Bay Area Now 4: The Scene
The Bay Area Now opening night at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Friday was so big, we're going to have to post on it twice. Look for SFist Sarah to write an insightful, informed post about the art later this week. Us, we're just scenesters who like pretty art, fashionable people and booze. So that's what we're gonna talk about.
First off, the crowd was huge. Our sources tell us the event was oversold. Hundreds with tickets had to wait outside, and hundreds more waited to pick up tickets from will-call. We ran into a couple of friends, including Schlomo of Echoplex Park, who had shown up only to be turned away. Us? Thanks to Adriane, we had press passes, so we got to sneak in ahead of the crowds and got a fancy pink badge so that we could take pictures.
There were basically two areas to the party -- the "go ahead and drink the $4 beer" areas where artsy bands played artsy music, and the "please check your bag and no pictures or drinks" area where all the actual art was. Both were packed to the gills. Our favorite pieces were those done by our friends -- Hank Thomas' work, "Priceless," was the banner hanging outside, and he had a collabortive piece with Kambui Olujimi screening in one of the gallery rooms. Kate Pocrass, of Mundane Journeys, also had an excellent piece -- a simple stack of printed maps annotated in her trademark deadpan style. Take one, they're free!
The inimitable, mysterious Neck Face also had work up, including a monstrous sheetmetal sculpture that towered menacingly over the gallery. We tried and tried to track him down for a picture, but alas, no luck. Maybe the kids at Fecal Face managed to score one. The crowd was rife with some serious fashion tragedies, AKA "Hipsters," many of whom seemed more interested in the set by Deer Hoof than actually taking in the art. No matter, though -- everyone's money is green, and it all went to the YBCA. The show will be up for quite a while, and it will probably be easier to appreciate if you aren't distracted by the horrible shoes that girl is wearing. Seriously, did she look at her feet before she left the house?
Hank Thomas is grilled by SFist Sarah.
Kambui and Susan rock the b-boy stance.
Peter, Kate and Andrew are all smiles.
If we see another dude with shaggy hair and skinny jeans...