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[Super]fast Jellyfish
A Super Bowl art show, a metalhead's dentist nightmare, and classical music for everyone
My grandmother slept under an autographed Dallas Cowboys jersey. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and relatives of unclear blood ties would descend on her house every Sunday to watch the team give their all and inevitably disappoint. The Cowboys' championship days were behind them, but my family's hope wasn't. They would convince themselves time and time again that this week would be different, then scream, curse, cry, and sigh when it wasn’t. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose? Try blurry eyes, broken hearts... and likely losing.
Check out Bay Area artists celebrating the Super Bowl, hear publishers discuss their craft at North America’s only bookbinding museum, and discover a quirky indie film at SF Indiefest.
Opening Reception | Visual Field: Super Bowl LX
Category: Art
Date: Friday, February 6th @ 4pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Brian Madden Studio (SF)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Artist Brian Madden is featuring his sports-themed work alongside that of thirteen other Bay Area artists in this Super Bowl LX exhibition. Sports is a through-line in Madden’s career, with partnerships including the NFL and Nike, making this a natural showcase for his practice. Visual Field features thematically relevant painting, sculpture, and mixed media, with all proceeds going to the artists. I’ve been following Madden’s work since meeting him at a gallery opening a couple of years ago, so it’s fun to see him curate a show so perfectly aligned with his practice.
Opening Reception | CODEX International Book Art Fair: A 21st-century Fine Press
Category: Literary
Date: Monday, February 9th @ 6:30pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: The American Bookbinders Museum (SF)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Independent publisher Suntup Editions is showcasing its handcrafted books at The American Bookbinders Museum, the only North American museum dedicated to the history and art of bookbinding. The exhibition, A 21st-century Fine Press, is a satellite event for the CODEX International Book Art Fair & Symposium held in Oakland. The opening reception includes a discussion with Suntup’s team about running a highly physical and tactile press in this digital age.
Bar Shiru | 7 Year Anniversary Party
Category: Music
Date: Tuesday, February 3rd @ 4pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Bar Shiru (East Bay)
Price Range: Free (No reservation needed)
Why I Care: Two words: Negroni fountain. Bar Shiru is celebrating seven years as a home for elevated drinks and high-fidelity listening sessions. Founders Shirin and Daniel were inspired to start Bar Shiru after visiting Japanese jazz kissas (“jazz cafés”), where music is the main feature, not background noise. While Bar Shiru often hosts silent listening sessions, the anniversary party embraces a different vibe: plenty of conversation alongside carefully curated music. And of course, many a drink.
SF Indiefest | Tooth Shop Fiasco
Category: Film
Date: Monday, February 9th @ 8:40pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Roxie Theater (SF)
Price Range: $19
Why I Care: SF Indiefest showcases independent films across eleven days, and Tooth Shop Fiasco is a wild standout worth catching. The Bay Area-made film follows a young metalhead determined to revive his band after his brother and bandmate falls into a coma. Meanwhile, he’s fending off his dentist’s overeager advances, unsolicited spiritual counsel from a family rabbi, and pressure from fans who’d rather he go solo. It’s absurd, local, and exactly the kind of offbeat storytelling that makes indie film festivals worth attending.
Concert | One Found Sound: Supernatural
Category: Music
Date: Saturday, February 7th @ 8pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Heron Arts (SF)
Price Range: $30
Why I Care: Conductor-less orchestra One Found Sound performs classical music in intimate spaces where audiences feel like part of the show. Supernatural features classics from Stravinsky and Mendelssohn alongside contemporary composers Darian Donovan Thomas and Missy Mazzoli. The orchestra also runs educational programs for underserved youth. In line with this mission, the concert includes a personal hygiene items drive for La Voz Latina, which provides critical services to Tenderloin residents. Bring donations if you can.
Opening Reception | The Canvas Can Do Miracles, Just You Wait and See
Category: Art
Date: Saturday, February 7th @ 4pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: 120710 Gallery (East Bay)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Good Mother Studio has curated The Canvas Can Do Miracles, Just You Wait and See, a group show highlighting the range and depth of artists they’ve worked with over the past decade. The title references a lyric from Christopher Cross’s “Sailing,” a song about finding peace of mind. Cross specifically mentions the canvas because of his belief in art’s impact on one’s mind and soul. Stop by 120710 Gallery, and see what the canvas can do.
Performance | Building Universes
Category: Literary & Dance
Date: Thursday, February 5th @ 5:15pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) & San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) (SF)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: MoAD and SFMoMA present Building Universes, featuring four unique performances blending poetry and dance in response to their current exhibitions. Each museum hosts two different performances at 5:15pm and 6:45pm, inspired by UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe at MoAD and Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love at SFMOMA. You can move freely between the neighboring museums to catch performances in both spaces. The event happens on First Thursdays, when both museums offer free admission and stay open until 8pm.
Next Drop: Thursday, February 12th