SF Civic Center Plaza, UN Plaza & Fulton Street
Celebrate fall at the Bi-Rite Civic Center Cafe every Friday this October: 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th! A great Happy Hour event — from 4 to 8pm — enjoy beer and wine from Rye on the Road, food, music and games! RSVP on Facebook.
It’ll be a spooktacular time!
(Image via SFAC)
This post has been updated to share upcoming events.
While the “Early Days” statue was removed in 2018, the hole in the ground has left more than just a physical space — it’s left an opening for the true history of the Native American experience in the Bay Area to be shared by those who should have been the only ones to tell their story in the first place: Native Americans.
To draw attention to the true history, mark the 50th year anniversary of the occupation of Alcatraz, and emphasize accurate artistic representation of Native Americans, the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) has launched the ambitious American Indian Initiative that celebrates the culture and contributions of local Indigenous Peoples. Spanning three months, The Continuous Thread: Celebrating Our Interwoven Histories, Identities and Contributions will include over 14 public events including exhibitions, a temporary light-art project, community celebrations, concerts, a film festival, a fashion show and more.
The American Indian Initiative kicks off on October 4 with the opening of the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) Main Gallery’s new exhibition, The Continuous Thread: Celebrating Our Interwoven Histories, Identities and Contributions. Curated by Carolyn Kuali’i, The Continuous Thread will feature photographs of members of the American Indian community by Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie, Jean Melesaine, and Britt Bradley that were taken in April 2019 centered around the Pioneer Monument, specifically the empty plinth where the Early Days sculptural grouping once stood.
To learn more about the American Indian Initiative, and a full list of related events, please visit the SFAC website.
In 2018 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the Women’s Recognition Public Art Fund – an ordinance requiring 30% of all public art in the City to represent women – with the goal of 50%. At the time of passing the ordinance, of the 87 statues in San Francisco only three depicted non-fictional women. As part of this effort to expand the presence of influential women through permanent art pieces, the first statue approved for the steps for the San Francisco Main Library will depict poet and civil rights activist Dr. Maya Angelou.
The beautiful renderings of the three finalists’ works — chosen as finalists by a Public Art Selection Panel to create site-specific proposals for this artwork opportunity: Jules Arthur, Kenyatta A. C. Hinkle, and Lava Thomas — are on display at the Main Library and the San Francisco Arts Commission website. Check out the works, and provide comment before July 31.
Featuring two modular turf fields, the new spot to play soccer is Fulton Street between the Asian Art Museum and the Main Branch of the San Francisco Pubic Library! Presented by San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department with Street Soccer USA, and additional programming with America Scores, the fields will be up through summer, and include a schedule inclusive for all. Continue reading “New Summer Soccer Fields Now at Civic Center”
Prior to the kick-off the 1st Sundays Block Party 2019 series on Fulton Street at Larkin Street — catch the Women’s World Cup Final in Civic Center Plaza at 8am. Hosted by SF Rec & Park, join other fans to cheer on the teams and watch the game live on the big screen.
Following the game, continue the celebration of soccer at the 1st Sundays Block Party — play a game with Soccer USA and make a free DIY sport pennant, hosted by Feed the Fish Co. and SF Etsy. Also stay and check out the other great elements of the 1st Sundays Block Party: food trucks, games, shopping and more!
The rainbow flags are already flying in Civic Center Plaza and at City Hall — and June 29-30 will usher in a weekend full of celebration for the 49th annual San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade.
Continue reading “San Francisco Pride 2019”
This May marks 74 years since the end of the Holocaust, and to remind those of its horrors — and its survivors — Lest We Forget, an installation by German artist Luigi Toscano, will line Civic Center Plaza from April 17 through May 19.
Comprised of 68 portraits of Holocaust survivors, including both local survivors, and those from across the United States, Germany, Israel, Russia and Ukraine; the “portraits are meant to provide voice and visibility to these survivors,” according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Each portrait stands over seven feet tall, and will line the plaza in such a way that allows for visitors to walk among them.
Presented by the Goethe-Institute San Francisco and the German Consulate in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and San Francisco Arts Commission, the installation has previously been installed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC and the UN Headquarters in New York City.
The installation opens April 17 and runs through May 19, which ends with a closing ceremony.
This year’s 168th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is “the West Coast’s largest Irish event celebrating Irish history and culture,” according to event organizers the United Irish Societies of San Francisco. The parade, with this year’s theme of “women breaking barriers,” begins at 11:30am on Market at 2nd Street and ends in a sea of green at Civic Center Plaza. The annual event brings together San Francisco’s diverse community to learn more about and celebrate Irish history and culture.
Learn more about the event here, and with over 5,000 participants, please consider taking public transportation to the Civic Center public spaces.