PUBLIC ART: Galeria de la Raza – San Francisco, CA

Located on the corner of Bryant Street and 24th Street in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, Galeria de la Raza, an interdisciplinary Chicano/Latino space for art, thought & activism, has always been at the center of art as a tool for social justice, community building and celebration. Founded in 1970 by local artists active in El Movimiento (the Chicano civil rights movement), Galería is a non-profit, community-based Latino arts organization recognized as one of the Bay Area’s oldest, most well-respected art institutions.

Their next exhibition, Strange Hope: An ephemeral exhibition celebrating new beginnings & creative economies, once again deals with the most pressing issues at hand not only locally, but globally – the economy.  The project includes 40 artists who were invited to produce 8.5″ x 8.5″ works on paper. On opening night a one time on-site lottery will take place which seeks to embrace the community’s cultural affluence and welcome the advent of creative economies.

Strange Hope is on view from February 6 – April 2, 2009.

View a 2008 Galeria de la Raza Mural project by Feb ’09 FEATURED ARTIST Shizu Saldamando.