This weekend is packed with everything from an art constellation with a robot dog painting to rallies on immigration, climate and housing justice – and of course the Folsom Street Fair in the form of # MEGAHOOD2021. Scroll down for more information on a community puzzle swap and how to get free entry to the California Academy of Science.
* Tonight * Art receptions and auction deadline extended
A robot dog named “Spot” joins the artist Agnieszka Pilat to start her.Thinking machines: Renaissance 2.0”Exhibition at the Foreign Cinema (2534 Mission St.) this evening from 6-8pm. Pilat, artist-in-residence at the spot manufacturer Boston Dynamics, teaches the robot to paint. Her work explores innovation in the space where art and technology meet, and draws inspiration from works like Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase 2.0. It also builds on the exhibition theme with canvases and augmented reality and reinterprets Renaissance works by Michelangelo and DaVinci. Pilat, an artist “trained in the European figurative painting tradition,” says her “aim is to apply this old-fashioned training in a contemporary way”. Information about the reception and the exhibition can be found here.
Also tonight, don’t forget your final commandments for that San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness Art Auction. The last application deadline has been extended to 9 p.m. The proceeds will be used to fund the coalition’s work to protect the lives of people on the streets and to create lasting solutions to homelessness.
Three final receptions this weekend also ask for your participation. See in the Drawing Room (3260-62 23rd St.) on Saturday, September 25th, from 4-8pm the joint show and talk by Zoe Ani and Nick Maltagliati with the title “Hard work & soft fruit“. With ten watercolor and gouache landscapes, they used light and color to illustrate the human connection to land and the state of our food systems. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Direct Action for Farm Workers. Register here to participate.
the Final reception of the ark takes place on Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Pier 2 building of the Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture (2 Marina Blvd) and features over 100 local artists. Browse to the sounds of Motel Club music and enjoy treats and drinks from Rye on the Road. Ticket information and further details can be found here.
For the 14th anniversary, the Secession Art & Design (3235 Mission St.) organized the “longevity” Show with Heather Robinson and Makiko Harris. The exhibition ends this Sunday, September 26th, but the gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 12pm to 6pm. To browse or own the artists’ “bright, curious” paintings, visit them in person or buy online now.
Justice for immigrants, climate, housing and more
On Friday, September 24th, one second Demonstration for justice for Haitian immigrants takes place at 4 p.m. in the San Francisco Federal Building (90 7th St.). Participants should bring signs and “your spirit of resistance” with them. Contact the organizing Haiti Action Committee for more information.
Look no further than your neighborhood (or on your computer screen) for other ways to catch up on hot topics and take action. the NorCal Symposium on Climate, Health and Justice takes place online from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is co-funded by the University of California San Francisco. The symposium covers topics such as food systems, forest fires and air pollution, advocacy and education in collaboration with community partners. Register here.
On Saturday at 2:30 p.m. March for animal liberation starts from Dolores Park. The two mile long march at a moderate pace will draw attention to the pandemic and the climate emergency and show “how destructive the exploitation of animals is for all animals, including humans”. More information can be found here.
On Sunday that Cancel the rents! Car caravan and rally seeks to continue to “build a powerful movement to achieve an indefinite moratorium that will prevent 11 million people from being kicked out of their homes”. Demands include an indefinite moratorium on evictions, rapid development of tenant aid funds, as well as rent termination and debts accumulated during the pandemic. The caravan will depart from Marin St. 1875 near Evans at 11:30 am and the rally will begin at 1:30 pm in Garfield Park. Find out more here.
Community Jigsaw Puzzle Swap: “Give a puzzle piece a chance.”
“Puzzles are a great change from the screen and a fun way to relieve stress,” read a flyer we found in Mission this week. Whether you collected puzzles during the pandemic or you are a seasoned professional, this Sunday’s puzzle swap is here to inspire you to new challenges.
From 2-4pm on September 26th, come by on the 22nd and Guerrero to swap old puzzles for new ones. It’s all free; For every puzzle you bring, take a new puzzle. Masks are required, disinfectants are provided, and a table is set up outside to allow social distancing. Leftover puzzles will be donated to Community Thrift.
Free entry to Cal Academy with vaccination and what we learned during the pandemic
There are so many reasons to get vaccinated and that now includes a free trip to the California Academy of Sciences. Not only can you protect yourself and your loved ones and help California continue to reopen safely, but you can also purchase a ticket for “Daytime” or “NightLife” (from 21 years of age) while supplies last. You can find a list of the participating vaccination centers here.
To get a bigger picture of the pandemic, Department of Health Director Grant Colfax will be with Manny on Tuesday September 28 to speak about our public health system in the final installment of the “What We Learned” series. Find out more and answer here.
* Tonight * One-on-one dance fight at Skybridge on Stevenson
As part of their attempt to “breathe life” into the 500s block of Stevenson Street near 6th Street in SoMa, the community-run Skybridge at Stevenson hosts weekly outdoor dance and music festivals on Thursdays. Tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. “all styles, levels, skills and energy are strongly recommended” to compete in a one-on-one dance match with local DJs for cash prizes. There will also be excellent local musical talent with food and drink provided by neighborhood restaurants. The weekly festivals last until November 18th.
Lean into the kink
the Folsom Street Fair takes place this Sunday and this year is named after its original name from 1984 – MEGAHOOD. # MEGAHOOD2021 still promises the same inclusiveness, allure and activism of the past with a new vision for the future of sexual liberation. They’ve planned everything with the pandemic in mind, and their Instagram has some helpful maps and other information to help make the most of the day. Prepare to get messed up on Sunday from 11 a.m. to dusk!
And just in time Manny’s (3092 16th St.) is holding a “Panel discussion “Leather, Kink and Spirituality” on Friday at 5pm Panelists include activists and a pastor with answers to your questions such as “How can I become more confident in my sexual expression?” “Where can I find someone who shares my inclinations and desires” and “Can I become of freed from the shame I may feel? ”. RSVP here.
