sfai graduate roadmap - fall 2015

GRADUATE STUDENTS

ROAD MAPRESOURCES SERVICES CONTACTSFALL 2015

A student-artist hangs work at

SFAI Concentrate 2014 Photographed by Joshua Band

Painting studio Photographed by Robin van Wijk

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TABLE OF CONTENTSWELCOME 5

TRANSITION TO SFAIORIENTATION 7

HOUSING 8

HEALTH INSURANCE 10

SFAI ID CARDS 10

SFAI EMAIL + ONLINE RESOURCES 11

CONNECT WITH US 11

RESOURCES FOR STUDENT SUCCESSACADEMIC ADVISING 13

ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER (ARC) 14

ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES 15

COUNSELING SERVICES 15

CAREER RESOURCES + PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES 16

ANNE BREMER MEMORIAL LIBRARY 17

ACADEMIC PROGRAM OVERVIEWMFA AND MA REVIEWS + CAPSTONE PROJECTS 19

POST-BACCALAUREATE SEMINAR 20

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS 20

GRADUATE LECTURE SERIES 22

EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES 23

BEFORE YOU STARTGALLERY GUIDE 25

ART SUPPLY STORES 28

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 28

PLACES TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO 29

DIRECTORY 30

CHECKLIST 35

ENCLOSED: STUDIO REQUEST FORM

WELCOME

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Dear Students,

Summer is always an exciting time at SFAI, as we are busily preparing for your

arrival in the fall, and I imagine that you are equally engaged in preparations to

begin your studies with us. One of my favorite times of the year is Orientation Week,

when we are privileged to welcome you all to campus, and are eager to get to know

you and see what mark you and your class will make on our community. I know

I speak on behalf of the entire staff and faculty when I say that we look forward

to your arrival on campus this August.

I am pleased to offer you this SFAI Roadmap, filled with information on the

resources, programs, and services available to you as you begin what promises

to be an incredible experience at SFAI. I recommend that you use this Roadmap as

a jumping-off point—a way to engage with the community at SFAI before you arrive.

Read about ways to get involved, learn more about your degree program, contact

an advisor, or dig in to some summer reading. I look forward to this August when we

can welcome you to our community!

All the best,

Megann Sept

Dean of Students

Graduate Center Photographed by Pauline Quintana

A Sculpture class during critique

TRANSITIONTO SFAI

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ORIENTATIONWe are thrilled to welcome you to SFAI! New Student Orientation introduces

incoming students to SFAI—its faculty and staff, facilities, and campus resources—

and the opportunities that await you as you join this vibrant community and begin

what is sure to be a meaningful and transformative experience. Orientation

is required for all incoming students to facilitate a smooth transition into

each program.

Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Student Orientation—ALL STUDENTS

Thursday, August 27–Friday, August 28, 2015

International and Exchange Student Orientation

Monday, August 24, 2015

Thursday, August 27–Friday, August 28, 2015 (with all students)

Family and Friends Orientation

Monday, August 24, 2015

Chestnut Street Campus

A short welcome will also take place at Residence Hall Move-In on Sunday,

August 23, 2015.

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/orientation (A detailed orientation schedule

will be posted on Monday, July 27, 2015)

Contact: Anthony Molinar, [email protected], 415.749.4524

Graduate Open Studios 2013 Photographed by Joshua Band

Live chalk drawing at SFAI Concentrate 2014 Photographed by Joshua Band

HOUSINGGraduate students at SFAI have the option of living in SFAI housing or in an

apartment off campus. This guide will help you navigate the process of securing

accommodations for the fall.

SFAI Residence Halls

Housing is available for undergraduate and graduate students alike in Abby Hall,

which caters specifically to transfer and graduate students.

