supperclub Sign.

I was hoping you might be interested in spreading the word about this profoundly Bernalistic interactive installation now showing at the Asterisk Gallery (3156 24th Street at Shotwell). The show is called For the Love of San Francisco, and I’d describe it as an old school Mission art show that explores issues related to gentrification from a number of perspectives.

I am debuting my Precita Park Sign. Completely screenprinted & fabricated by hand, the interactive installation was modeled after the SF Park & Rec signage we all know and love. The hands-on exhibit invites visitors to create their own slogans by interchanging magnetic phrase tiles in the sign’s shaped slots.

My Precita Park sign, as well as the rest of the show, is on view through April 3 Wed-Sat,  and the gallery is open on those days until 5pm

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Apart from being lovely and clever, Neighbor Jon’s piece would be absolutely brilliant as an installation at the Precita Park Cafe (HINT HINT HINT). Even better, Neighbor Jon tells Bernalwood, “It was originally intended as a kid’s toy.” CODE RED PRECITA PARK CAFE HINT HINT HINT! 

In the meantime, check it out at Asterisk Gallery. You can watch a short video about the show right here.

BONUS: Want to see some more of Neighbor Jon’s Bernal work? South of Cesar Chavez is a postcard series he did a while ago

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Neighbor Jon

Gigaom Visits Bernal Hill and Lots of People Enjoyed the 36 Questions

/ Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

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Celebrity blogger (and Olde Bernalwood Friend) Om Malik visited Bernal Hill recently, at an early morning hour which we rarely experience because of its horrific earliness. But with that said, Om’s photo makes a strong case for early-rising, because the light and colors he captured are so beautiful. Bravo, Om, and thanks!

At the same time, Om also created a cool photo essay that steered us toward a special #36Bernal hashtag that was used by visitors to the 36 Questions installation that sat atop Bernal Hill last week. Here’s a sample:

These two Bernalese really got into it:

Folks even seemed to enjoy it in all sorts of weather:

PHOTO: Top, by Om Malik

SketchCrawl Crashes Bernal Heights and Amazing Artwork Ensues

/ Todd_Lappin / 4 Comments

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There was a SketchCrawl recently in Bernal Heights.

What’s a SketchCrawl?

A SketchCrawl is kind of like a marathon flash mob for visual artists. The idea is that someone picks a location and a date —  SketchCrawls happen all over the world — and then you beat the cyber-drums to get a whole bunch of artists to descend on a place, all at once. Then, the creative muse takes over.

On a warm Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, the 46th Worldwide StechCrawl happened, and it happened in Bernal Heights. It seems that many of the artists who participated had never visited Bernal Heights, but they really liked it as a source of inspiration. A sample:

We had the best day for the 46th Sketchcrawl.
The views from the top of Bernal Hill were fabulous.
Combining the views, sketching and 70+ degree weather created a day to remember!

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Here’s one from artist Jana Buoc:

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Ceiny Carney shared this one via the Bernalwood Facebook group:

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TOP IMAGES: Gary via SketchCrawl forums. Wow!

Bank of America Plans to Eliminate Human Bankers from Cortland Branch

/ Todd_Lappin / 38 Comments

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Action Alert: Bank of America has announced plans to eliminate human tellers from the bank’s Cortland Branch.

Bernalwood visited the Cortland Branch yesterday to confirm the rumors that have been swirling around the neighborhood for the last few days.

We were told that BofA does indeed plan to turn the Cortland Branch into an Express Banking Center. That means the building is slated to undergo significant remodeling, with human tellers replaced by a zeal of indoor ATM machines. Safe deposit boxes will be eliminated along with the tellers, but the site will be staffed by non-banker humans to assist with account-management issues. The remaining humans will be customer support people, basically.

As currently envisioned, remodeling will begin in April, with the branch set to reopen in July.

The B of A on Cortland has been there for a long time. A really long time; almost 100 years, practically since the time of the ancient Bernal druids. Which is to say, the B of A on Cortland is very much a local institution. During Bernalwood’s visit yesterday, the Cortland branch was bustling; There was a short line to visit the tellers, as a few more customers waited patiently on chairs to talk with a personal banker. While they still can.

Neighbor Darcy Lee from Heartfelt on Cortland was very sad to hear about BofA’s plan for the Cortland Branch, and she is rallying to keep the human bank tellers there. Neighbor Darcy writes:

As you might know, the B of A plans on renovating our branch to make it indoor ATMs.

I just went in the bank; There were 4 senior citizens waiting for service and 3 merchants in line. I could have made a video right then and there why a neighborhood branch is so important. B of A owns the building, and they want to make it an indoor ATM. They want to stay in Bernal, but just change what they provide.

This has a big impact on us as merchants, and that further extends to our customers that use the bank. There are many senior citizens that use this as a resource in Bernal.

