The Lower Haight is a destination for local art enthusiasts, with a wide variety of murals, galleries and public projects. For those interested in seeking out the neighborhood's most recent additions, here's a guide to new exhibitions worth checking out in the neighborhood right now.
"Lively Psychedelic" opening reception on September 18th. (Photo: Courtesy of The Luggage Store)
Onodera's 2014 painting "Knock On Heaven's Door" (Photo: Courtesy of The Luggage Store)
On display now at the Luggage Store Gallery (457 Haight St.) is "Lively Psychedelic," a collection of paintings, drawings, digital prints and hand crafted objects by local artist Naoki Onodera. This is Onodera's first solo exhibition and first collaboration with the Luggage Store; he's previously shown work at Guerrero Gallery and Ever Gold. The show, which opened last Friday, will run through October 17th.
The new Wangari Maathai mural. (Photo: Jennie Butler/Hoodline)
Look familiar? This new mural of 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai at Haight and Pierce is a remake of one that originally went up on the same building in 2012. The original (shown below) came down recently when the building's exterior wood paneling needed to be replaced. Kate Deciccio, who painted both this mural and the one outside Two Jack's, said she will improve the original piece, but keep its content and feeling.
The original Wangari Maathai mural at Haight and Pierce. (Photo: Andrew Dudley/Hoodline)
"The main change is that I'm working with a lift—the initial mural was limited by how high we could get with a ladder," said Deciccio. "Now I can really fill the space, and spend time making Wangari's headscarf more intricate and beautiful." Deciccio said she hopes to finish the upgraded mural today.
Photo: Courtesy of the Harvey Milk Photo Center
The latest exhibition at the Harvey Milk Photo Center (60 Scott St.) is 60 Years Behind the Camera, on display through October 25th. It's a retrospective for Jeffrey Blankfort, an internationally renowned photographer who has documented social and political movements since the 1960s.
Photos: Courtesy of fnnch
These new murals by artist fnnch appeared earlier this month outside Edo Salon's former spot on Haight and Steiner. Fnnch, who previously stenciled ladybugs and American burying beetles in Alamo Square, says this mural is by far his largest work to date.
Photo: Diane Zimmer/Hoodline
Local artist Joker spray-painted this mural on the front wall of Memphis Minnie's during the Lower Haight Art Walk earlier this month. Joker also painted the mural on O'Looneys Market back in 2013.
And of course, don't forget about DSF (520 Haight) and Fifty24SF (218 Fillmore), which both regularly host art exhibitions. DS is hosting a poster show and signing for artist Justin Bua next Saturday, October 3rd. Fifty24SF temporarily closed after their most recent show ended, but they will reopen next month with new work on display.
