5 Things Friday
Art to see, orgs to support, and an innocent man's life to save. Here are your antiracism action steps for October 22.
Patrick Kelly collection. Photograph by Oliviero Toscani. Courtesy of the Estate of Patrick Kelly. Scan by Randy Dodson / Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
It's Friday, it's raining, there is beautiful art to see, amazing organizations to support, and an innocent man's life to save. Sounds like a worthwhile weekend to us.
Here are your 5 Things.
GO TO THIS. For more than 30 years, generations of art makers have painted, welded and worked within the impressive industrial buildings of the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, where colossal, decommissioned cranes rise dramatically along the shore of the San Francisco Bay. One of the country’s largest artist communities—home to over 300 artists—opens its doors to the public this weekend for open studios, highlighting the work of the hundreds of diverse artists who call the shipyard their creative home. Open Saturday, Oct. 23, and Sunday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., this is a rare chance for visitors to visit the Shipyard, which is only open to the public twice a year for artist events. The public is invited to drop in anytime over the weekend free of charge to enjoy this lively gathering of artists in their studios, located within six adjacent Shipyard buildings. Local food vendors and musical entertainment are planned as well. Read more about this incredible artist community here.
DONATE TO THIS. City of Dreams, an SF-based organization dedicated to ending the generational cycle of poverty in San Francisco’s most challenged neighborhoods through mentorship and youth development, recently announced their goal to raise $50k for the youth within their program by the end of the month. These funds will go directly to their community learning hub, field trips, meaningful experiences with their mentors, and academics. "We are asking for this amount because these students have faced rejection, dismissal, & silencing from the institutions of learning, welfare, housing, among many others....The conditions they face are not their fault, nor is their poverty an inevitable reality. The cycle of poverty can end if we dismantle our notions of race & poverty, & open up opportunities for understanding & reevaluating systems that do not serve everyone." We absolutely love this organization. Donate here!
GO SEE THIS. ‘Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love’ is the latest fashion exhibition at the de Young museum, and it opens tomorrow! The show celebrates the career and legacy of the Black fashion designer through 79 fully accessorized ensembles, dating from 1984 to 1990. Kelly drew upon his childhood in the South, his African American heritage and his experiences in the club and gay cultural scenes in New York and Paris to create light-hearted yet sophisticated designs that pushed racial and cultural boundaries. Get your tickets right here.
SIGN THIS. In 26 days the state of Oklahoma is set to execute an innocent man. Julius should be granted clemency and have his sentence commuted but without a major public outcry, he could be executed on November 18. Julius has an alibi for the crime he is accused of, but the jury never heard it. An eyewitness identified someone else at the crime scene. And the key witness for the prosecution took a secret deal to reduce his own prison time. In 4 days the Oklahoma Board of Pardon and Parole will hear Julius’ case for clemency—to commute his sentence from death to life with parole. Your calls and emails today can literally save his life. Learn more about the case and then take action right here.
READ THIS. After a rush of attention, what next for Black-owned brands?In mid-2020, everyone wanted to buy from small, Black-owned fashion designers. Then what happened? A recent article in Vogue Business featured the stories of many of our favorite brands, and explored the effects of the Black Lives Matter movement on Black-owned companies—and what you can do to make sure the support and advocacy doesn't fade like last season's trends.