An image from 'tan Shaffer: You Should Have Been With Me'. (Courtesy of Ever Gold)
The Art Lover's To-Do: Cue the Lights for Modern Cinema, Open Studios + More October Exhibitions
03 October 2017
What: Dave Eggers' Ungrateful Mammals
Where: Electric Works @ Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota St. (Dogpatch), sfelectricworks.com
When: October 7- 28, 2017
Why: Because you have read all his books, except for the forthcoming one, The Monk of Mokha. And because you don't know he was also an artist. This is the first solo exhibition for Dave Eggers, who's unveiling his drawings of animals (mammal and non-mammal) in an interactive show that also features his written works.
What: You Should Have Been With Me, Stan Shaffer
When: October 5-28, 2017
Where: Ever Gold @ Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota St. (Dogpatch), evergoldprojects.com
Why: Because you are a Vogue magazine junkie. This solo exhibition dedicated to the work of fashion photographer Stan Shaffer gathers together the highlights of Shaffer's prolific career. The show is curated by the lens master's son, Justin Shaffer. While you're there, also check out Noah by Zachary Armstrong, a series of large-scale paintings based on a childhood drawing by the artist's brother, and Grinding, a collective show of contemporary artists (both on view through Oct. 21st).
What: Sanctuary, various artists
Where: For-Site Foundation @ Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, Landmark Building C, 2 Marina Blvd., for-site.org
When: October 7, 2017 through March 11, 2018
Why: Because you are a spiritual person. Here, 36 International artists meditate on the theme of sanctuary and the rug as a symbol of sacred space where anyone can find peace, protection and spiritual connection. Remove your shoes to interact with the works—walk around them, sit on them, or lay down and ponder the images of candles, hands, flowers and more.
What: Community Sourced, Mobile Arts Platform
Where: Pro Arts, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (Oakland), proartsgallery.org
When: October 6-27, 2017
Why: Because you are all about Oakland. Artists Peter Foucault and Chris Treggiari, founder of Mobile Arts Platform (MAP), have collaborated with photographer Victoria Mara Heilweil to design a multimedia installation that documents the lives of the people and the cityscapes of two Oakland neighborhoods, Santa Fe and Frank Ogawa Plaza.
What: ArtSpan Open Studios
When: October 14 through November 12th, 2017
Where: Various locations in SF, artspan.org
Why: Because this is the very best way to beef up your collection. Over the course of five weekends, 800 local artists will open their studios and offices to show and sell their works. Go on, support Bay Area talent
What: Arab Film Festival
When: October 13-22, 017
Where: Castro Theatre and more locations, arabfilminstitute.org/festival
Why: Because the content is on point. The 21st edition of this annual festival will open with Solitaire, a film by director Sophie Boutros, who will be in attendance at the opening night celebration at the Castro. The movie delves into the emotions of two Lebanese parents after they learn that their only daughter is engaged to a Syrian boy.
What: Modern Cinema
When: October 12-29, 2017
Where: Phyllis Watts Theater @ SFMOMA, 151 Third Street, sfmoma.org
Why: Because you are a cult movie geek. For the fourth season of Modern Cinema, organized by SFMOMA and San Francisco Film Society, "Sparks on Celluloid: Haynes + Vachon" will unveil the long and prolific collaboration between director Todd Haynes and producer Christine Vachon, both prominent figures of the New Queer Cinema movement of the 1990s. Among the offering will be films directed and produced by pair as well as some of their hand-picked favorites including Velvet Goldmine and Poison.
What: Patio Music, Tucker Nichols
When: Through October 28, 2017
Where: Gallery 16, 501 Third St. (SoMa), gallery16.com
Why: Because you support local artists and you enjoy colorful paintings. In this solo exhibition, Tucker Nichols displays 30 new works that express the duality of emotions. Behind the colorful design of flowers in a vases or decorative bushes and other abstract forms, there is always a dialogue between opposite feelings—fear and trust, happiness and sadness, pain and freedom. It is up to the visitor to catch it.
What: Episode: Requiem
When: October 26 through December 23, 2017
Where: Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St, 3rd Floor, cccsf.us
Why: Because you are fascinated with Chinese history and culture. On the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, contemporary artist Summer Mei Ling pays homage to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, a Hong Kong–based charity that worked to repatriate the bodies of Chinese people who died in the United States. The artist has created an installation that plays with light and darkness, including wall murals painted with ash and a reproduction of bone coffin.