Benefits of living in Abby Hall include:

• Increased opportunity to become immersed in a community of artists,

connect with classmates, and participate in fun events, organized by the

Resident Advisors

• A supportive place to learn and grow your practice outside of the classroom

• Central location makes exploring the city easy, and provides access to public

transportation systems, galleries, shops, and restaurants

• Ease of access to SFAI resources and services, including personal counseling,

academic advising, and registration

• No hassle of apartment hunting, paying large security deposits, and signing 12-

month leases

To apply for SFAI housing, please visit sfai.edu/housing. Note that the priority

housing deadline was June 1, 2015. After this date spaces are assigned on a

first-come, first-served basis, so it is important to apply right away.

Residence Hall Move-In

The SFAI residence halls will open for the fall semester on Sunday, August 23,

2015. For those students who have successfully completed a housing

application, you will receive your room placement information and specific move-

in time by email in July. Please note that it is not possible to move in earlier than

August 23, and we cannot accept packages or store items for incoming residents

prior to move-in day (special arrangements will be made for international students

who need to move in early to begin Orientation). We will have staff on-site to help

you move in that day, and we’re all looking forward to welcoming you into your new

home for the year!

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View from the Zellerbach Quad Photographed by Robin van Wijk

Off-Campus Housing

The housing office can provide advice and guidance in your search for off-campus

housing. Our off-campus housing page sfai.edu/livingoffcampus offers resources to

help get you started. On the SFAI website, you can access the SFAI housing board

to connect with other students who are looking for housemates, and see available

apartments listed by members of the community. You will also have access to the

Living in San Francisco Housing Guide, which offers information on the various

neighborhoods in San Francisco, as well as advice on how to find and secure

a place.

If you have any questions about housing for next year, please do not hesitate to

contact us. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/housing

Contact: Housing Office, [email protected], 415.351.3556

SFAI’S RESIDENCE HALLS ARE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, SURROUNDED BY GREAT RESTAURANTS, GALLERIES, AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS.

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HEALTH INSURANCESFAI provides a student health insurance plan offered through Kaiser Permanente.

All degree-seeking students who are enrolled in six or more units must take action

to either enroll in the plan or waive coverage online through the Kaiser Student

Net website.

Kaiser Permanente Plan

The health insurance plan provides comprehensive coverage, with an emphasis

on preventative care, ease of access to your physician, and overall wellness. To

enroll, waive, or view plan rates, please visit studentnet.kp.org/sfai. In order to

waive coverage, you will need to provide information on your current health

insurance plan, including plan provider and policy number. If you do not have

current insurance coverage, you will not be eligible to waive the SFAI-sponsored

insurance plan.

The deadline to waive or enroll is September 14, 2015. Late waivers will not

be accepted. If students have not waived or enrolled in the insurance by the

deadline, they will be automatically enrolled in the plan and their student account

will be charged.

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/health

Contact: Anthony Molinar, [email protected], 415.749.4524

SFAI ID CARDSYour student ID card is an all-access pass to SFAI. You can use it to check out

library books and audio-visual equipment, purchase food at the SFAI Café, and get

access to other exciting offers around the city. To receive your ID at Orientation, you

must submit identification info and a photo by August 17, 2015.

Visit sfai.edu/orientation for detailed instructions.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines when selecting a photo:

• Choose a recent color photo of yourself. Your entire head and shoulders must

be visible, and you should be facing the camera. Photographs in which you are

wearing a hat, sunglasses, or anything else that obscures your face or head will

not be accepted.

• Save your photograph as a JPG or JPEG file and name the file with your student

ID number. You can find your ID on your schedule of classes.

• Image files must not be larger than 2 MB.

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/orientation

Contact: [email protected]

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SFAI EMAIL + ONLINE RESOURCES

Email, Registration, Billing, and Learning Management System

All students at SFAI are given a user account through which they access their

SFAI email account, registration and grade information, and SFAI’s learning

management system. You have been sent information on your user account,

including your username, ID number, initial password, and access instructions in

an email delivered to your personal email account.

All students are REQUIRED to use the email address provided to them by SFAI. This

address will be the school’s primary mode of communication with you. Your email

address is your username combined with @artists.sfai.edu. Again, instructions for

setting up your SFAI email account have been sent to your personal email account.

