One of our favorite art galleries in San Francisco, Varnish Fine Art, is in danger of being shut down by the TJPA (Transbay Joint Powers Authority), a massive renovation and expansion of the San Francisco Transbay Terminal. Tonight they are having a special Save Varnish from the TJPA: Petition-Signing Rock-Out Event from 7pm – 10pm.
Enjoy extended Happy Hour all night and rock-out on Guitar Hero during our petition-signing event to save Varnish from the TJPA (Transbay Joint Powers Authority). For nearly 6 years, Varnish Fine Art has been a lively and vital part of San Francisco. This small business established by directors Kerri Stephens and Jennifer Rogers in 2003 helped to spark a revitalization of a once dangerous corridor of South of Market and is now a force in what has become the Yerba Buena Arts District. Varnish has nurtured the people of SoMA and SF by supporting artists, providing a space for SoMA workers to gather after work and as a place for community minded citizens to rally. Now, the TJPA threatens to extinguish this bohemian flame. The TJPA plans to kick Varnish out of 77 Natoma Street and threatens to deny this locally owned, women-owned and community minded business the ability to exist in SF at all. Please sign our petition to show the political powers of SF that this is not OK.
Over the years we have hosted many events at Varnish Fine Art, including our Laughing Squid 10th Anniversary Party, so please help save this wonderful gallery from extinction.
photo by Scott Beale
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- Varnish Fine Art Celebrates 5 Years of Wonderful Art
- Varnish Fine Art 5th Anniversary Group Show
- Jennybird Alcantara Show at Varnish Fine Art
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I feel for them, but I don’t think they have a chance in hell of staying in their current location. The new transbay terminal is going to basically occupy all that area, for better or worse. What they should do is petition for assistance to relocate to another space.
I’m sorry but I fail to see why Varnish should react differently than any of the other businesses (including the one I work at) that also have to relocate because of the planned transbay terminal. We’ve known that this block was going to get torn down in 2010 for a year or two now and it seems silly that Varnish can’t find another space for their gallery (like all the other businesses). And how does using this space for the transbay terminal mean that the TJPA is forcing Varnish not to exist?
Hi Scott. Just wanted to add the following businesses will be closed down / forced to relocate.
Varnish
Zebulon (restaurant)
Harlot
Our office (y oono)
Friendster
There are about 20 more companies in this block and they’re all forced to move. I would honestly rather have a joint block party in an effort to save our space instead of one only for varnish.
I love Varnish, and I hate TransBay. I hope this doesn’t happen.
http://flickr.com/photos/mager/2407852379/
Andrew,
no disrespect, but I’m just curious as to your statement that you hate TransBay. Is it the planned project that you hate, the current terminal, or the joint powers authority in general?
And again, judging from the Transbay center website, they’ve been planning on building on this space for close to seven years now. It’s a bit late in the game for a grass roots movement. Putting energy into finding viable alternatives might be a better strategy than fighting the inevitable.
Agreed Steve. There’s really nothing that can stop this effort now. I’ve been in this building for 7 months now (right next to varnish) and I’ve known that we’re being closed down for quite a while now. No biggie cause I’ve known about it. I think Varnish should collaborate with everyone else affected by this or simply have their own party as a “last hoorah” and let that be it.
I don’t know. A “all on our own” party about just saving Varnish against a multi million dollar decade long project already has FAIl written across it. I’m not being vocal about this just because they didn’t include us; just knowing the whole story I don’t see this as something that’s actually going to work.
Call it what it is. “A last hoorah”
it would be a crime to shut Varnish down.
I think this is more important protest than that dopey American Apparel store moving into Valencia. Here culture will be lost as well as all those cool old buildings on 2nd St.