All of us as merchants need money — actual coins and bills — sometimes multiple times in one day. We also make large cash deposits (or, at least hopefully large). From my observation over the years, this bank takes the time to explain to their elderly population often not English speakers what is going on with their accounts and statement charges.

B of A has made this announcement when their process is pretty far along, but I want to fight it.

Stay tuned for more details, but if you’d like to find out more, check in with Neighbor Darcy at Heartfelt.

UPDATE: In the comments, Neighbor Darcy adds:

HI all, Darcy here… thanks for your input- it is helpful to hear what you have to say. Please note that many folks that bank there do not read Bernalwood. There have always been safety issues with this branch, a few botched robberies over the years thus the bullet proof glass, a senior citizen mugged at the ATM. A door that opens during business hours without having to use your ATM card seems important to me, literally and symbolically. I do not feel it is an issue of “yeeesh old folks can learn to use a technology that has been around a long time”. For me it is an issue of letting an institution know that their decision made many miles from 94110 is affecting us. If you have ideas for the cause email me at info@heartfeltsf.com and if you have an account you will close because of this change please also let me know.

PHOTO: “Crowd of people standing outside the Bernal Heights branch of the Bank of America, on Cortland Avenue, after a bank robbery” December 24, 1936, via SFPL Image Library

Charming, Challenging “36 Questions” Treasure Box Now on Bernal Hill

/ Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

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There’s a wonderful installation on Bernal Hill for the next few days, and it’s perfect for this Valentine’s season. Neighbor Jessica tells Bernalwood:

I just learned via facebook that a friend of mine, Chris, created a fun Valentine’s Day activity on our own Bernal hill… It’s called The 36 Q:

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Basically, it’s two chairs arranged around a desk/treasure box. There are 36 innnnnnnteresting questions engraved into the lid of the treasure box, and the idea is that you answer the questions with your sweetie to gain Profound New Insight into one another. It’s a little bit like The Dating Game, only more intimate, and the prizes are more clever, and it’s on Bernal Hill, atop that mini-peak along the Folsom axis just below the guard rail.

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The kuhlhunters at The Bold Italic explain the backstory:

By now we’ve all seen that “36 Questions to Make You Fall in Love” article in the New York Times. Local artists Mustafa Khan and Chris McCoy decided those questions need to get out in the open this Valentine’s Day. He engraved the questions on an antique treasure chest alongside a set of chairs and a “not reserved” sign on Bernal Hill. You and your date (or a total stranger) can sit at this table and fall in love with the killer view…and maybe each other. Khan says there’s also a “special surprise” inside the chest, which will be at the top of the staircase on Ellsworth and Bernal Heights Blvd until next Sunday.

Got that? Get there before Feb. 23, and enjoy.

PHOTOS: 36 Questions on Bernal Hill, February 14, 2015, 5 pm, by Telstar Logistics

Secession Art & Design’s Victorious Re-Opening Party Happens Thursday Eve

/ Todd_Lappin

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If you’re a fan of Secession Art & Design you probably know the basic story. If you’re not a fan of  Secession Art & Design, well, here’s why you should be…

Secession Art & Design is a creative atelier founded a few years ago by owner Eden Stein. For many moons, Secession was located on Bernal’s stretch of Mission Street, just across from our Taoist Safeway. During that time, founder and owner/impresario Eden carved out a terrific niche for Session, seamlessly combining art, fashion, home decor, and resident-artist workshops to create a storefront that won four San Francisco Bay Guardian “Best of the Bay” awards for Best Art Gallery (before the SFBG itself disappeared). Eden also became a core member of the Mission Bernal Merchant Association.

Then Secession’a landlord decided not to renew the lease. After much scrambling, negotiating, and anxiety, Eden managed to find an even better space just a few blocks north — and still in Bernal!!— inside the former SoCha Cafe/former Dell’uva Wine Bar location at 3235 Mission @ Valencia. Then came the stressful  renovation, and redecorating, and rethinking. And now, finally, Secession Art & Design is ready for its grand re-opening: Tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 5, at 6:30 pm.

Eden says:

3235 Mission is officially open on Thursday, February 5. Join us 6:30-9:30pm for a welcoming party and thank-you to everyone who helped us dream big. Celebrate with us with champagne – cheers to new beginnings!

Our new gallery and boutique has 30 feet of clothing, a showcase of locally-made jewelry, and over 250 pieces of art hung. Our current art collection features Silvi Alcivar, Shannon Weber, Hilary Williams, Melissa Wagner, Rachel Znerold, Heather Robinson, Rob Sakovich, Faern, Bughouse, Mark Brunner, Andrzej Michael Karwacki, Victoria Veedell and Nate 1.