You will also use your SFAI username to access registration, billing, and grade

information via WebAdvisor. WebAdvisor is a portal where you can retrieve your

schedule, view grades, access the course schedule, review financial aid information,

and view and pay your bill. You can log in to WebAdvisor from SFAI’s homepage or

at webadvisor.sfai.edu.

Lastly, you will use your user account to access Moodle, SFAI’s learning management

system. Faculty use Moodle to facilitate and augment their courses. Although not all

faculty use Moodle to help facilitate courses, each course you are enrolled in has a

corresponding Moodle course set up. You can access Moodle at moodle.sfai.edu.

Need more information or technical support?

Contact: [email protected], 415.351.3545

CONNECT WITH USBecome a fan of SFAI on Facebook,

and follow SFAI on Instagram

and Twitter

San Francisco Art Institute

@sanfranciscoartinstitute

@SFAIevents

RESOURCESFOR STUDENTSUCCESS

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Academic Advising, the Academic Resource Center (ARC), Accessibility Services

Office, Counseling Services, and the Career Resources Center work collaboratively

to provide transitional, academic, personal, and social support, ensuring that all

students will thrive at SFAI and beyond. Embarking on a graduate program is often

challenging for students, and our goal is to support you through those challenges.

SFAI empowers students with the skills and abilities to direct and govern their

learning throughout their lives by teaching cognitive strategies and behaviors;

facilitating maturity through the development of personal insight and awareness;

fostering engagement between students and faculty; and creating programs and

services that are student-centered for optimal success and perseverance.

ACADEMIC ADVISINGAll students of the Graduate program are encouraged to meet with an Academic

Advisor to discuss their academic progress.

Academic Advisors help students:

• Find faculty with similar research and creative interests who will be

particularly helpful in the development of creative work

• Prepare for Graduate Reviews, art applications, and exhibitions, including

helping students refine written statements and materials

• Create a general plan of study for progress toward the degree

• Create a plan of study and offer advisement for students on academic probation

or who have not passed their Intermediate or Final Reviews

An Academic Advising schedule is provided to students during Orientation.

Contact: Zeina Barakeh, [email protected], 415.641.1241 x1003

Student-artists at work in the Sculpture studio Photographed by Robin van Wijk

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ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER (ARC)The Academic Resource Center provides free tutoring and academic support

to the entire SFAI student body. Graduate students visit the ARC for a variety of

reasons, from organizing a research paper to brushing up their Photoshop skills.

We can help you gather your thoughts in the early stages of the writing process or

proofread a final draft for grammar and usage errors. Our tutors—graduate students

with a background in education and a passion for teaching—can help you develop a

sophisticated approach to your academic and studio work.

At the ARC, you can:

• Seek guidance on academic papers, artist statements, and creative

written work

• Improve your English vocabulary, grammar, or conversation skills

• Recalibrate your study techniques and time-management skills to meet the

demands of a graduate-level program and balance your academic work with

your studio time

• Study by yourself in a quiet environment, surrounded by excellent resources—

reference books, computers, coffee and tea, and tutors happy to answer any

questions that come up

• Submit essay drafts to our Google Drive, ARC Online, and receive feedback

from a tutor in two to three days

Tutoring is available at:

• The Chestnut Street campus, lower level, Monday through Friday from

10 am to 4 pm, with additional late night hours once a week

• The Third Street campus, in the Library Annex, Tuesday through Thursday

from 11 am to 2pm

You can make an appointment at the ARC by visiting tutortrac.sfai.edu. You are also

welcome to stop by any time during our normal hours for a drop-in appointment.

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/studentresources

Contact: Ashley Clarke, [email protected], 415.749.4578

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ACCESSIBILITY SERVICESSFAI recognizes disability and learning differences as important aspects of diversity.

