The Raygun Gothic Rocketship Gets a Tune-Up

Following the Port of San Francisco's recent approval of a 1 year extension of the Rocketship installation at Pier 14, the Rocketship crew is planning a maintenance weekend, and would like to invite the public to come out and meet the crew, ask questions, and help make the Rocketship truly a part of the community.

Weather permitting, the Rocketship crew will be onsite this weekend, December 17th & 18th (as needed), from 10 AM till dark. Work will include a rebuild of the plinth, repair of the Rocket Stop audio system, and a general refresh of the installation.

Some of us from the Black Rock Arts Foundation will be stopping by and we hope you will too?

Introducing the Bay Lights Project

Artist's Rendering

We at the Black Rock Arts Foundation would like to tell you about a new, exciting project that's in the works, spearheaded by our very own Advisory Board Member Leo Villareal.

Greatly influenced by his first experiences at Burning Man, back in 1994, Leo has created an impressive body of work of large scale, immersive light sculptures. He continues to dazzle us (literally!) with his groundbreaking use of L.E.D. sequencing technology and pioneering methods of using light as an expressive medium. Check out his past projects. Be ready to be wowed!

Leo impresses us with each of his new endeavors, but this one is sure to outshine (literally!) all the others. We'd like to introduce you to his newest proposal: The Bay Lights.

The Bay Lights from Words Pictures Ideas on Vimeo.

The sculpture will be installed and illuminated over the course of the Bay Bridge’s 75th Anniversary. Similar to the ambitious lighting of the Eiffel Tower for its 100th anniversary, The Bay Lights will commemorate the Bay Bridge's 75th Diamond Anniversary at seven times the scale of the famous Parisian landmark. The installation will live for two years, providing a stunning fine arts experience for the entire Bay Area and its visitors. The 25,000 LED’s will stay in place through the opening of the new East Span in 2013.

Learn more about the project, and about how to support it, at and follow this project on facebook.

Thanks, Leo, for all your past support of BRAF and Burning Man, and for your artistic contributions to our culture!

More About The Bike Bridge

The Bike Bridge - Part 1 from ONE ANT RED on Vimeo.

The Bike Bridge is a monumental sculptural collaboration between artist Michael Christian and 12 young women from 7 different Oakland schools.

The Bike Bridge project is presented by The Black Rock Art Foundation in association with The Crucible.

Black Rock Arts Foundation
The Crucible
Michael Christian

Music by YACHT
Produced by ONE ANT RED

Please help us finish and install this monumental sculpture in Oakland this spring! Donate to the Black Rock Arts Foundation today!

DONATE

Ecstasy's Departure

P1020615, a photo by grace.tang2004 on Flickr.

Ecstasy has left Patricia's Green in San Francisco. We are sorry to see her go! We will miss you Ecstasy, thanks for hanging out with us for such a long time!

Cardboardia - A Country Built Out of Cardboard

Tomorrow is the big day for us to receive your Letter of Intent to apply for a Black Rock Arts Foundation Grant for your off-playa project. We are looking forward to reading all of them.

We thought you might like to see what one of our prior grant recipients is up to. We found this video to be completely charming, and we hope you do too.


Cardboardia, a country built out of cardboard by Zoomin_UK

ARTumnal Gathering 2011 v1

Marian Goodell & Joe Olivier

Nicole Bloss, Katy Boynton, Sidney Erthal and Tomas McCabe

Julia Whitelaw & Laura Kimpton

Freddy Hahne, Jennifer Raiser & David Best

Drs. Brian and Deb Windham

Tom Price and Andie Grace

To see many more fabulous photos by George Post of this event, CLICK HERE

photo: George Post Photography

The ARTumnal Gathering - A Word from our Chairman

At the ARTumnal Gathering Saturday night, where we were celebrating our tenth anniversary, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Black Rock Arts Foundation, Larry Harvey addressed the crowd about both the history and forward motion of BRAF.

More photos to come.

photo: George Post Photography

El Radio Fantastique at the ARTumnal Gathering this Saturday

El Radio Fantastique was inspired by a bizarre family tale of a sinister radio that possessed its listeners, bandleader Giovanni DiMorente approaches his music as if turning the dial, transmitting a vibrant spectrum of musical styles, lost in time, yet timeless. This eight-piece ensemble serves up a dizzying cocktail of beautiful darkness and achingly sublime melodies - called everything from junkyard hymns to cabaret grotesque to gypsy soul to New Orleans second line noir. Their tunes are guaranteed to set your soul flying while your heart breaks and your body shakes.

