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Exhibitions > Past Exhibitions Introduction Past Exhibitions at the Library - 2008 |
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See also: Upcoming Exhibitions Office of ExhibitionsJewett Gallery and Skylight GalleryJames Luna, Apparitions 
*Sing Me Your Story, Dance Me Home: Art and Poetry From Native California - California native stories, songs and dance take form in poetry, painting, basketry, jewelry, printmaking, photography and sculpture. Based on the publication by Heyday Books,
The Dirt is Red Here: Art and Poetry from Native California, this exhibition shares the lives, stories, songs and dances of the artists. The Sing Me Your Story, Dance Me Home: Art and Poetry from Native California exhibition tour is organized by the
California Exhibition Resources Alliance (CERA). The exhibition was developed in concert with Heyday Books and is made possible by generous grants from The James Irvine Foundation, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Columbia Foundation, LEF Foundation, the
Fleishhacker Foundation and The Clorox Company Foundation, the institute of Museum and Library Services. Betty Boop image courtesy of the San Francisco Public Library 
Charm School: Ill-Mannered Selections from the Schmulowitz Collection of Wit and Humor - This exhibition takes the reader on a quirky tour of the world of etiquette in our “civilized society.” In an age when politicians and pundits freely express their vulgar behavior in public,
is bad behavior just something the rest of us are forced to endure? Or can we really maintain a civil society by curbing rudeness and employing a civil demeanor? It is refreshing to note that the demise of a well-behaved society has been the subject of discourse and predictions for well over 600 years.
Society has suffered through more ups and downs in mangled manners and frightened horses, but just when we think we’re all headed to hell in a handbasket, a new etiquette book arrives to save us from ourselves. The books and materials on display demonstrate the height of incivility and a mirror reflecting
the need for a little etiquette training, but are mainly a showcase of amusing selections drawn from the Schmulowitz Collection. 
Spirit in Action - Religion is one of the most powerful social forces shaping the world. While religion may reveal differences, it also provides the basis for finding common ground. The photographs in this exhibition express the important roles that religious communities play in the 21st century and demonstrate how religion may inspire people
to make our cities more humane. From serving meals to the homeless, public demonstrations for migrant rights, to individual moments of devotion, The Religion and Immigration Project at the University of San Francisco (USF) and the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California (USC) present photographic evidence of urban dwellers’ ‘spirit in action.’
San Francisco and Los Angeles, two of the nation’s most diverse cities, boast rapidly changing religious landscapes. The religious diversity celebrated in these cities manifests itself in a commitment to serve those in need and provides a window into these complex cities manifested through the lens of photographer Jerry Berndt, who was commissioned for this project.
Berndt spent nearly six weeks in San Francisco photographing Mexican, Filipino, Salvadoran, Chinese and Vietnamese faith communities and his photographs reflect the cultural vibrancy of San Francisco as it translates into a religious social action. Dorothea Lange, Untitled, 1961, 
A Life Surrounding a Cabin: Dorothea Lange at Steep Ravine - In a departure from her Depression-era images capturing the plight of migrant farm workers, photographer Dorothea Lange reveals intimate, everyday scenes of her family and the bond
they felt with the surrounding natural environment. She described the photographs as documenting the “natural growth of the children” and the pleasure it gave her to see them “so happy and free” acknowledging how the environment at Steep Ravine (Marin) shaped the identity of
and relationships within her family. Lange (1895-1965) and her second husband Paul Taylor began leasing a small cabin at Steep Ravine in the late 1950s perched on the rocky coast of Marin County. They traveled to Steep Ravine with their children and grandchildren many
times over the years from their home in Berkeley-a short distance, but worlds away. The cabin and its environs so inspired Lange that she often spoke of creating a book of photographs exploring the sense of freedom she discovered there, but was unable to complete the project
before her death in 1965. Patrons of the Main Library will have an opportunity to share in Lange’s desire in this rare exhibition of photographs previously exhibited only once before. A Life Surrounding a Cabin: Dorothea Lange at Steep Ravine was organized by the Marin History Museum. Other Exhibition Areas in the Library
Welcoming the Olympics: An Exhibition of Paper Cutouts Depicting Traditional Chinese Sports - Chinese people have created and cherished many popular art forms and paper cutouts are one of them. With brilliant skill, a plain piece of paper can be
transformed into a fascinating artwork. As Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, we are proud to present you with a series of 19 paper cutouts on traditional Chinese sports and games. These games, just like paper cutting, are popular and enrich people's lives of different
ethnic groups in China. We can find traces of some of these games in the modern Olympics. These works are courtesy of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco.