Our doors closed at our old location last Christmas Eve. I thought we would quickly be able to re-open, but opening a new location in San Francisco requires time, patience and jumping through a lot of hoops. My team has met every challenge, and we kept our heads high when inspections went south. We passed plumbing and electrical on Friday, and passed our final inspection Monday with flying colors. We spent the month of January perfecting the look of the store while we waited for the city of San Francisco to let us open. So much fun, and I’m thankful to have a contractor who could make every whim a reality. This truly is my dream store, and I look forward to reconnection.

Our new gallery and boutique will be open our regular hours, Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 7pm, starting on Friday, February 6.

XO Eden and the Secession team

PHOTO:Eden Stein on Feb 4, 2015, by Telstar Logistics

Bernal Neighbor Creates Magic Fairy That Plays Mini-Golf

/ Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

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Neighbor Dan

When we last saw Bernal neighbor Dan Rosenfeld, he left a rather memorable impression on Cortland Avenue when he hit the town looking like this:

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Now Neighbor Dan has combined technology, art, stagecraft, and pixie dust to create an innovative experience at Urban Putt, the nouveau miniature golf place on South Van Ness at 22nd.

Neighbor Dan tells Bernalwood:

Thought this might be of interest to Bernal folks. (I’m on the famous 200 block of Elsie).

I finally got around to documenting an interactive installation piece I did for Urban Putt. If folks haven’t been, Urban Putt is a super fun indoor minigolf course, bar, and restaurant, created by local artists and designers, built in a former mortuary in the Mission.

My piece, Sleepwalkers, is an interactive installation about beings that live inside the walls of that old building. It uses host of techniques to make it seem that a three inch tall luminous being is interacting with the physical world—including the hands of participants—while illuminating its environment.

This video conveys a sense of Neighbor Dan’s newest magic:

How did he do it?  Click here to peek inside Neighbor Dan’s bag of fairy golf tricks.

Attention, People of Elsie!  Please give Neighbor Dan lots of big high-fives.

PHOTOS: Screen grabs. Below, Big Head Dan, via Bernal alum Adrian Mendoza. 

Let Us Calmly Now Celebrate This Amazing Place

/ Todd_Lappin / 5 Comments

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You know what we need right now? We need a little palate-cleanser. A tribute to that which is good and right, right here, right now. A stone-cold sexy celebration of Bernal, creative Bernalese, and our many local blessings.

Let’s look at some recent photos from the Bernalwood Flickr Group!

Suegol Malek took the photo up above just a few days ago, on January 25. Please note that (Sunset + Sporty Human + Dog + Bernal Hill + Sutrito Tower) = Formula for Perfection.

Bernal neighbor and watercolor ninja Laurie Wigham painted this terrific image of Los Compas performing at the Bernal Library fifth anniversary celebration last weekend:

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Ed Brownson snapped this cloudwatcher on the hill, in a moment that perfectly captures the colors and moods of the winter season:

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Lookng west from Bernal Hill, Charlie Hunter shot a gorgeous sunset that’s so warm and golden that it makes you want to bathe in it:

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Remember: Sexiness happens all the time in Bernal Heights, all around us. All you have to do is push the shutter button on your camera or smartphone. Then, share the picture with us in the Bernalwood Flickr Group.

Bernal Neighbors Seek to Film Gravity-Defying Vertical Dance in High Sierra

/ Todd_Lappin / 4 Comments

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Neighbors Amanda Moran and Amelia Rudolph are involved with the world-famous Bandaloop vertical dance company, and they’re holding a fundraiser to support their (magnificently insane) new project. As part of that effort, you’re invited a glamorous downtown party that takes place on Friday evening, Dec. 5.

Neighbor Amanda writes:

Wanted to let you know about a very cool project Bandaloop is doing. Bandaloop founder/artistic director Amelia Rudolph and myself are both Bernal residents. Bandaloop is the Bay Area’s premiere vertical dance company, and in 2015 we are re-mounting the seminal mountain work “Crossing” in the Sierra. We have seed funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, but we need to more than double it to build the piece. We started a RocketHub campaign and are about 30% funded, with a goal of $25,000 by 12/17/14.

In a nutshell, the Bandaloop posse wants to re-shoot their much-admired vertical dance piece from 2001 to take advantage of a) a decade of dance technique refinement, and b) the advent of the GoPro Age.

Like this:

Team Bandeloop adds:

Through the creation of the “Crossing” performance on-site along the Sierra crest, and through the associated film, BANDALOOP will transport the aesthetic of dance created in nature back to the city, and bring this work to large and diverse audiences worldwide; both online and through live multimedia performance. The project will also include education modules for the classroom, addressing issues of environment and sustainability through the unique lens of BANDALOOP’s site-reactive dance. BANDALOOP is nearing the end of their fundraising campaign on Rockethub to raise $25,000 for “Crossing.” There is still time to donate and help them reach their goal!

This Friday, December 5th, 6 – 8 pm @ The Hall, there will be an event associated with the RocketHub Campaign. Please come join!

See you at The Hall!
1028 Market Street (between 6th + Jones)
San Francisco