Allies (2017)

SAN FRANCISCO (October 24, 2017) – The San Francisco Arts Education Project explores the relationship between artist mentor and student artist in Allies. The work of SFArtsED artist mentors hangs alongside work created by students in each artist’s residency in a San Francisco public school or in an SFArtsED after-school program, demonstrating a key tenet of the San Francisco Arts Education Project: the absolute central place of the generous and strategic artist mentor and practicing fine artist inspiring students under their guidance.

In 1996, two SFArtsED artists, Richard Olsen and Agelio Batle, created a show called Authentic Allies: Artists and Children, and this new show takes its inspiration from that exhibition and the way it so successfully demonstrated the circular conversation between practicing fine artists and their students, how each is as equally inspired by the other.

SFArtsED Artists

• Jeanette Au
• Zoe Farmer
• Rachel Major
• Richard Olsen
• Jesus Perez Zamarron

Participating Schools

• Commodore Sloat Elementary School
• McKinley Elementary School
• Miraloma Elementary School
• George Peabody Elementary School
• Glen Park After-School Program
• Hillcrest Elementary School

ALLIES is on exhibit November 4, 2017 through Dec. 23, 2017 in the San Francisco Arts Education Project’s art studio-classroom in Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota Street (@24^th Street), San Francisco, second floor. Opening reception is Saturday, Nov. 4 from 1pm to 4pm. Regular hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm. First Saturday hours on November 4 and December 2 are 4pm to 8pm.

About SFArtsED

Founded in 1968 (as the Alvarado School Arts Workshop) by renowned artist Ruth Asawa, SFArtsED has transformed the lives of children, their families, teachers, artists and volunteers. Programs include SFArtsED Summer, In-School Artist Residencies, After-School programs, the SFArtsED Players Musical Theater Company, Interdisciplinary Arts Program and apprenticeships for college and high school students. SFArtsED moved into its new space at Minnesota Street Project in March 2016, marking the first time in the organization’s nearly 50-year history that it has a space of its own for instruction, exhibition, seminars, workshops and gatherings of all kinds. www.sfartsed.org

About Minnesota Street Project

Located in San Francisco’s historic Dogpatch district, Minnesota Street Project offers affordable and economically sustainable spaces for art galleries, artists and related nonprofits. Inhabiting over 100,000 square feet, the Project seeks to retain and strengthen San Francisco’s contemporary art community in the short term, while developing an internationally recognized arts destination in the long term. Founded by entrepreneurs and collectors Deborah and Andy Rappaport, Minnesota Street Project was inspired by the couple’s belief that philanthropic support for the arts today requires an alternate model—one suited to the innovative nature of Silicon Valley and the region as a whole.Their vision of a dynamic, self-sustaining enterprise that shares its economic success with arts businesses and professionals aims to encourage heightened support for the arts from newcomer and established patrons alike.
www.minnesotastreetproject.com

For more information, photos or to arrange interviews, please call 415-551-7990 or e-mail chad.j@sfartsed.org. Right click on images below to download.