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Yet another fundraiser!! Here is the information to support Denia Dance and Gregory Bartning Photography…

Saturday, July 12th, 2008, 8pm-midnight
Denia Dance Season Kickoff Fundraiser and “Socializer”
539 Divisadero Street
Tickets: $25 adv/$30 at the door
Open Bar 8-10pm

Meet the dancers and support a great, emerging dance company. Enjoy a social event with a group of San Francisco’s most hip and creative young people who support dance and the arts. Meet cool people. Make a difference.

Tickets are available for advance purchase online at: www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/38079

Check out the webstie for more information on Denia Dance at www.deniadance.com

Thank you to all that came to support our local Clothing Designers, Jewelers, and Artists. We had a successful 3 week run which couldn’t have been done without the support of the community and friends. Congratulations to Miranda Caroligne for being our top seller! Congratulations to Kerstin Fleischer of Daka for having our hottest item to fly off the shelves. For those of you who really wanted a leather Purse from Daka, this December we will have More stock to make sure you get a chance to have one. Our projected date for the December store will be late November after Thanksgiving to early December. We will keep you posted on the finalized dates, but in the mean time…

Check out the pictures of the Summer Store!

So I admit I have been bad the last month or so about posting and keeping everyone updated on new events around the city, but it was all for the love of creating our new SUMMER consignment store with products from all local Designers, Jewelers, and Artists from San Francisco.  

We have a mix of designers from the last December opening as well as 6 or 7 new and wonderfully talented people ranging from painters, clothing designers, and jewelers.

 Some people you may have heard of, such as Miranda Caroligne and the Brown Banana; others are still getting established, such as painter/mixed media artist Bean, and one in particular that just moved to the city a month ago from Minnesota, Nikolas Allen with his line RNG8GRL.

The store will be open from June 8th - June 28th, and if Gregory is willing and able to postpone his photo studio space, we will be open for another week! So come by 143 Fillmore Street and meet the talent this city has to offer!

Designers include: Yahzi Rose, eon on u, Cookie and the Dude, Miranda Caroligne, Daka, A-Liaison, Nikolas Allen, 

Jewelers include: The Brown Banana, Fluidance, Candelas Designs, Dida Jewelry, Tribal Stones, Rachel Jordana Jewelry 

Paintings: by Bean

Photography: by Gregory Bartning  

Be sure to check out the website.  If you aren’t in the area, we will be updating more of our store-line to On-line!  All to help these wonderfully talented individuals to keep up their great work and gain more exposure!

If you are bored with the same old clothes and are concerned about how to go green, this was a very entertaining show to go to. 2nd Skin was an installation project of imaginative design in digital, analog clothing and recycled materials. The entire night was filled with activities that only the Exploratorium could provide. If nothing was going on at any given moment, you were allowed to view and interact with the exhibits that were part of the Exploratorium itself.

The night consisted of demonstrations by Bad Unkle Sista, Sha Sha Higby, and Takehito Etani (to name a few) followed by the demonstration of a very odd “comical” performance by Pat Oleska. The Runway Show involved Exploratorium staff and local designers. To end the night was a public show by people who came to the event in their own creations. Here are some pictures of the night. Enjoy!!!

The Third Eye Project - By Takehito Etani: Video headgear is placed on the eye of the beholder and projected on a wall within the building.

Luminous Trees are hooked up to the rider’s bicycle.

Soft Circuitry: Lit up soft, flexible fabric-based computers

The Masticator - Takehito Etani: Headgear that gives audiovisual feedback of chewing (but only goes to number 9)

Stories of Fusion - By Bad Unkle Sista: Singer with an amazing voice

Stories of Fusion- By Bad Unkle Sista: Skin extends to fuse many individuals into one body

Stories of Fusion - By Bad Unkle Sista

Stories of Fusion - By Bad Unkle Sista

Stories of Fusion - By Bad Unkle Sista

The Host for the Runway

In a Glass Cloud - By Sha Sha Higby: Sculpture moving in many intricate pieces

Sha Sha Higby

PinWheel Dress - By Nicole Arauzo with Wray Serna

Salvaged Scrap - By Miranda Caroligne: Ensemble intertwining ethics and aesthetics

Salvaged Scrap - By Miranda Caroligne

Miranda Caroligne herself

Miranda Caroligne herself

Silence Dress- By Alyce Santoro: Made from recycled recorded household cassette tape with a polyester wrap, which is able to be played.

