The coolest thing about living in the Mission is that there’s always enough art for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been living here all your life or if you just moved here from Berkeley to immerse yourself in a community and culture you could never hope to understand. And even if you think you’re immersed in the community, you can discover that you don’t know it as well as you expected as Abner Nolan, one of the artists creating a temporary museum on 24th Street discovered. The Mission produces a wider variety of art than any other place on the planet. There are murals stretching from one end of this district to the next, galleries continually showcasing local talent, and enough one-off art parties to keep you dancing and thinking till you die.
This weekend, there’s a bookstore rock show, a public art unveiling, and even a silent auction held by the finest Latino art gallery this side of Central/South America. All that, plus weapon-making, a trashion show, and a toy party with a fashion show attached. Enjoy.
SFAC Art in Storefronts Mission Kickoff
Abandoned storefronts are ugly and public art is pretty. That’s the driving idea behind the San Francisco Arts Commission’s citywide Art in Storefronts Project, during which awesome artists beautify ugly facades. Join artists, community members, curators, musicians and more at the unveiling party. Featured artists include Abner Nolan, Kelly Ording and Jetro Martinez, and Tahiti Pehrson. With performances by Mixcoatl Anahuac Danza Azteca and live jazz by the Association. Also enjoy light refreshments and a speech from curators at Triple Base Gallery. Fri., Nov. 20, 7-10pm. Free. Triple Base Gallery (homebase for the event), 3041 24th St.
Pregnant, Vichy Water, Italic Indian
Bookstores were made for one thing and one thing only: rocking out to weird-ass music. Featuring new stuff by Pregnant, Vichy Water and Italic Indian. Fri., Nov. 20, 7pm. Free. Adobe Books, 3166 16th St.
DIY Survivalist Workshop
In the event of an economic, environmental, social, and/or governmental collapse, artists are gonna be the first to go. I mean, knowing how to draw might be sort of useful now, but when the shit hits the fan, it’s not gonna get you anywhere. Time to change that. Join local artist Whitney Lynn in a hands-on workshop covering food procurement, beer-making, and makeshift weaponry. DIY in yo face! Sat., Nov. 21, 2pm. Free. Southern Exposure, 3030 20th St.
Silver Scale: Costumes From Found Material
People always talk about how one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, but that doesn’t even begin to describe the average SF artist’s attitude toward discarded items. This is the city where recycling was invented. We have free markets every month and our city dump actually features an art gallery with a highly coveted residence program. Considering all that, it makes sense that there would periodically be trashion shows like this one, Silver Scale, during which local artist Norah Hoover unveils her line of dresses made from stuff she found on the dirty streets of the Mission. This show will feature audio recordings, black-and-white large-format photography, and super 8 projections. Fri., Nov. 20, 5pm. Free. CELLspace, 2050 Bryant St.
¡Pachanga!
¡Pachanga! is Galería de la Raza’s annual benefit celebration with live and silent auctions of work by more than 70 established and emerging Bay Area artists. Featuring music by DJ Chango Julius. Check here for a listing of artists. Sat., Nov. 21, 7-10pm. $20-50 sliding scale. Galería de La Raza, 2857 24th St.
Toys Don’t Cry
Sandra Wang and Crockett Bodelson are SCUBA, a team of two local artists who share gallery, canvas and bed space. Catch the artists in person at this show, the kickoff party to a month-long exhibition of toy-inspired drawings. Also featuring new fashion from Saffron Rare Threads, Indie Industries, and Kyler by Joy-O. Drinks, food, art, fashion and a special performance by Wang and Bodelson who will be playing inside a tepee with their band, MAKEing Tents. Sat., Nov. 21, 6-9pm. Free. Studio 3579, 499 Dolores St.
Mission Casbah
Join artists, independent designers, hippies, activists, and ex-ravers at the Mission’s newest art/market/party thing, Mission Casbah. Drinks, coffee, music, jewelry, fashion, and more. Sat., Nov. 21, 11am-6pm. Free. Sub-Mission Gallery, 2183 Mission St.
For the club scene, check out our listings here.
For Hey Kids, go here.