FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Sarah Pritchard, Director of Communications & Strategy
415-863-1414 x103, press@somarts.org
 

SOMArts Cultural Center Presents

Pièce de RESISTance:
A contemporary renaissance ball to benefit SOMArts
Saturday, April 22, 2017
All-Access Happy Hour: 6:00–8:00 pm
Party & Performances: 8:00 pm–12:00 am
One-night-only art party curated by Kelly Lovemonster to benefit the cultural oasis under the 101 freeway known as SOMArts.

March 17, 2017, San Francisco, CA— Just as the historic renaissance ushered in an era of creative innovations and democratic philosophies, SOMArts supports a renaissance of powerful art movements for social justice and freedom of expression. For over 35 years, SOMArts has fostered access to the arts in the Bay Area, uplifting the voices of artists who are too often marginalized in the mainstream art world. Now more than ever, it is crucial that artists are given the resources and support they need to create socially-conscious work.

As SOMArts enters an organizational renaissance under the leadership of Executive Director Maria Jenson — recently honored as one of the San Francisco Art Institute’s Disruptors — the Pièce de RESISTance represents a bold public statement of resistance and resilience through creative expression. 

The Pièce de RESISTance will showcase SOMArts as a cultural oasis in an event curated by recent SOMArts Curatorial Residency recipient Kelly Lovemonster and conceived entirely by artists to benefit SOMArts' programs. Guests will enjoy an evening of experimental performance, artist-designed installations, and dancing to a lineup of the Bay Area's finest DJs.

The evening will begin with a preview happy hour from 6:00–8:00 pm offering all-access ticket holders the chance to meet the recipients of the 2017–2018 SOMArts Curatorial Residency, as well as leaders in the Bay Area contemporary art world. The happy hour program will include remarks from Tom DeCaigny, Director of Cultural Affairs of the San Francisco Arts Commission, and an exclusive screening by video artist Hito Steyerl (Berlin). 

General admission for the party will begin at 8:00 pm, with performances by Dia Dear, John Fucking Cartwright, Maryam Farnaz Rostami and Mica Sigourney, and India Sky of Topsy Turvy Queer Circus — all of whom are deeply influenced by their work in the underground drag and performance culture of San Francisco that has been nurtured and influenced by SOMArts programs like The News queer performance series.

In addition to performances, party attendees will enjoy a custom bar selection by event sponsor Campari America, as well as wine provided by Kokomo Winery and Ninkasi craft beer.

The dance party will be fueled by live DJ sets from the Bay Area's hottest DJs, including DJ Juanita More, DJ Jackie House (Honey Soundsystem) and DJ Lady Ryan.

In a political moment filled with so much despair and hopelessness, this provocative art party and fundraiser will fill SOMArts’ Main Gallery — the largest open-air gallery space in San Francisco — with contemporary performances and surprise art installations to inspire a renaissance in creative thinking and resistance strategies.

All-access tickets are available for $85. General admission tickets are available for $20 online or $30 at the door. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit https://somartsresist.eventbrite.com.

Pièce de RESISTance
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Dia Dear
India Sky, Topsy Turvy Queer Circus
John Fucking Cartwright, Maryam Farnaz Rostami and Mica Sigourney

DJs
DJ Juanita More
DJ Jackie House (Honeysoundsystem)
DJ Lady Ryan

Curated by Kelly Lovemonster

CALENDAR LISTING

Pièce de RESISTance
Saturday, April 22, 2017
All-access Happy Hour: 6:00–8:00 pm
Party & Performances: 8:00 pm–12:00 am
https://somartsresist.eventbrite.com

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ABOUT SOMARTS CULTURAL CENTER

SOMArts Cultural Center, founded in 1979, cultivates access to the arts within the Bay Area by collaborating with community-focused artists and organizations. Together, we engage the power of the arts to provoke just and fair inclusion, cultural respect and civic participation.

SOMArts plays a vital role in the arts ecosystem by helping activate the arts citywide. We do this by providing space and production support for non-profit events, as well as fairs and festivals throughout the Bay Area, and offering a robust program of art exhibitions, classes, events and performances that are affordable and accessible to all. SOMArts’ exhibition programs receive critical support from the San Francisco Arts Commission and The San Francisco Foundation, and are sponsored in part by a grant from Grants for the Arts.

SOMArts is located at 934 Brannan Street—between 8th and 9th—within 2 blocks of 101, I-80, Muni lines and bike paths.

For public information call 415-863-1414 or visit somarts.org. Stay connected by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.