Snickers Dress - By Anna Rochester: A dress made from Snickers wrappers.

Miss Filmina Sprockets and Miss Patina Green - By Michael Brown with Michael Swaine: Inspired by film divas, this outfit was created from leftovers from a previous project.

Eden Purse - By Evan Neumann: back lit interchangeable artwork with an interior light and phone charger.

Scott Tallenger - Dress tribute to Norma Desmond

Scott Tallenger

Mr. Daily News - Remade in America: Suit made entirely from newspaper

Miss Daily News: Dress made entirely from newspaper

Urban TumbleWeed - Karen Wilkinson: Made entirely from plastic bags, dry cleaner bags and Home Depot bags.

Domini: Ballet costumes constructed from re-used materials… Here is Rothbart the evil villian in Swan Lake

Domini: Odette from Swan Lake

Domini: Coppelia (lantern dress) and Sugarplum (bubble wrap tutu)

Cocoon Collection - Miss Velvet Cream: The designers adorable daughter

Cocoon Collection - Miss Velvet Cream

Cocoon Collection - Miss Velvet Cream

Check out Cafe Du Soleil (Fillmore at Waller) on April 10th, next Thursday, for a great art raffle of a local photographer. The work is a collaboration with Denia Dancers to help raise support for the company. Purchase of a ticket gets you a free glass of wine and a raffle ticket for the art piece. Hors Deuvre’s will be served along with drinks and there will be a short film of the dancers current project. Check it out!

This past Thursday I had the honor of being the official photographer for Christopher Elbow’s Opening Party. Located on Hayes and Gough, they first opened their doors on February 5th right in time for Valentine’s Day.

The Opening was strictly invite only with guests ranging from a four-year-old, young staff, local people in the food industry, and everyone that helped make the store possible. They had many chocolates out for tasting with an addition of two chocolates that were only good for two days: Tequila and Bourbon. Champagne was served with/without Passion Fruit Puree, as well as drinking Chocolate Liquors. Many people also ordered hand picked boxes. I didn’t see an unhappy face in the crowd.

Prior to the Artisanal Chocolate Store Opening, many people had doubts if the business would do well on the “bad corner” of the street. So far, this seems to be the new spot for couples to hang out in the Chocolate Lounge and drink one of their 14 different drinking chocolates, as well as some espresso. My favorite is the Ginger Caramel. It is also a great spot before seeing the San Francisco Ballet, Opera, and Symphony. And everyone needs their chocolate fix after dinner right?

Not only do they have probably the best hot chocolate selection, they have a list of around 25-30 different Bon Bon’s ranging from unique flavors such as Caramel with Lavender, Strawberry Balsamic, and Persia, which has Saffron, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, and Orange Blossom water with a layer of Almond Marzipan. Go check it out and eat/drink some chocolate!

This was a big event. I personally am not involved much in the hip-hop scene, but if you know about woman and Breakin’, “Sisterz” is the group to see. This year was the celebration of their 7 year Anniversary. Starting in 2001 by Sarah Smalls, the first year Sistaz gained huge recognition by their second performance by SF Bay Guardian as the “Best Monthly” Show in the City, yet they have been performing once a year ever since.

The event started at 9:30 until 2am. It ranged from visual art, dance (breakers etc.), DJ’s and MC’s.  Featured in the dark, (and I say that because it seems there were creative differences regarding lighting the art on the walls and setting the mood of the club) in the Main Room, were visual artists Bean, Kat Filipinas, and Kristina, with DJ’s spinning for people wanting to dance.

