Meet Our New Writer!

My name is Taylor Snowberger, a.k.a. Ruthie Day, and I am introducing myself as a guest art columnist here at the SOMA West Neighborhood Association’s Newsletter. I’ll be writing here about past and upcoming events in the neighborhood related to the bustling art scene in SOMA West.

If you'd like to contact me about an event or project, please send an email to info+arts@SomaWestNeighbors.org. I look forward to meeting you and learning about your projects and efforts to enrich our city with the arts.

I spent last week getting familiar with a few of the many spaces between 7th and Howard / 8th and Folsom. I stopped by the meeting and art space The Box, Arc Gallery, and 6th on 7th photography studio. Together, these three become unwitting collaborators, building a network of support for creativity within a short radius of about four blocks. I was taken aback by how many different communities were given a place to create and exhibit.

Curator and Founder Michael Yochum at Arc Gallery was my first stop. He generously invited me to check out a couple of artists' studios ahead of SF Open Studios, which his gallery will be participating in on October 11–12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (more on that later).

I also toured the annual exhibit on view, FourSquared, up until September 20, in which hand-picked artists create 16 works based on a central theme. Michael gave me some insight into what to expect at his gallery.

There are a couple of opportunities to visit Arc before their October SF Open Studios dates: September 18 is SOMA Happy Hour, 6–8 p.m. You could also attend an artist talk and closing reception for FourSquared on Saturday, September 20, from 12–4 p.m.

Next, I visited a local artisan market at The Box, a beautifully restored building that originated as a Depression-era bread factory. The bottom floor contains a menagerie of antique paper products and a printing press — a romantic ode to the era when packaging was treated as an art form. Above that, the proceeding floors contained a multitude of vendors selling handmade items.

Among my favorites were the baby robes and pajamas made from designs printed in India, and dresses made from upcycled lace. I bought a lipstick from Adebowale Ayo Bamidele’s stand and admired homemade perfumes, epoxy earrings, and hand-thrown ceramic cups sprinkled throughout.

Lastly, I visited a gallery and photography studio for veterans and residents of SRO units located above the gallery, 6th on 7th. The director, S. Renee Jones, gave me a rundown of the programming and shared the details for the current exhibit on view, Opening and Closing, which comes down September 20.