“VOTE: An art exhibition about taking action” runs October 19 – November 6, 2018 at Playland at 43rd Avenue
Outer Sunset artists join for group show that aims to motivate and inspire local action
San Francisco, California — September 5, 2018 – Artist and curator Georgia Hodges in collaboration with Playland at 43rd Avenue announces a group exhibition of new works by artists from San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood entitled “VOTE: An art exhibition about taking action.” The show will run from October 19 – November 6, 2018 with an opening reception Friday, October 19 from 4-6pm and a closing reception on Election Day, November 6, 2018 from 4-6pm. The exhibition is located in the Art Container at Playland at 43rd Avenue, 1360 43rd Avenue, San Francisco.
According to show curator Hodges: “VOTE is an exhibition intended to spark, remind, motivate, and inspire people to take action, both personally and within their communities. VOTING is just that: simultaneously a personal and collective act. Taking action on a personal level gives meaning to our lives. Taking action and reaching out to our neighbors breathes wellness into our local communities. Taking action and VOTING proactively shapes our culture. We hope that this exhibition will serve as a reminder to VOTE, particularly for this election, because voter turnout tends to dip in mid-term elections like this one. And we hope that the work in the exhibition will remind us that when we participate, we are a connected humanity.”
The eleven Outer Sunset district artists invited by Hodges to participate in this show take action every day by making their art. Their contribution to culture reminds us of our values and what is important. Local art motivates and inspires local action. All of the artists are currently, or have been, part of The Mud Room, a shared artist collective located across the street from Playland at 43rd Avenue. Participating artists are: Jillian Blackwell, Julie Cloutier, Alicia Guckenheimer–Harrell, Amy Hirst, Georgia Hodges, Rachel Kaye, Lauren Lubell, George McCalman, Jay Nelson, Johanna St. Clair, Daren Wilson.
As a community designed, built, and maintained neighborhood park, Playland at 43rd Avenue is a good fit as a site for this exhibition. Playland is an example of both personal and local action — of neighbors working together to actively shape their environment. The Playland Art Container, where VOTE will be located, is a shipping container that has been transformed to serve as a multiuse space, facilitating both artists’ studios and a Creativity Corner, which is focused on kids and art workshops. The Art Container supports Outer Sunset artists by providing a space to develop and create their work and a platform to show it. The VOTE exhibition presents the work of eleven local artists to their neighbors and fellow community members, broadening connections and inspiring action.
To further encourage show attendees to take action by voting, voter registration will be available the first weekend of the show — October 20 and 21. The deadline to register before the November 6 election is October 22. In addition to providing voter registration cards, gallery staffers can help make sure visitors are registered to vote, voter registrations are up to date, confirm polling places, and will deliver registration cards to the Department of Elections.
Gallery Hours:
• Opening reception, October 19 4-6pm
• Saturday – Sunday, October 20-21, 12-5pm (Voter registration available)
• Saturday – Sunday, October 27-28, 12-5pm
• Saturday – Sunday, November 3-4, 12-5pm
• Closing reception: Election Day, November 6th, 4-6pm
The Gallery will also be open by appointment. To schedule an appointment or for more information, email Susan Ryan at playlandat43rdavenue@gmail.com or Georgia Hodges at gdh@soularch.com.
LOCATION: PLAYLAND Art Container
1360 43rd Ave (btw. Irving + Judah), San Francisco, CA 94122
About Georgia Hodges: Georgia Hodges is a San Francisco based artist and Outer Sunset resident. She refers to her home studio as The Mud Room at Ocean Beach; the artists in this exhibition are all part of The Mud Room community. Georgia has over 20 years experience as a working artist, teaching ceramics and ceramic art studio management, and directing and curating an art gallery for emerging artists. Her knowledge of clay, the arts, and the creative process is well-rounded and thorough. She also partners with her husband, Doug Jacuzzi, in their Design/Build Firm, Soularch Design.
About Playland at 43rd Avenue: Playland at 43rd Avenue is a multi-use community space created on an unused 1.25 acre asphalt lot on San Francisco Unified School District property, the site of a former elementary school in the Outer Sunset neighborhood. Playland has become a cherished community resource in the two years that it has been open. Guided by District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang and the San Francisco Planning Department, community members decided how the space should be used and helped build it. Creating a space for artists was one of the original requests of those who participated in the Community Engagement process — along with a community garden, skatepark, basketball courts, ping pong table, and plenty of space for climbing and running and scooting. Playland at 43rd Avenue received the San Francisco Parks Alliance’s Innovative Project of the Year Award in May 2017.
For more information: playlandat43rdavenue@gmail.com or gdh@soularch.com.
