Photo du Jour 516
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Due to the erection of the new Transbay Terminal, Varnish Fine Art will be smashed to smithereens. Alas. Varnish Gallery, for those of you who don't know, is fantastic. The downtown wine bar/art gallery played host to readings by "jt leroy" and Karl Soehnlein, biweekly performances by Davies Symphony Hall darling Mason Bates (DJ Masonic), SFist's very first party, and provided lots and lots of free booze to your editor.
Open by Jennifer Rogers and Kerri Stephens back in 2003 and using the remains of a brewery built just after the 1906 earthquake, the result was a spiffy space that included a main gallery, mezzanine gallery and wine bar that combined fine art with a community vibe.
Anyway, it seems that that some city folks are knocking down the building soon and want them out by September -- word is that said city folk aren't being too nice about it either -- so they're having a fun going-away party with musicians, speakers, performers, and more. The list so far includes spoken word by the Dead Kennedys frontman and activist Jello Biafra, recent Vice Presidential candidate and former SF Supe President Matt Gonzalez, newsman and Argonaut Editor Warren Hinckle, music by Burnt House and DJ Evil Justin, live screenprinting by Political Gridlock and The Firehouse. But you don't have to be a raging male, commie-pinko to come -- oh, we kid, boys. Kinda -- all are welcome at next Friday's Varnish Gallery farewell.
What: Varnish Gallery's Eminent Domain Farewell
When: Friday, June 5, 7 p.m.-midnight
Where: Varnish Fine Art, 77 Natoma, SF
Why: This.
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Then I guess we can ask Jello Biafra in person how he feels about Jerry Brown this time around.
I find it fascinating that Biafra's thesis from today's perspective would make Brown look like a mellow old guy compared to Gruesome Newsom's uber zen fascist lifestyle nazi type self. Is Newsom the end product of a childhood under Brown's policies as defined by an uncannily prescient Jello Biafra?
They should have known about this project when they opened back in 2003. OK to have a farewell party, but the sanctimonious protect-our-property-rights blather on their website is more than a bit too much.
easiest way to guarantee any party will be a disaster: ask jello biafra to "perform."
"spoken word"
Keeping my fingers crossed that Varnish Fine Art can re-open nearby ... maybe one of the piers?
Aw, I liked Varnish, mainly as a refuge from the other bars on Natoma if I had to be down there on a Friday night.
Are they knocking down Zebulon and John Collins too? Those at least won't be missed so much.
Hello Sf-isters:
I am the gallery assistant at Varnish Fine Art and want to clear up a couple of points.
1st- This isn't a "Farewell" Event, so much as an event/group show to promote awareness of a city government's abuse of Eminent Domain, which Varnish is a victim of. We will, in fact, have two more solo shows/openings, Kevin Peterson in July and Michael Page in August.
2nd- I would like to respond to AJ's post with a direct quote from the Varnish Press Release:
"In May of 2003, co-owners Jen Rogers and Kerri Stephens first learned about the TJPA’s neighborhood-devastating project in an SF Business Times article titled, “The Wrecking Ball is Swinging." " May of 2003 was one month after they opened the doors and many more months after they signed the original lease.
I hope that clears things up. We hope to see you all on June 5th!
~layla
Varnish Fine Art Gallery Assistant