Come join us at the ARTumnal Gathering and enjoy El Radio Fantastique and a fabulous lineup of entertainers.

iPhone app for Bliss Dance

Check out this video from WIRED Magazine about the Bliss Dance iPhone app that allows you to control the lighting on Bliss Dance yourself. How fun is that?

To read more about the Black Rock Arts Foundation bringing Bliss Dance to Treasure Island – Click Here and Here

Seraphim Dance Theatre at the ARTumnal Gathering

Seraphim Dance Theatre is a new Music and Dance performance group, summoned from the collaborative ether, featuring a fresh blend of multidimensional visionary performance art, music and story telling. With precision choreography, dynamic visual art, and live symphonic soundscapes, Seraphim focuses on offering original and inspiring art that is the evocation
of revolution and the human spirit.

The Seraphim show features an all original live and electronic music score by David Block of The Human Experience, teaming up with Vocalist Amae Love who provides her insightful lyrics and melodies to a provide a fiercely soulful live performance. Together they weave psychedelic layers of melody and harmony with organic grooves to create a live electronic symphony brimming with human emotion.

We are looking forward to seeing this exciting new show at the ARTumnal Gathering this Saturday night and hope you will be there to see it with us.

Apply for a Grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation

BRAF Grantees Across the Years

The deadline for applying for a grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation is fast approaching...

Attention artists! In an effort to streamline our grant application process, the Black Rock Arts Foundation has initiated a new step to our application instructions. To apply for a grant from BRAF, you will now need to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before submitting a full proposal. If the grant committee feels your project is a potential fit for our grants, you will be invited to submit a full proposal.

This cuts down on the work involved for both you, the grant applicant, and for our grant review committee. You'll have the chance to give a succinct, one-page overview of your project, and to tell us why you think it's a good fit for BRAF's grants program.

Usually, at this time of year, we begin accepting online grant applications. Instead, we'll accept online LOI's at this time. Online LOI's are due December 1, 2011.

To see if your project qualifies for a BRAF grant, and to read our full grant timeline and application instructions, visit BRAF Grant Criteria .

Please contact Josie at BRAF with questions: josie@blackrockarts.org

Картонск!

A visit with one of our grant recipients

Wish we could be there!

The Nautilus visits the Raygun Gothic Rocketship

Untitled, a photo by AkeLeslie on Flickr.

On Thursday Nov. 3 Sean Orlando and some of the crew from both the Nautilus and the Raygun Gothic Rocketship brought the Nautilus to the Rocketship and had a little party! Sean Orlando gave a talk in the afternoon at Landor and Associates, then they all piled in the sub and drove it down the Embarcadero to the Raygun Gothic Rocketship for a photo shoot/dance party! Fun! Thanks for the photos Ake Grunditz!

The 4th Kind

The 4th Kind, a photo by ProudPinoy on Flickr.

A new look at Bliss Dance. Thank you ProudPinoy for sharing your fabulous photo with us!

Karen Cusolito's "Valiant Flowers", freshly installed

Karen Cusolito's "Valiant Flowers", freshly installed, a photo by sfslim on Flickr.

A photo from our own SFSlim of Karen's amazing Valiant Flowers on Market, in collaboration with the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Reno - Save the Date: More Spire of Fire on the Way

Spire of Fire will be lit up again Friday, Oct. 7 and Tuesday Oct. 11 and then on Sat. Oct. 29 for a HALLOWEEN EVENT by the Riverside Merchants Association! Dj's and Fire Spinners.

Not to be missed, these great FREE downtown events!

photo: Mark Hammon

Get Ready for the ARTumnal Gathering

Immerse youself in a realm rich in imagination, expression and inspiration! Be the art!

Saturday, November 19 at 6:00pm - November 20 at 2:30am

Location

The Bently Reserve

400 Sansome Street

San Francisco, CA

BRAF presents our fifth annual: Artumnal Gathering

Feast of Imagination Dinner 6:30 pm
... Artumnal Celebration 9:30 pm

Join us at the magnificent Bently Reserve and enjoy fine fare, tempting libations, special treats, surprises, the best of company in their finest attire, original artwork by our favorite artists, auctions featuring one of a kind experiences and items, and abundant creativity!

Celebrate the creative spirit of our community! Enjoy captivating live performances and dance the night away in three elegant rooms of music and DJ's.

Join our community's artists, supporters, entertainers and other visionaries in celebration of a banner year for the Black Rock Arts Foundation. We'd love to see you!

