This Land Is Your Land

Our opening of Gregory Vernitsy’s show falls on the Fourth of July weekend. I have always welcomed this holiday as a tribute to the great American dream of Independence. This land attracted people from all over the world to join in this experiment and experience of human expression and freedom. As Britain votes to leave the EU and we hear calls to build walls here, let us affirm our belief in diversity and openness. Just as Santiago Gervasi from Peru recently graced our walls, and as we welcome Gregory from the Ukraine with his sculptures, remember Woody Guthrie's words: “This Land was made for you and me.”

Welcome to FOG on Monday, July 4th!  Come celebrate our collective birthday.  

-our man on the scene, Peter Munks
 

Ain't Misbehavin

We had a wonderful tap dance troop give us quite a show today at FOG. Stu Etzler brought his beginning tap dance group from the Daly City Doelger Senior Center. Accompanied by the excellent keyboardist, Marcella Guzman, they went through several finely choreographed routines. They exhibited a great spirit and stepped lively for our appreciative audience. They magically transformed the space, and with their black outfits and black canes provided a stunning contrast to Santiago Gervasi's paintings. Our canine terpsachoreans, Carmen (above left) and Squad Car (right), added their own four legged interpretations. Lots of fun all around. Don't forget, this is the last week for Santiago's paintings, so come by and give them a look.

Artful Alex

"I want to go into THAT painting.".

FOG had one of our favorite visitors on a beautiful sunny day. Alex finished his walk in Golden Gate Park and came to see art.

Longest Day/Shortest Night

That's our man Peter with the sun in his hands.

In our relatively short history, Far Out Gallery has celebrated both the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Let us welcome the return of Summer at 3:34 (the official moment of the sun's farthest point) this Monday. Next Thursday around 1:30 our local neighbor Stu will bring in his senior tap dancing class for a hoofing demonstration - it should be fun and you are all welcome to stop by. Happy Summer...

Santiago's Second Event!

Concluding his talk about his paintings, Santiago Gervasi led us all in the song “Guantanamera" accompanied by Peter Munks on guitar.

Peter's Thursdays at FOG

Peter and Carmen hosting elections at home on 42nd Avenue       photo by Anne

Last week I was extolling the virtues of having Far Out Gallery on vibrant Taraval Street, and today I would like to report another vibrant scene just two blocks away. Anne and I have been hosting elections in our garage on 42nd Ave for the past 16 years. For 13 hours on Tuesday we witnessed a remarkable parade of citizens entering our garage and expressing their political wishes. It was very gratifying to watch as 175 neighbors voted their conscious beliefs in our country, and to witness such genuine passion for our community. I get a similar feeling watching the parade of people coming into FOG – a purposeful energy seeking, in this case, beauty. By the way, our precinct results: Bernie 88, Hillary 62, and Trump 11.

Mystery

The other day, some tiny shells were left outside FOG's door. Someone knows we love our beach.

Today, that someone left a whole box. Thank You.

Peter's Thursdays at FOG

Robert stops in to say hello to Carmen.

Spending hours on Taraval is always an interesting proposition ... Visitors like our neighbor Robert who stops in to see Carmen every week. A delicious vegetable chow mein from our local Hong's Szechuan Restaurant. Newly coifed customers coming out of Stacey's Hair Salon. Streams of locals visiting the Sea Bee for papers and the lottery. Workers having coffee and pastries at Sweet Passion Bakery. School kids grabbing pizza at North Beach Pizzeria. It's a thrill to be part of such a vibrant scene.     

Peter is our man on the scene on Thursdays –– and so we've decided turn over the Fog Blog to him on this day every week. Peter, take it away:

tide is rising for artists, galleries in the outer sunset

From today's Hoodline :

For many, ... opening a business in the Sunset was a natural extension of living there. “I’ve lived out here for 15 years,” says Anne Herbst, who opened the Far Out Gallery with her partner Peter Munks in November 2015. She chose a location close to home “so the gallery [became] a part of my life, rather than splitting [time] between it and home.”

Read the whole exciting article here.

Santiago Gervasi's Opening

a detail from Nirvana de Media Noche (Midnight Nirvana)

It was the best afternoon! More here.

After his talk, Gervasi led us in an impromptu rendition of the Beatles' Getting Better.

“My paintings are windows to a parallel world where I am able to use and combine diverse moments and experiences of my past, present and perhaps even future, re-arranging them and placing them in a more pleasing way than reality allows.”

Front Window

Front Page

Thanks, Sunset Beacon, for the terrific story!

Sneak preview

Oshi (a detail)

Santiago Gervasi's paintings are in place, and we're looking forward to his opening party next Saturday, May 14, from 12 - 6 pm.

We'll have Flowers This Weekend!

Sunday, May 8, is Mother's Day.

Very early Friday morning we'll visit the San Francisco Flower Mart. That means we'll have plenty of fresh bouquets for sale in the gallery on Friday and Saturday, styled by our own Peter Munks.

Playground

Linda (left) bought one of our favorite paintings today. It's called Playground.

Peace, Friends!

A Peace Card for all ...

...and a new FOG friend!

We carry a collection of Anne's pen and ink cards at the gallery. The line work is fine and the message is strong.

The Vallejo Street Dames

Friday we hosted Sally and Bea, the "Vallejo Street Dames" (both 87). We served wine and John Campbell's flat bread from next door at Sweet Passion Bakery, where he bakes it.

We Love Flowers, we love fun

Meet our architect Tom, our friend Karim – and you know Peter already (the buyer and bundler of flowers).

It's true. We're crazy about flowers. Often we'll hit the flower market early Thursday morning and bring bunches of bouquets to the gallery to sell. Follow us @faroutgallery on Instagram to find out when we'll have them.

Prince Forever

Friends and Neighbors

Meet Robert. Robert lives nearby and stops in the gallery to visit Carmen whenever he can. Carmen always greets him with a kiss and a smile.

Another friend, Dave, discovered FOG this week. A realtor and photographer very much into fashion design, Dave uncovered a passion for fine art when he signed up for an Art 101 class at City College a few years ago. He attended SFSU where he did graduate work in theater arts. Still involved in media and theater productions, rumor has it he put on quite a show at the gallery (starring Dave).

Straight from the supe

Far Out Gallery is a fine art gallery inspired by Ocean Beach and envisioned by the artist Anne Marguerite Herbst. Herbst’s brilliant yet tranquil artwork frequently incorporates a blend of vibrant colors and rhythmical arrangements by hand and fingerprints, representing precisely how she brings a part of her persona into each and every art piece. The gallery is intended to be inclusive and accessible to other artists’ to display their work, and to hold film and music events for the public. Begin your imaginative adventure at Far Out Gallery and allow the art to inspire and clear your mind of all troubles.

–Supervisor Katy Tang

photo by by Fiona Lee/Hoodline