With so much going on in the city, it's easy to miss the many fantastic art exhibits and shows that pass through. While it's nearly impossible for even the most ardent art lover to see it all, we've once again curated a collection of must see exhibits currently (or soon to be) gracing the walls of San Francisco's museums and galleries. Plan accordingly:
Radical Presence; Black Performance in Contemporary Art at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
YBCA is enjoying a lot of buzz around "Radical Presence," the first comprehensive survey of performance art by black visual artists from the 1960s to today. The exhibit, much of which has never been available to the public before, explores the history of black performance traditions within visual art. Through October 11, 701 Mission Street
OUTspoken at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery
Fans of portrait photography must check out the SF Art's Commission's exhibit "OUTspoken" on San Francisco City Hall's ground floor, featuring portraits of LGBTQ luminaries by famed photographer Roger Erickson. This is the first major exhibition of Erickson's work, and includes portraits of many notable locals. Through October 16, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Pat McCarthy: Shelters at Ever Gold Gallery
Artist Pat McCarthy spent four years raising and training pigeons on a Brooklyn rooftop. In his first solo exhibition at Ever Gold Gallery, opening September 10, McCarthy uses sculpture and film to explore the ritualized carpentry of sheltering pigeons. This sounds weirder than it is; McCarthy's sculptures are both charming and mesmerizing, making "Shelters" well worth a visit. Through October 17, 441 O'Farrell Street
Chris Fraser: Animated at Gallery Wendi Norris
Oakland's own Chris Fraser kicks off his first solo exhibition at Gallery Wendi Norris on September 10th. "Animated" is a two-fold exhibit, including a collection of light-activated sculptures meant to challenge your perception of space, followed by a series of photograms produced using the same sculptural materials. Fraser's neon-lit works were inspired by speeding along a highway, which we think is very cool. Through October 31, 161 Jesse Street
Rube Goldberg at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
Locals love San Francisco native Rube Goldberg's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons, now featured in a special exhibit at the JCC's Katz/Snyder Gallery. The artist's background in engineering playfully shines through in these vintage pieces. Through September 30, 3200 California Street
Alberto Symon: This Is Oakland at Amor Eterno Arte/Oakland
Alberto Symon's colorful and intense paintings capture what he sees as the true spirit of Oakland. Symon's photorealistic works, on display at Amor Eterno Arte this month, are not only beautiful takes on this under-explored city, but also crave-worthy. We want Symon's work on our walls, and you will too. Through September 30, 1227 18th Avenue, Oakland