Artumnal Ticket Packages:

Sponsor an Artist
$55 Main Event Sponsorship
$250 Dinner Sponsorship

Can't attend this year's event? Make this a truly inclusive event, and honor an artist by sponsoring their attendance. Purchase a 'Sponsor an Artist' ticket and we will donate it to an artist in need of a ticket.

SPONSOR AN ARTIST

The Artumnal Celebration
9:30 pm - Late

$35 online presale 1st tier, SOLD OUT.
$45 limited number 2nd tier. Buy now!
$55 3rd tier and at the door

Includes an evening of featured and roaming performances, DJs, dancing, raffle, silent auction, photography sale and surprises.

Feast of Imagination Dinner
6:00 pm - Late
$250 advance purchase only

Includes an individual seat (unreserved seating) for a sumptuous dinner, auction, performances, signature drinks, wine, dessert and entry to the Artumnal Celebration.

Table of Plenty: A Table for 8 at Feast of Imagination
6:00 - Late
$3000 advance purchase only

Includes a reserved table for eight guests for the Feast of Imagination dinner.

Table of Abundance: A Table for 8 at Feast of Imagination, with premium placement
6:00 pm - Late
$5000 advance purchase only

Includes a reserved table for eight guests for the Feast of Imagination, with premium seating placement in the banquet hall, premium wine selection and treats.

Table of Jubilation: A Table for 8 at Feast of Imagination, with premium placement
6:00 pm - Late

$10,000 advance purchase only

Includes a reserved table for eight guests for the Feast of Imagination, with premium seating placement in the banquet hall, premium wine selection and treats.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

Thank you for supporting BRAF's mission to inspire art, community and civic participation worldwide!

Thanks to our sponsors:

Image "Sly" by ©2011 David Ball. All Rights Reserved.

Bliss Dance

Bliss Dance, a photo by JDenault on Flickr.

Bliss Dance dances toward you on this beautiful evening on Treasure Island.

Thanks JDenault

Going Places

Going Places, a photo by Brisan on Flickr.

A beautiful day in San Francisco to share the Raygun Gothic Rocketship.

Thanks to Brisan for the panorama shot!

Valiant Flowers

Valiant Flowers, a photo by tapbirds on Flickr.

Facinating view of Valiant Flowers by Karen Cusolito. This piece was part of Market Street Blooms.

Thanks tapbirds for the great photo!

Party at Everywhere!

BRAF throws quite a party on the Playa! Hope you got to stop by and say Hi!
Rachel Carpenter and Nick Morgan from our Board of Directors

Nick Morgan and Joe Olivier, Joe is the Treasurer of the Board

Elba, Dolores Huerta and Brooke Oliver, BRAF attorney, enjoying the party

Maria Partridge and Affinity

The Partiers

More Partiers

JennyBird and Miss Kelly

Maia Anthea Marinelli, one of our 2011 grant recipients in front of a model of her Wind Playground

Crimson Rose, Board of Directors and Affinity

Tomas, our Executive Director, Rae Richman, BRAF Advisory Board Member and Syn enjoying themselves

Rod, Chris Brick and Josie having a little fun

Freddy Hahne, President of our Board of Directors

Eli Peterson works for BRAF and he looked extra special for the occasion

Moze, Barbarino and Joe, having a drink I suspect
Our ever generous supporters the Bentlys, Chris in on the Board of Directors

Come Visit Everywhere at Burning Man

Our 2010 Presence at Burning Man

For many of us in the BRAF community, Burning Man is more than an event. It's our organization's birthplace. It continues to be our source of inspiration -- an example of a society where art serves an intrinsic connective function for the community. We eagerly look forward to our stay on the playa as an opportunity to connect with our supporters, to inspire others to instigate interactive artworks in their hometown, and to educate about our mission and our projects.

If you'll be on the playa this year, please stop by and introduce yourself, and join us at one of our events! Once again, we've teamed up with the other Burning Man Affiliate Groups (Burners Without Borders, Black Rock Solar, The Regional Network and the new Burning Man Project) to create a unified presence on the playa that we call "Everywhere!"

Everywhere is housed under one large pavilion. Together, we'll host activities, art projects, events and gatherings (listed in the What Where When guide) all geared toward kindling ideas and generating momentum for off-playa, after-Burning Man outreach efforts.

The interior space of Everywhere resembles a large world map, with continents cut out of wood, set up at table height. With the assistance of our World Domination Team, guests will create miniature sculptural representations or flags to represent their off-playa projects and endeavors.
Visit us at Everywhere, at 6:30 and Esplanade, at the 2011 Burning Man event in Nevada!

And don't forget to stop by our Annual BRAF Playa Cocktail Party!Thursday, September 1, 2011
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm