Posted on Thursday April 28th 2011 at 02:09pm. Its tags are listed below.

Kitsch Gallery to close end of May.   Disclaimer: I have been part of the Kitsch collective since June 2010. The rumors are true. Kitsch Gallery (at 17th and Capp Street) will shut down at the end of May. The skinny is that the owner won’t renew the collective’s lease. Negotiations were held regarding the timing of the lease, but an agreeable situation was out of the question. We are all saddened by this outcome, but the good news is that Kitsch will not quietly disappear. The month of May will be very special. Planned are four final events to share with our friends and community (see below). Kitsch Gallery was founded summer of 2009 by Nikki Mirsaeid, Anastasja Robinson, and Myrina Tunburg, three SFAI students with a vision of “an alternative, collaborative attempt to develop and sustain bonds between artists and creative dilettanti within and about the San Francisco Bay Area.” Since then, the multi-function gallery playground has been the stomping ground for local artists, musicians, and the like-minded. It has hosted over a dozen curated events and some of the most fun parties. Notable acts include Fred Frith, Bob Ostertag, Jonas Reinhardt, Melted Toys, Japanther, Bronze, Water Borders, Boyz IV Men, Psychic Reality, Eat Tapes, and Sex Worker. Monthly art shows included distinguished locals such as Kylea Borges, Ryan Coffey, Dean Dempsey, Henry Gunderson, Greg Ito (Ever Gold Gallery), Carissa Potter, Chris Ritson, Hilary Schwartz, Kit Yi Wong, and Rochelle Youk. When the walls come down it’ll be the end of era (at least personally). Was there a lesson to be learned? Perhaps. In my own personal opinion, the 17th & Capp corridor is symbolized by Ouroboros - the snake that bite/ate its own tail. It is a neighborhood with a history of collective spaces surfacing only to sink, submerge, and resurface in a new form. In the early 90s, and early 2000s the surrounding area was home to “The Mission School” movement, and base for artist Chris Johanson (see SFBG article). I’m not trying to define Kitsch Gallery as an extension of that particular movement or legacy, but my understanding is that the neighborhood’s collective spaces have a reputation of emerging only to be priced out. Similarly, Kitsch Gallery renovated a former leather processing plant, sprouted a gallery, grew, and was one of the forces contributing to the neighborhood culture. Some of our studio neighbors now tell us they’re also having to relocate. I have a feeling the space will now be rented for a much higher price. Did we bite our own tail? Perhaps. But in that, the individuals that make up the collective will go on to create. There are talks of new spaces, and in the mean time other spots like Engine Works, Secret Alley, and The Sub continue to exist. That said, pour a tall can for Kitsch, and we’ll continue to keep you updated on the final Kitsch events. The first of the four: Saturday, May 7 ICEE HOT Loft Party @ Kitsch Gallery w/ Total Freedom & Mystery Guest, 9PM, $5,  FB event page Roster of individuals/projects that currently exist through Kitsch: Jonathan Griffin: Writer/Actor Dave Huebner: Musician/Welder Pedro Hernandez: Night Fog Reader Josh Hill: Musician/Boyz IV Men Jonathan Hoyt: Artists/Fashion Guru/Worn Well Claire Hummel: Metal Worker/Magnetic Honey Kirsten Knick: Musician/Lilac Nikki Mirsaeid: Artist/Kitsch Founder Taj Robinson: Photographer/Kitsch Founder Myrina Tunberg: Artist/Photographer/Kitsch Founder Cal Volner-Dison: Visual Artist - Pedro   
Kitsch Gallery to close end of May.   Disclaimer: I have been part of the Kitsch collective since June 2010. The rumors are true. Kitsch Gallery (at 17th and Capp Street) will shut down at the end of May. The skinny is that the owner won’t renew the collective’s lease. Negotiations were held regarding the timing of the lease, but an agreeable situation was out of the question. We are all saddened by this outcome, but the good news is that Kitsch will not quietly disappear. The month of May will be very special. Planned are four final events to share with our friends and community (see below). Kitsch Gallery was founded summer of 2009 by Nikki Mirsaeid, Anastasja Robinson, and Myrina Tunburg, three SFAI students with a vision of “an alternative, collaborative attempt to develop and sustain bonds between artists and creative dilettanti within and about the San Francisco Bay Area.” Since then, the multi-function gallery playground has been the stomping ground for local artists, musicians, and the like-minded. It has hosted over a dozen curated events and some of the most fun parties. Notable acts include Fred Frith, Bob Ostertag, Jonas Reinhardt, Melted Toys, Japanther, Bronze, Water Borders, Boyz IV Men, Psychic Reality, Eat Tapes, and Sex Worker. Monthly art shows included distinguished locals such as Kylea Borges, Ryan Coffey, Dean Dempsey, Henry Gunderson, Greg Ito (Ever Gold Gallery), Carissa Potter, Chris Ritson, Hilary Schwartz, Kit Yi Wong, and Rochelle Youk. When the walls come down it’ll be the end of era (at least personally). Was there a lesson to be learned? Perhaps. In my own personal opinion, the 17th & Capp corridor is symbolized by Ouroboros - the snake that bite/ate its own tail. It is a neighborhood with a history of collective spaces surfacing only to sink, submerge, and resurface in a new form. In the early 90s, and early 2000s the surrounding area was home to “The Mission School” movement, and base for artist Chris Johanson (see SFBG article). I’m not trying to define Kitsch Gallery as an extension of that particular movement or legacy, but my understanding is that the neighborhood’s collective spaces have a reputation of emerging only to be priced out. Similarly, Kitsch Gallery renovated a former leather processing plant, sprouted a gallery, grew, and was one of the forces contributing to the neighborhood culture. Some of our studio neighbors now tell us they’re also having to relocate. I have a feeling the space will now be rented for a much higher price. Did we bite our own tail? Perhaps. But in that, the individuals that make up the collective will go on to create. There are talks of new spaces, and in the mean time other spots like Engine Works, Secret Alley, and The Sub continue to exist. That said, pour a tall can for Kitsch, and we’ll continue to keep you updated on the final Kitsch events. The first of the four: Saturday, May 7 ICEE HOT Loft Party @ Kitsch Gallery w/ Total Freedom & Mystery Guest, 9PM, $5,  FB event page Roster of individuals/projects that currently exist through Kitsch: Jonathan Griffin: Writer/Actor Dave Huebner: Musician/Welder Pedro Hernandez: Night Fog Reader Josh Hill: Musician/Boyz IV Men Jonathan Hoyt: Artists/Fashion Guru/Worn Well Claire Hummel: Metal Worker/Magnetic Honey Kirsten Knick: Musician/Lilac Nikki Mirsaeid: Artist/Kitsch Founder Taj Robinson: Photographer/Kitsch Founder Myrina Tunberg: Artist/Photographer/Kitsch Founder Cal Volner-Dison: Visual Artist - Pedro   