The Accessibility Services Office (ASO) ensures that students with documented

disabilities have equal access to the curriculum and school environment at SFAI by

providing a range of accommodations, including extra time for assignments, a quiet

place for exams, and note-takers. If you have had accommodations in the past,

used a 504 plan, or believe that you might qualify for accommodations during

your time at SFAI, the ASO can assist you in determining and arranging for

these accommodations.

In order to begin the registration process, students must complete an ASO Student

Registration Form, available at sfai.edu/asoregistration. Completed paperwork should

be submitted no later than August 1, 2015, in order for accommodations to be in

place by the beginning of the fall semester. We suggest beginning this process as

early as possible. Even if you are not sure whether you need accommodations or

qualify for them, we advise that you complete the registration paperwork so that

you may be eligible for accommodations throughout the semester, should you

need them.

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/academicresources

Contact: Gina Davis, PsyD, [email protected], 415.351.3523

COUNSELING SERVICESSFAI provides free, short-term counseling—a space to talk about your worries,

hopes, fears, goals, and strengths—with a licensed clinical social worker or a

supervised master’s-level clinical intern. All conversations are confidential:

No information will be shared without your written permission. The conversation

can be wide-ranging and the time is collaborative and student-centered.

People come to counseling for support with any number of challenges, including

transitions and adjustments, overwhelming sadness, anxiety, problematic use of

alcohol or drugs, trouble with eating, and interpersonal or academic problems.

They might also come to talk through a frustrating critique, tension with a loved

one, self-doubt, feeling stuck or unfulfilled, or simply with a hope for support in

examining their lives.

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How can counseling support you at SFAI?

Many things can happen when you have a place to talk without fear of judgment, a

chance to explore your ideas and potential, and room to imagine new possibilities.

Together, we can work toward a stronger understanding of persistent patterns in

your life and relationships, of what’s holding you back or moving you forward, and

of how to build a place for yourself in the world.

We offer:

• A semester’s worth of free counseling each academic year (15 sessions)—once

a week, every other week, or perhaps just a few times, if you prefer

• Walk-in hours every day from noon to 1 pm at the Chestnut Street location

• Workshops, groups, and trainings

• Referrals to outside resources, providers, and psychiatrists for medication

management and long-term care

We offer counseling at the following locations:

• Chestnut Street, Lower Level, Room 103

• Residence Halls

• Third Street Graduate Center

Need more information?

Visit sfai.edu/counseling

Contact: Deb Schneider, LCSW, [email protected], 415.749.4587

CAREER RESOURCES + PROFESSIONAL PRACTICESIf you’re interested in working either on or off campus, San Francisco Art Institute

has an online campus job and opportunity board, SFAI Connect. In this one

centralized location, you can learn about jobs posted specifically for SFAI students.

This is also a great place to find open calls, grants, residencies, awards, and

scholarships that are available to both SFAI students and alumni.

Use SFAI Connect to track Career and Professional Practices workshops and

events, and also to schedule a meeting for any of the following services:

• One-on-one career counseling for career development and

professional preparation

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• Submitting work to galleries and shows

• Assistance building a strong, professional portfolio

• Support in the application process for the many opportunities that

are available to students

• Document review: resumes, cover letters, artist statements, and more

• Advising for funding, including: Fulbright, Davis Projects for Peace,

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, Murphy & Cadogan Fellowships, and

other types of grants and scholarships

• Planning and implementing long-term career goals

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/career


ANNE BREMER MEMORIAL LIBRARY The library at SFAI is a unique and valuable resource, offering students a quiet

setting for research and study. The library’s collection emphasizes modern and

contemporary art, art history, theory, and criticism, and contains an outstanding

collection of exhibition catalogues, artists’ books, fine art photography titles, rare

monographs, visual resources, and unusual ephemera. The library subscribes to

an extensive list of print journals and periodicals as well as having access to various

research databases. Explore our catalogue, collections, and resources online at

sfai.edu/library.

The library staff works with students on an individual basis, helping them to take

advantage of the library’s specialized resources. The library also sponsors an

annual artist’s book contest and has changing exhibitions of books, posters,

photographs, and archival material.

