SF Open Studios 2006 - Celebrate Art Made Here October 6, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO OPEN STUDIOS 2005 CELEBRATES
31 YEARS OF ART MADE HERE

Schedule Announced for the Bay Area’s Largest, Longest-running Free Visual Arts Event

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Now in its 31st year, SF Open Studios is the Bay Area’s largest, longest-running free visual arts event and a model for open studios throughout the country and the world. During the month of October, over 900 local, practicing, and emerging artists open their art studios throughout the city to showcase their work for the public.

Open Studios provides art enthusiasts and buyers with the opportunity to meet artists, tour their studios, view and purchase original works of art including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, furniture, glass, technology/new media, photography, prints, jewelry, works on paper, and wearable art. Over 60,000 art-loving and art-curious people will tour through participating artists’ workplaces, which include traditional studios, warehouse buildings and shipyards, public spaces and private homes – experiencing art in an approachable and inviting atmosphere.

Artists’ studios are open Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of October from 11am to 6pm as follows:

Weekend #1 - October 7 & 8
Financial District, North Beach, Potrero Hill, Russian Hill, South of Market, Tenderloin

Weekend #2 - October 14 & 15
Bernal heights, Castro, Duboce, Eureka Valley, Glen Park, Mission, Noe Valley, Portola

Weekend #3 - October 21 & 22
Buena Vista, Diamond Heights, Fort Mason, Haight, Hayes Valley, Marina, Mount Davidson, Pacific Heights, Richmond, Sunset, Twin Peaks, West Portal

Weekend #4 - October 28 & 29
Bayview, Excelsior, Hunters Point Shipyard

Adele Louise Shaw, an accomplished multimedia artist, has been taking part in SF Open Studios for 6 years and counting. “What’s unique about SF Open Studios is the chance people get to demystify the creative process a bit,” says Shaw. “When people come to my studio, they can see my palette and brushes, they can smell the paint, I can answer questions for them, and they can see magic in the results for themselves.”

ArtSpan, a non-profit organization and organizer of SF Open Studios, has produced the event for the last 16 years, offering the self-guided tour for the education and enjoyment of visitors. The Guide, a comprehensive full color directory of over 600 participating artists, complete with valuable artist information, artwork images, articles, and maps, can be found at SomArts Gallery (934 Brannan Street in SF), Blick Art Stores, Tower Records, Stacey's Bookstore, Cole Hardware and local coffee shops, bookstores and museum shops throughout the Bay Area.

In late September, visitors will be able to preview the art of all 900+ participating artists by medium, style, location, or name, directly on ArtSpan’s website with a forthcoming easy-to-use database search engine. A comprehensive map will also be printed in the San Francisco Bay Guardian each week in October, available free throughout San Francisco wherever Guardian newsstands are found. For more information, photos, or to set up interviews, please call Gina Power at (415) 861-9838 or email at gpower@artspan.org.

ABOUT ARTSPAN
ArtSpan is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to building connections within San Francisco’s visual arts community and exposing the general public to artists and their work. For 31 years, ArtSpan has helped artists make inroads into the San Francisco community through programs such as Art for City Youth and SF Open Studios held each October. The organization also coordinates an annual series of workshops devoted to artists’ professional development. For more information, please contact Gina Power at 415-861-9838 or email at gpower@artspan.org. www.ArtSpan.org.

SF Open Studios 2005 is sponsored by: 7x7 Magazine, ABC7 KGO-TV, Blick Art Materials, Cindy Grand, Richard Grand Foundation, Grants for the Arts/SF Hotel Tax Fund, San Francisco Bay Guardian, The San Francisco Foundation, The San Francisco Arts Commission/Cultural Equity Grants and hundreds members and donors.

Official Website: http://www.sfopenstudios.com