This weekend marks the final stretch of SF Beer Week and lots of fun events are happening right here in Oaktown. Here are a few highlights (all free events and all within walking/biking distance of each other!):

Friday, Feb 17
An Evening with Firestone Walker Brewing Company at the TRAPPIST
Meet the Brewmaster Matt Brynildson and drink some of his special beer. From The Trappist kitchen there will be a special batch of Brisket braised with Walkers reserve.

Saturday, Feb 18
It’s an LA Invasion! at Beer Revolution
Countless Los Angeles area breweries will be present (2-11 pm)
*Click here for more events happening this Fri/Sat/Sun at Beer Revolution.

Fri, Sat & Sun, Feb 17/18/19
Winter Beer Festival at Pacific Brewing Company
Various winter brews will be tapped throughout the weekend.

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I was drawn to this paper stencil cutting at Cosecha Cafe the other day. The intricate poster, by Tahiti Pehrson who does gorgeous work, is a subtle addition that works nicely in the bright and modern open space. It’s also another reason to go for lunch (in addition to their delicious butternut squash quesadilla!).

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Come join in the festivities tonight at Creative Growth and get your fill of art, delicious food (bbq!) & live music. You can purchase last minute tickets here – all proceeds go to supporting Creative Growth.

For $20 you’ll get:
Slow Roasted Pig
Iron Skillet Corn Bread w/brown sugar-jalapeno butter
Slow baked beans
Winter Slaw
Bourbon Pecan Pie

Live music by:
Blue Country–featuring Sandra Poindexter and Friends

Served from 6pm to 8pm with casual seating in the Creative Growth studio

Gallery open from 5:30 – 9pm showing current exhibition: Out of the Blue

Hope to see you there!

Snow Pallet: An installation in Sapporo Art Park in Japan by Toshihiko Shibuya, relies on the neutral landscape created by snow, something we don’t get to experiment with much in the Bay Area. The art piece scatters mushroom-like disks, painted bright colors on the underside, through the snow. The color then reflects onto the snow below creating beautiful pools of soft neon light.

You could apply this simple process of adding color to neutral spaces and objects in many ways to garner a huge effect. We plan to experiment!

Images from Designboom
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Have a bunch of leftover zip ties in your garage (or is it just me?) and no idea what to do with them? Look to artist Brian Jones for some inspiration. His work explores bringing new life to everyday objects like balconies and watering cans by adorning them with colorful zip ties. The result is quite beautiful. All images below are directly from the artist’s website.

Tuft v. Turf (2009)

Tuft v. Turf & A+B (2009)

Turfside Passage at Knoxville Museum of Art (2011)

We’ve done a post on yarn bombing before (knitted cozies designed to adorn public objects). In fact, we’ve dedicated a lot of posts to yarn art in general illustrating our love for the delicate and versatile material. Well here’s another one for you by artist, Streetcolor, at our very own Oakland Museum in their front plaza. The yarn installation adds another playful layer to Jensen Architect’s chalkboard and furniture installation, “Chairs of the Board.” The area is open to the public to enjoy so go check it out before the rain finally starts.

Via Oakland Museum blog

Via Berkeley Today

Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, uses an iconic ready-made object – the bicycle – and the power of repetition to manipulate space in his 2011 installation titled Forever Bicycle in Taiwan. This work seems particularly relevant for the bike-centric bay area. Imagine a public bike storage system throughout the city that created art out of our preferred method of transport.

(from Selectism)

(from Arrested Motion)

Pipilotti Rist, a bold Swiss artist, is known for her technicolor installations that transform space with light, imagery & sound. You may have experienced her work if you were lucky enough to visit the NY MOMA a few years back (see below) – unfortunately I missed it!

Pour Your Body Out, MOMA NY (2009)

Interior installation throughout Cinema Manzoni, Milan (2011)

The holidays are right around the corner and being the procrastinator that I am, shopping has barely started in our household. Rather than brave the chain stores and mall madness, this year I plan to visit a medley of my favorite local shops & craft fairs. Below is a smattering that the bay area has to offer representing a wonderful variety of unique and affordable goods – perfect for any holiday gift list.

SF Renegade Craft Fair (be sure to check out our friend’s Mahoohoo & Sara Paloma!)

OakCollectiv in Oakland (also temporary home to Awaken Cafe!)

Stop by this Friday for their holiday extravaganza!

25th Street Collective in Oakland

Creative Growth Holiday Sale (gallery has extended hours!)

The Crucible is also having their holiday open house filled with demonstrations and revelry this Saturday, December 10th.

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Staring at the blank wall in front of me, I am inspired to fill the space with something new and unexpected…which reminds me of the wall mural along the bridge to the sculpture garden at SFMOMA by Rosana Castrillo-Diaz. The piece is so subtle it almost disappears but its intensity changes depending on the light and as you walk alongside it. See it below (or go experience it in person!) along with a few other professional and diy projects that might inspire you to create your own masterpiece.

Images from SFMOMA blog

This next installation by William Kentridge at MOMA’s PS1 strongly contrasts Diaz’s ethereal piece with its gritty context and haunting figures in silhouette. The commonality is that the stairwell, much like the bridge, is transformed into an interactive experience rather than a mundane passage way.

Images from AmieOliver blog

Merimekko stencil with sharpy pen; Image from Curbly

Image from Apartment Therapy – reminds me of an ee cummings illustration
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