We Players presents A New Deal: Continuing the Legacy of Maritime Art in the Park curated by We Players Visual Arts Director Patrick Gillespie. The show opens with a reception on Saturday March 7th from 12:30-3:00pm; the opening event features a new performance artwork by participating artist Raphael Noz. Raphael's performance will begin at 1pm.
ABOUT THE SHOW AND THE SITE
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park's Maritime Museum has been a site of creative endeavor and community engagement for the past 76 years. A group of artists designed and finished the interior and elements of the original bathhouse building facade as part of a joint project between the City of San Francisco and the New Deal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1939. Participating artists in the design and production of the Streamline Moderne building included Hilaire Hiler, Sargent Johnson, Richard Ayer, and Beniamino Bufano, to name just a few.
In the spirit of the Maritime Museum's history of artistic engagement, We Players has invited eight Bay Area artists to produce site-specific works that engage maritime history, ecology, and the heritage of the museum. Artists Torreya Cummings, Alicia Escott, Matt Gordon, Justin Hurty, Monica Lundy, Raphael Noz, Brandon Walls Olsen and Wafaa Yasin are all displaying works as part of this exhibit.
The museum's history has inspired artworks that engage themes of ecology, poetry, political zeitgeist of the time, maritime technology, and a universal sense of longing to return. The WPA has had lasting influence on the past 76 years of US history, and this exhibit offers an update on the issues, interests, and challenges faced by the original artisans of the museum.
Please join We Players to celebrate and explore the legacy of the arts at the Maritime Museum and historic Aquatic Park.
WE PLAYERS AND SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME NHP
As part of We Players' unprecedented five-year cooperative agreement with San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, we are collaborating with a wide range of artists who are creating work from diverse vantage points in a variety of media as an exercise in exploring the many layers of story within the site.
The extended venue of San Francisco Maritime NHP, including the Maritime Museum building, Hyde Street Pier, the historic vessels, Victorian Park, and Aquatic Park and lagoon serves as a laboratory for We Players experiments in site-integrated programming, 2012-2017. Projects include the generation of new theatre works inspired by classical literature and Greek mythology, music concerts, dance, staged readings, visual art exhibits, conversations, parties, and workshops. In addition, San Francisco Maritime NHP will serve as a "floating classroom" for our growing aesthetic education programming, which serves youth from diverse backgrounds in neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area.
ARTIST PANEL DISCUSSION
May 28, 7pm at the Presidio Officers Club. This is a FREE event.
The Presidio Dialogues program is hosting a discussion with We Players, contributing artists, and other key collaborators to discuss the exhibition and project themes. Join us on May 28 to further explore the histories and personal inspiration for the current exhibit at the Maritime Museum.
Calendar Listing Information
In partnership with the NPS, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
We Players presents
A New Deal: Continuing the Legacy of Maritime Art in the Park
Exhibition dates: March 7 - June 17, 2015, Monday - Sunday
Exhibition times: 10am - 4pm
Exhibition Location: Maritime Museum, 900 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Free and open to the public
Opening Reception
When: Saturday, March 7, 12:30-3pm
Where: Maritime Museum building and environs, 900 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Free and open to the public. Reservations encouraged. http://www.weplayers.org/presenting-series/a-new-deal
Artist Panel Discussion at the Presidio Dialogues
When: Thursday, May 28 at 7pm
Where: Presidio Officers Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, Presidio Main Post
Free and open to the public. Reservations encouraged. http://www.presidioofficersclub.com/events/category/presidio-dialogues/
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