Kitsch Gallery to close end of May.  

Disclaimer: I have been part of the Kitsch collective since June 2010.

The rumors are true. Kitsch Gallery (at 17th and Capp Street) will shut down at the end of May. The skinny is that the owner won’t renew the collective’s lease. Negotiations were held regarding the timing of the lease, but an agreeable situation was out of the question. We are all saddened by this outcome, but the good news is that Kitsch will not quietly disappear. The month of May will be very special. Planned are four final events to share with our friends and community (see below).

Kitsch Gallery was founded summer of 2009 by Nikki Mirsaeid, Anastasja Robinson, and Myrina Tunburg, three SFAI students with a vision of “an alternative, collaborative attempt to develop and sustain bonds between artists and creative dilettanti within and about the San Francisco Bay Area.” Since then, the multi-function gallery playground has been the stomping ground for local artists, musicians, and the like-minded. It has hosted over a dozen curated events and some of the most fun parties. Notable acts include Fred Frith, Bob Ostertag, Jonas Reinhardt, Melted Toys, Japanther, Bronze, Water Borders, Boyz IV Men, Psychic Reality, Eat Tapes, and Sex Worker. Monthly art shows included distinguished locals such as Kylea Borges, Ryan Coffey, Dean Dempsey, Henry Gunderson, Greg Ito (Ever Gold Gallery), Carissa Potter, Chris Ritson, Hilary Schwartz, Kit Yi Wong, and Rochelle Youk.

When the walls come down it’ll be the end of era (at least personally). Was there a lesson to be learned? Perhaps. In my own personal opinion, the 17th & Capp corridor is symbolized by Ouroboros - the snake that bite/ate its own tail. It is a neighborhood with a history of collective spaces surfacing only to sink, submerge, and resurface in a new form. In the early 90s, and early 2000s the surrounding area was home to “The Mission School” movement, and base for artist Chris Johanson (see SFBG article). I’m not trying to define Kitsch Gallery as an extension of that particular movement or legacy, but my understanding is that the neighborhood’s collective spaces have a reputation of emerging only to be priced out. Similarly, Kitsch Gallery renovated a former leather processing plant, sprouted a gallery, grew, and was one of the forces contributing to the neighborhood culture. Some of our studio neighbors now tell us they’re also having to relocate. I have a feeling the space will now be rented for a much higher price. Did we bite our own tail? Perhaps. But in that, the individuals that make up the collective will go on to create. There are talks of new spaces, and in the mean time other spots like Engine Works, Secret Alley, and The Sub continue to exist. That said, pour a tall can for Kitsch, and we’ll continue to keep you updated on the final Kitsch events.

The first of the four:

Saturday, May 7
ICEE HOT Loft Party @ Kitsch Gallery w/ Total Freedom & Mystery Guest, 9PM, $5,  FB event page

Roster of individuals/projects that currently exist through Kitsch:
Jonathan Griffin: Writer/Actor
Dave Huebner: Musician/Welder
Pedro Hernandez: Night Fog Reader
Josh Hill: Musician/Boyz IV Men
Jonathan Hoyt: Artists/Fashion Guru/Worn Well
Claire Hummel: Metal Worker/Magnetic Honey
Kirsten Knick: Musician/Lilac
Nikki Mirsaeid: Artist/Kitsch Founder
Taj Robinson: Photographer/Kitsch Founder
Myrina Tunberg: Artist/Photographer/Kitsch Founder
Cal Volner-Dison: Visual Artist

- Pedro 

 

  1. nightfogreader posted this
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