Commonwealth Club Talk on Healthy Arts Organizations

Michael Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center, is giving a talk at the Commonwealth Club in downtown SF on Monday, May 11. He'll be discussing how arts organizations can thrive in this economic climate. In case you don't know, the Kennedy Center has proven itself an invaluable resource for small arts organizations across the country in the past few months and the leaders have made themselves available to give advice to anyone who would like it. So even though this is more a policy/business type event than we normally post here - I thought I'd share this rare opportunity to hear from one of our nation's major arts leaders right here in the Bay Area.

Next WATA Meeting May 21 at Koko's Cocktails

The next WATA meeting, and by meeting we mean hanging out over drinks, will be May 21st at 7 pm located at Koko's Cocktails on Geary.

If you haven't been to one of one of our Koko's Cocktail meetings, you're in for a treat. We hope to see you there.

Last Week of Susan York's Porcelain & Graphite Exhibit

Closing May 9th is Susan York's exhibit "Porcelain & Graphite" at the Braunstein/Quay Gallery.

Originally recognized for her stacked sculptures of wafer thin porcelain, in the last several years Susan York has been working with graphite to luminous effect in large wall drawings and distinct works. Influenced by the Constructivist and De Stijl movements, she uses repetition, accumulation and the manifestation of visceral tension as the basis for her work. In describing York’s porcelain work in Art in America, Sarah S. King wrote that her “striking body of work and systematic methods . . . adroitly provoke tensions between space and form.”

Women in Theatre: May Edition

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Assisted Living by Deirdre O'Connor, Playwrights Foundation, In The Rought staged reading, May 4 - 5

Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl, SF Playhouse, May 9 - June 13

For All the Babies' Fathers by WATA member Molly Rhodes, Brava Theatre, April 30 - May 16

Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, the Magic Theatre May 23 - June 14

Natasha and the Coat by Deborah Stein, Playwrights Foundation, In The Rough staged reading, May 11 - 12

Wreckage by Caridad Svich, Crowded Fire, May 9 - June 6

You, Nero by Amy Freed, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, May 15 - June 28


I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Apologies for the Radio Silence

Sorry about that, didn't mean to slack off on my blogging duties.

I'm sleuthing for events of interest to post.

More soon.

Arts as Economic Stimulus

The Nation published an article on the "creative stimulus" today that has a lot of interesting ideas about how the arts can stimulate America's economy and also the importance of creativity at this time. Read it if you have the time.

Made In America at Oakland Museum

In her film Made in America filmmaker Stacy Peralta interviewed members of the Crips and Bloods in this examination of the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Watch the film April 22nd at the Oakland Museum. This event is free and will begin at 6pm.

Watch a trailor for the documentary online.