Flower Pianos

The Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park are alive with the sounds of 12 pianos. For the second year in a row, anyone can wander among the extraordinary flora and listen to or PLAY any of the pianos. I played the baby grand overlooking Japanese iris in a pond. I listened to a piano and violin duo playing a lovely Hayden piece. After my offerings of Eric Satie's Gymnopedie # 1 and One morning in May by Hoagy Carmichael, I heard a striking Debussy reverie that floated right over the water. I wandered down the lush paths to a little upright nestled under a New Zealand Totora pine and encountered a singer with a bass doing a wonderful original. They left and I did Autumn in New York, some Jobim, and other standards under this amazing tree. A young girl came up and played a sweet Bach prelude - one that I play everyday. There is something truly magical about this event, and I urge you all to check it out. (It closes on the 18th).

And while we're celebrating music, let's wish Woody Guthrie a happy birthday.     –Peter

The intersection of joy and discovery

"The intersection of joy and discovery" is how Gregory Vernitsky describes the pieces he makes – and his sculptures now at FOG are truly that.

A similar "intersection" can be found on the street where we live – and probably yours too.

Lisa has graced the corner of 42nd and Rivera with a perfect mailbox cupcake. Further up Rivera there is a telephone pole wrapped in colorful wool, a yarn-storm of brightness. In honor of July 4th, someone has carefully affixed 6 tiny American flags to telephone poles along Rivera. Walking farther west on Rivera there are a number of fantastic wooden pieces hanging on telephone poles. Finishing up at the beach, there is a wide array of stunning paintings and graffiti.

So, as Charly Kayle, a recent visitor said, "Exploring what's around you can be pretty rewarding." Amen. And in that same spirit, I urge you to check out Linda Davick's blog, a wondrous exploration of "what's around."          –Peter

Fun & Fur At FOG

Clockwise: Carmen, Peter, Anne, Charly, Brooklyn

Charly Kayle at 96.5 KOIT wrote such a fun piece about FOG:

On our afternoon walk in the Outer Sunset District of San Francisco, my dog wandered into an art gallery and found a party, complete with a Chocolate Lab Gallery-Dog named Carmen.

Far Out Gallery at Taraval & 40th was having an art showing, and owners Peter & Anne couldn't have been more welcoming...

Read the rest here.

Gregory Vernitsky's opening party

"When I'm working on a piece of sculpture, I have to have fun."

Ever wonder why we call them Opening Parties?

Gregory and Anne

"When I pick up a scrap or a piece of wood and find it interesting, I can't drop it.” That’s how Gregory Vernitsky began his Artist Talk. Everyone smiled.

Gregory's art is playful and serious. Some pieces are colorful, some are sparkly, and some are left "natural."

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.