In the Dark Room, were visual wall artists Cat and Reanna, MC’s, ButterScotch, Neb Luv, Gypsy Luv, DeeandRoid, DJ Celski, DJ Zita, Lady Fingaz, Shredone, DJ ThatGirl and closing a sick performance was Madusa. Dancers (poppers, B-Girls, and Lockers) included: Full Force, Soul Sector, Culture Shock, Extra Credit Kru. The Dance Performances didn’t happen until 11:30.

It was a packed night when my friends where there. The only downfall (literally) was that Kristina’s art work was knocked down and broken by fellow dancers on the floor. Guess the Club bought that piece. I was personally disappointed that due to having so many things going on no love was given to the art on the walls. I feel, if you are going to have an “art” show, it should be properly displayed with lighting so people can actually see it.

So here is my LOVE to those that were overlooked: my friend Bean, her roomy Cat, Reanna, Kristina, and Kat Filipinas. I want to also congratulate all the talented women in the Bay Area and in California that were involved with the show. The following picture credit goes to Bean…Thanks Bean!

I am helping promote Denia Dance Company, (formely FADNA & Company) for their upcoming performance “Spring Dance Inspiration” at Cowell Theater at Fort Mason. Catch them April 27 as part of local and international dancers fundraiser for the National Brain Tumor Foundation.

These girls strengths range from ballet, modern, jazz, and salsa creating a diverse and yet jelled group of dancers. Check out the Fort Mason Box Office for ticket sales and prices.

Gregory Bartning was great at photographing and capturing just the right moments. He is currently working on art shots with some of the dancers, to be released later this year as a larger body of work. Here are some practice shots of the company, they are a dynamic group as the images show. Have fun and check them out.

I have often wondered what exact requirements make a business green. Even buying products can be confusing. With so many choices on paper products just in toilet paper, it can be a little overwhelming.

Fortunately, if you are thinking of going Green and live in the Bay Area you can contact the Green Business Program Coordinator in your county to find out how to put “green” into action. There are a list of people to contact at the Bay Area Green Business Program website. Once you go Green, you can gain recognition. In this day and age, if people know you are Green, you’re bound to gain more support and kudos from consumers.

According to Green Biz, currently there are over 30 businesses in San Francisco recognized as Green, and over 1,000 businesses and public agencies in the Bay Area that have been Green since 1997.

Here are some simple steps to become Greener.

• Buy only recycled-copier paper with a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content.
• Stock your bathroom with post-consumer recycled products such as your toilet paper, facial tissue, and paper towels.
• Set up your printer to copy double sided.
• Clean with less toxic products (like Simple Green.)
• Use efficient lighting systems to save energy (try buying compact fluorescent light bulbs.)

These tips can be found at Green Biz and also the Natural Resource Defense Council.

NRDC even lists a mass of companies, the percent recycled, percent post-consumer, the bleaching process, mercury avoidance, and companies which protect Endangered Forests. A few companies that are at the top are: Seventh Generation, Green Forest, 365 Everyday Value, and Earth First.

The companies you want to AVOID and ban are anything run by Kimberly Clark, such as Kleenex, Cottenelle, and Puffs. Georgia-Pacific runs Brawny, Sparkle, and Vanity Fair napkins and paper towels, which have zero percent recycled paper. Their Mardi Gras and Zee Napkins however, have 10-30% post consumer products and avoid mercury. Find it at http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp.

So here’s to being Green!

I had a last minute run-in coming home to my house with an acquaintance who was passing by in the neighborhood. It turned out to be Jo Boyer, who informed me of her art show that night. I was very excited to see what Jo’s talents entailed.The only experience I have had making ceramics was in high school and I am always impressed when people create works of art with clay. No doubt Jo has talent.Her collection of hummingbirds, some dying, some living, were so delicate with an amazing amount of detail. Her pieces sold like hotcakes, especially the actual bird nests that fit in the corner of the wall. Jo sold her work between $10-$100, which I thought was actually underpricing the worth of her work. There were pots that looked like coral from all the texturing on the outside and were much more symmetrical and lighter than anything I could imagine producing. I highly recommend that you check out Jo’s work at Ruby’s Gallery at 552 Noe St.