Be sure to stop by the library during Orientation—browse around, peruse our

magazines and journals, look at our extensive and eclectic DVD and video

collection, and see what titles we have for you.

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/library


ACADEMICPROGRAMOVERVIEW

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MFA AND MA REVIEWS + CAPSTONE PROJECTSMFA Review Process

During Review Week, each MFA student presents a body of work to a committee

of three faculty members drawn from various disciplines. There are two types of

reviews: the Intermediate Review, and the Final Review.

Intermediate Review

The Intermediate Review takes place at the end of the second semester of the MFA

Program, near completion of 30 units. The review is an evaluation of whether or not

the student is prepared to advance to MFA candidacy. It is an assessment of the

development of the student’s ideas and methods throughout the first year of the

program and a forum for critical feedback from the student’s committee.

Final Review

The Final Review takes place at the end of the fourth semester of the MFA

program, near completion of 60 units, or at the end of the semester in which the

student petitions to graduate. For the Final Review, the student must present an

accomplished body of work exhibiting a high-standard of creative production.

The review—which serves as the student’s thesis presentation and defense—is an

assessment of the quality of work and a vote to award, or not, the Master of Fine

Arts degree. The MFA Exhibition follows the Final Review and is also required in

order to graduate from the program.

MFA Exhibition

The MFA Exhibition is celebrated throughout the Bay Area for its intellectual rigor

and diverse, cutting-edge creative output. All graduating MFA students (including

second-year Dual Degree students) must participate in the exhibition in order to

obtain their degree. The process of curating, installing, and refining the overall

exhibition is an important pedagogic moment in all graduate students’ careers as

they prepare for entry into the art world.

Elizabeth Cayne Untitled, 2012

Archival inkjet print of photo montage 27.75 x 39.5 inches

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MFA SCREENING

In conjunction with the MFA Exhibition, the MFA Screening provides space for

graduating students to showcase their moving-image works. Investigations in this

screening range from narrative films and short videos to digital animations and

pioneering hybrids of sound/image.

MA Review Process

In the second year, each MA student and each third-year Dual Degree student

begins to develop and write a thesis with the advisement of a thesis committee.

MA students take two reviews during their tenure: an Intermediate Review (in the

sixth or seventh week of the fall semester); and a Final Review (in the eighth or ninth

week of the spring semester). The goal of the reviews is for the thesis committee

to assess the student’s progress toward the degree and to offer feedback on the

shape, scope, and structure of the student’s thesis, methodologies, and case studies.

Graduating MA students present and defend selections of their completed theses

at the annual MA Thesis Symposium.

Collaborative Project

In the second year of the program, in addition to the independent thesis projects,

MA students also complete the Collaborative Project—an interdisciplinary

collaboration that coalesces the major concerns of the students in the program

into a multifaceted public work. Projects may include exhibitions, publications,

websites, panel discussions, public events, and more.

POST-BACCALAUREATE SEMINARAll Post-Baccalaureate students must enroll each semester in the

Post-Baccalaureate Seminar, which focuses on critique of student work.

Conceptual and material methodologies are emphasized. The seminar

includes lectures, readings, field trips, and other curricular activities.

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPSMFA, MA, and Dual Degree students have the opportunity to work as Teaching

Assistants (TAs) for undergraduate courses, or as Graduate Assistants (GAs) for

graduate courses.

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Paid Assistantships

A graduate student can apply to be a paid assistant for specific courses announced

by the Graduate Office following each registration period. The assistantship

comes with a stipend, and the assistantship is listed on the student’s transcript

as carrying 0 units.

Voluntary Assistantships

A graduate student can apply to be a voluntary assistant for any graduate or

undergraduate course not assigned a paid assistant. The voluntary assistantship

does not carry a stipend, but it is listed on the student’s transcript as carrying 0

units. All graduate students in good academic standing are eligible to apply.