Realia - An exhibition by emerging artists, architects and designers from The California College of the Arts. In the spirit of the 17th century “Cabinets of Curiosity” the participating artists and designers have undertaken journeys of discovery
in the diverse collections housed in the San Francisco Public Library. They have spent the last month delving into the collections in the San Francisco History Center, Rare Books, Music, and Periodicals Collections, to name a few. What they have discovered has inspired
them to create new works in response to their explorations. The participating artists and designers work in diverse media and approach their subjects from a variety of viewpoints, creating an exhibition that is as diverse as the collections that inspired it. 
Unveiling of the San Francisco/Bay Area Homicide Quilt - This exhibition is presented, in part, to honor the Rev. Cordell Hawkins, who developed the quilt as a way to offer emotional support to the families of homicide victims.
Bob Barner Collage - Local collage artist and children’s book illustrator Bob Barner displays his work and process. Included is this year’s Dia de los Niños/Dia de los Libros poster.
Dance It! – Dance and Information Technology - See the world of dance in a new way! This interactive digital media installation features varied dance styles from many cultures and allows participants to get in the act. Presented by the San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education, in collaboration with University of California, Irvine Media Arts specialist, John Crawford. 
Seen in San Francisco - An exhibition of bird photographs by Grace Ruth.
Light the Passion, Share the Dream: 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Display - Featuring an official torch that was run in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Relay, along with a few book covers of books on the Olympics from the library collection, a map showing the route of the torch relay, etc.
River of Words - A related exhibition of original artwork from Bay Area winners and finalists of the annual River of Words Poetry and Art Contest for youth.
Pisco: “Miracle and Benison” - Pisco Punch was long associated with San Francisco, but the roots of this brandy-based drink are in Peru. This small exhibition of books and photographs traces the history of the Punch in San Francisco and presents historic descriptions of the Pisco, Peru region, which was devastated by earthquake last year. 
Chinese New Year Woodblock Prints - The Chinese New Year Prints (Nián Huà in Chinese) are a time-honored art form of significant standing among the many traditional folk arts in China. New Year Prints often use subjects and motifs reflecting historical and social themes, village and town life and people’s aspirations and beliefs.
Prints courtesy of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco. 
Transformation and Appropriation: The Eccentric Art of Diallo - An exhibition of 10 acrylic paintings by local artist Diallo. 
Emilie Valentine. Courtesy of the artist.
Timeless San Francisco and Timeless Cities – A Two-Floor Exhibition - The sixth floor exhibit cases include local photographer Emilie Valentine’s contemporary photography integrated with San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection’s photographs and San Francisco History Center’s ephemera and realia depicting San Francisco lifestyle and entertainment.
The fourth floor exhibit cases present city settings, city landscapes and city life blended with samples of Emilie Valentine’s American urban images. The exhibit highlights the Art, Music and Recreation Center’s books and periodicals of photographers’ perspectives of urban life and landscape throughout the last 70 years. The sixth floor/fourth floor exhibition promotes and
foregrounds San Francisco History Center and Art, Music and Recreation Center’s collections while partnering with a community art member, Emilie Valentine. The collaborative exhibit promotes independent learning and highlights the world class collections of San Francisco Public Library.
Inspirations of Kit Wilson’s Ceramic World - Obsession with shapes and texture is what gives meaning to Kit Wilson’s work. Her work often reveals the uneasy relationship between the tangible and the fleeting. In several of her pieces, she has tried to understand the relationship of concrete structures to the people and environment that surround them.
Black Inventions - R. J. Reed presents replicas of some of the most well-known and some not so well-known inventions by Black Americans. Educators, community leaders and parents – this is a wonder field trip opportunity not to be missed. |
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