I discovered the San Francisco Women Artist Gallery on June 1, a freezing cold Summer Sunday. Spending some time in the gallery it became clear to me that this is a hidden treasure in the Sunset district. The gallery is small but vibrant with energy and the work of talented artists.
The nonprofit organization runs at least one juried exhibition each month, half for members and half open to any Bay Area artist. Their monthly receptions are very well attended and looked forward to by neighbors and collectors since there is always fresh art on the walls and artists to chat with. There is also an “Artists Salon” behind the main gallery where members or organizations can rent a wall or the whole room for a month to display their own art. Examples of the breadth of their exhibitions can be found here.
Founded as the “Sketch Club” in 1887, San Francisco Women Artists began as an independent group of women who met to share and critique one another’s artwork. It grew over the years to the point when rather famous women artists counted themselves as members – and heightened the stature of this ‘sketch club’. For example, in 1932 Frida Kahlo’s painting “Frieda and Diego Rivera” was shown at the “Sixth Annual Exhibition of the San Francisco Society of Women Artists” – the first public showing of her work.
Their mission continues to support women artists, however their membership is not limited to women, but to any artist who supports women artists. At the time of this writing about 10% of their members are male. By becoming a member, all artists have the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work.
San Francisco Women Artists, (SFWA) a historic nonprofit arts organization, has been designated a San Francisco Legacy organization. It receives some grant money and of course membership and show submission fees to survive.
I have had no previous experience with installing art for exhibit and I had never given much thought to how art is placed. This day I was with my friend, Jessica Levant, who with a small group of volunteers, installs the monthly shows. Their process involves arranging the art based on things like color palette, frame type, media, subject matter, size etc. so that what hangs in one of several different areas has a certain integrity and no one artwork competes with another, all the while allowing each piece to show in its own best light. It was something to see how they got it together in such a short time – maybe three hours for 50 pieces of art – almost like a choreographed dance.
If you’re planning to be in San Francisco, a visit to the SFWA Gallery in the lively Inner Sunset area would be worth your while. The art, jewelry, and ceramics are always fresh, interesting, and possibly tempting; the staff are friendly and informative. The gallery is near the DeYoung Museum and sits amidst a multitude of cafes, restaurants and shops.
647 Irving Street, San Francisco Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:30 – 5:30pm
Splash Magazines
Be the first to comment