SOMarts Cultural Center
SOMA
Friday morning

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Everyone has their own way of connecting with a new city. For me, it has always been through the arts.  In my 20s I was a struggling artist, but as soon as I could afford to take a vacation by myself I flew to San Francisco and stayed at a hostel downtown for a week. I visited Yerba Buena and SFMOMA and City Lights Books. I attended LitQuake readings at Varnish Fine Art and the Make-Out Room. Somehow, near the end of my stay, I found my way to SOMArts, the South of Market Cultural Center, for an art opening. I got off the bus and walked down the long driveway, not quite sure I was in the right place. But as soon as I walked into the gallery, I knew I was seeing a part of San Francisco that was special. There were people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities talking and laughing together in the garden; there was plenty of food and wine and laughter. It was unlike any art opening I had ever been to–simultaneously secret and welcoming.

Five years later, I live here in San Francisco and work as the director of SOMArts. Everything I love about this city can be traced back to 934 Brannan Street. The neighborhood fairs and festivals, which use stages and handicap lifts provided by our Tech Services crew. The 1,041 artists who showed their work in the gallery last year. Photos of the city that are developed in our darkroom by Sixth Street Photography Workshop. The many cultures represented through the Bicycle Coalition’s Winterfest, Homo A Go Go, Laborfest, the Asian American Women Artists Association Anniversary Show, Day of the Dead … every weekend is a new event and an opportunity to meet people who are passionate about their city and their community.

Visitors to SOMArts often tell me that they have lived in San Francisco for years without knowing about us, which is something I would like to see change. But one thing I don’t think will ever change is the incredible potential for discovery that resides within this building. Every day the space looks different and reveals cultural evidence of what it means to live here.

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You can see a slideshow of Lex’s photo shoot here.

For more information about SOMarts, please visit their site.