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Upcoming Events:
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Opening Reception Fiber Futures: Japan’s Textile Pioneers Friday July 20, 6–8 PM |
The Museum of Craft and Folk Art (MOCFA) is proud to present a traveling exhibition co-organized by Japan Society (New York), Tama Art University (Tokyo), and International Textile Network Japan. Fiber Futures: Japan’s Textile Pioneers explores a new art that is emerging from a remarkable fusion of Japanese artisanal and industrial textile making. Coaxed from materials as age-old as hemp and newly developed as microfilaments, a varied array of more than 25 works by artists from multiple generations will be on view in this extraordinary two-part exhibition.
Learn more the Upcoming Exhibition »
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All events are free with Museum admission.
For more information about these events, please call the Museum at (415) 227-4888.
Docent Tours
Second Saturday of every month, 1pm
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Past Events:
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CRAFT BAR with ETSY LABS Thursday May 3 6–8pm |
Have you ever found yourself wanting to learn how to cross-stitch, but felt underwhelmed by the abundance of kittens and flower patterns? Local crafter extraordinaire Steph Cortes, owner of nerd JERK will be givin' you an itch to cross-stitch at CRAFT BAR! Steph will be leading a D.I.Y. Cross-Stitch Pin Workshop that'll show you how to craft a perfect present for Mother's Day or some flair for a rad human in your life.
CRAFT BAR's infamous Stitch and Bitch will be making a return this month, so bring your knitting needles and yarn, or use ours.
As always, MOCFA supports liquid courage in crafting, so adult beverages will be available. $5 covers materials, tips and tricks.
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Meet the Artists of Only Birds Saturday May 5 2pm |
Please join us for an artist walk-through of the exhibition Only Birds Sing the Music of this World. Artist Amy Fransceschini of Furturefarmers will discuss Soil Kichen and her art and agricultural practice and artist Bonnie Ora Sherk will discuss The Farm and her most recent art project The Living Library. Free with Museum admission.
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Shop SFMade Week! General Store @ MOCFA May 7 - May 12 |
Keep cash in the community! Be sure to stop by the General Store @ MOCFA on Saturday, May 12 for Shop SFMade Day! 10% of sales will be donated towards SFMade's programs for local manufacturers. We are so proud to be a part of the SFMade family - check out the other retailers that will be participating on SFMade Week's.
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Make It @ MOCFA Saturday May 12 2–4pm |
This isn’t your normal pie. It will be homemade, handmade, flavorful, colorful, last for years but…not edible. Join us as everyone makes their own custom clay sculpture pie, complete with everything they hold dear. To start the lesson, Joyce Grimm (Pie Ranch Chef Educator) will demonstrate the Pie Ranch philosophy broken down into the form of a pie, outlining the importance of organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and our individual role in supporting these structures. Then, create your own “life pie” to take home, a delectable sculpture molded in clay. Ages 5+, $5 includes admission and materials.
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Meet the Curator Saturday May 26 2pm |
Artist Harrell Fletcher and curator of Only Birds Sing the Music of Heaven in this World will give a tour of the exhibition and discuss art, agriculture and social practice. Free with Museum admission.
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CRAFT BAR with ETSY LABS Thursday June 7 6–8pm |
Caught in a pickle and don't know what to do on a Thursday night? Join us at MOCFA and learn how to pickle a variety of vegetables provided by Garcia Farms in Hollister. All guests are strongly encouraged to bring your own mason jars for pickling. Craft Bar’s Stitch and Bitch is making a return, so bring your knitting needles and yarn or use ours.
As always, MOCFA supports liquid courage in crafting, so adult beverages will be provided by Milk Bar. Admission if you bring your own jar is $5.00, otherwise admission is $10.00.
Learn more about Craft Bar with ETSY LABS »
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Make It @ MOCFA with Pie Ranch Saturday June 9 2pm |
Know your food system from seed to table.
Join Pie Ranch founders Nancy Vail and Jered Lawson as they present their inspirational story of creating a model center of sustainable farming and food system education. Pie Ranch is situated on the San Mateo coast and its mission is to inspire and connect people to know the source of their food, and work together to bring greater health to the food system from seed to table. And learn first-hand from Mission High students, who share their new CSA program called Homeslice. After the talk, roll up your sleeves and roll on the ink during a printmaking activity using fruits and vegetables as stamps, and take home your original works of art.
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Yerba Buena Gallery Walk Saturday June 9 3-6pm |
Located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, Yerba Buena is home to a thriving arts community. Explore what the neighborhood has to offer by visiting 15 participating galleries in this FREE exciting art walk. Explore, be inspired, enjoy wine and meet other art fans from all over the Bay in this afternoon of cultural and artistic immersion. Kick off the walk wtih a champagne reception at Visual Aid, 57 Post Street, Suite 905, 2:00-3:00 pm. After join us at B Bar, 720 Howard Street from 6:00-8:00 pm for the after party where we will have the drawing of the raffle prizes including a grand prize at 6:45 pm.
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Talking with Local Farmers Brown Bag Lunch Conversation Tuesday June 26 1pm |
Please join Farm School and several local farmers for a panel discussion on the topics of small scale farming and localized art projects. Participating farms, including Little City Gardens and City Slicker Farms, will share their agricultural experiences and talk about the role of community engagement in their work. The panel will take place during lunch time and the Yerba Buena Lane Farmer's Market.
Only Birds Sing the Music of Heaven in this World
Curated by Harrell Fletcher
March 23–July 7, 2012
Jerome Waag, @ MOCFA Head Chef
Organized by artist Harrell Fletcher, this exhibition explores the relationship between art and agriculture from a variety of perspectives including historical and current day agricultural imagery, alternative farming projects, and the representation of farm labor.
The exhibition is conceived with allegiances to folk art, outsider art, craft, experimental art and social practice. These allegiances share a kinship with activist art, community art and relational aesthetics and signal a socially engaged return to art practice with a strong representational dimension. This exhibition not only presents an interesting and topical set of works and documentation, but attempts to expand the idea of what can be considered "craft and folk art" by presenting work that in many cases functions outside of the established art world, while at the same time is not typical of received historical ideas of "outsider art."
Participating artists and organizations include John Cerney, Nolan Calisch and Molly Sherman with Farm School, Amy Franceschini with Futurefarmers, Eliza Gregory, Sadie Harmon, National Chavez Center, Joyce Grimm with Pie Ranch, Bonnie Ora Sherk, Natasha Wheat with Project Grow, Jen Delos Reyes, Wayne Thiebaud, William T. Wiley and Bernard Zakheim.
–Natasha Boas, MOCFA Curator
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Additional Reading:
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The Irrigator, Jose Lepe Lepe, 2012
Artist: John Cerney. Installed on Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco.
Shown at top of page: Soil Kitchen, 2011 by Futurefarmers. Courtesy of the artists
Shown on homepage: Farmer and Irrigator, 2012 by John Cerney. Courtesy of The Farm, Salinas, CA. Photo credit: Eliza Gregory 2012.
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MOCFA is generously supported by Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, Gertrud and Harold Parker, The Sato Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Museum members, and friends.
Special thanks to Cecilia Aldwell, Robin Bernard, John Borruso, Chris Bunn, Coon Lam, The Farm Salinas, Lori Fogarty, Mark Pauline, PK Steffen, Jerome Waag, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, Nelson Gallery U.C Davis, Oakland Museum of California, MOCFA staff and volunteers.