How to Apply

To apply for both paid and voluntary assistantships, you will need to contact the

instructor of the course that you would like to be an assistant for directly (either in

person or by email); you are required to send the instructor your qualifications in

the form of a cover letter and resume. These materials should highlight your skills,

any relevant work experience or professional qualifications you may have, as well

as your interest in the position. It is the responsibility of the instructor to select a TA

or GA for their course and to notify the Graduate Office. It is the responsibility of

the selected candidate to complete the TA or GA hire paperwork provided by the

Graduate Office and to return it in a timely fashion.

Eligibility Requirements

• The student must be an MFA, MA, Dual Degree, or Low-Residency MFA student

in order to apply to be a TA/GA.

• In the interest of providing the broadest possible range of teaching opportunities

to graduate students, no student can repeat the same class as a paid assistant.

• No students may be a TA or GA for a course in which they are simultaneously

enrolled.

• Students applying for assistantships must be in good academic standing, as

defined by the following criteria. The student must not be: (1) currently failing

any courses; (2) carrying more than one unresolved “incomplete”; and (3) on

academic probation during the semester prior to the prospective assistantship,

or during the semester in which the assistantship is sought.

• A student may only be a TA/GA for one course per semester, whether or not the

assistantship is paid or voluntary.

• Note that if the prospective TA/GA is an international student, the student must

apply for a U.S. Social Security number prior to beginning employment. To

apply, please contact Jill Tolfa, Global Programs Advisor, [email protected], in the

Student Affairs Office.


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GRADUATE LECTURE SERIESThe Graduate Lecture Series (GLS) brings accomplished artists and scholars

from around the globe to SFAI for dialogue on the practice and study of

contemporary art. In addition to giving a public lecture, GLS guests also conduct

studio visits with graduate students at the Third Street Graduate Center, granting

the graduate community immediate access to leading cultural figures.

Graduate lectures occur on Friday afternoons from 4:30–6:30 pm in the SFAI

Lecture Hall. Attendance is required for all MFA, MA, Dual Degree, and Post-

Baccalaureate students.

Students are also strongly encouraged to attend the Visiting Artists and Scholars

Lecture Series (VAS), held at the Chestnut Street campus, featuring internationally

acclaimed artists and scholars in all disciplines.

Need more information? Visit sfai.edu/events


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EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIESSwell Gallery

sfai.edu/swell

The Swell Gallery is a graduate student–run art space dedicated to the examination of

the role of the gallery in an educational context. The mission of the Swell Gallery is to

provide a venue for the exploration and discussion of varying artistic perspectives

as generated by the graduate student body. Located at the Third Street Graduate

Center, this laboratory exhibition space operates as a platform for events,

collaborations, shows, and more.

Diego Rivera Gallery

sfai.edu/diego

The Diego Rivera Gallery at the Chestnut Street campus—home to SFAI’s historic

Diego Rivera Mural—is a student-directed exhibition space. The gallery provides an

opportunity for students from all academic programs (undergraduate and graduate)

to present their work or curate exhibitions in a professional, public venue.

Students submit applications for exhibitions in November and March annually, and

a jury of alumni selects the artists who will exhibit. Students may apply to have

an individual show, to participate in a group show, or to curate a show. About 40

exhibitions per year are scheduled in the Diego, with nearly 200 students exhibiting

each year.

BEFOREYOUSTART

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GALLERY GUIDEThe following galleries represent a small piece of the vibrant art scene in

San Francisco, but they all have one thing in common: their connection to SFAI.

One of the most important things that SFAI students do is become involved with

the San Francisco art world—think of this brief gallery guide as your first step in

familiarizing yourself with galleries, art spaces, and museums in San Francisco.

To explore the galleries and alternative spaces that SFAI alumni have founded,

visit sfai.edu/alumniventures.

AGGREGATE SPACEaggregatespace.com

Established in a renovated warehouse in West Oakland by Sarah Willis (MFA

Sculpture, 2008) and Conrad Meyer (MFA Sculpture, 2008), Aggregate Space

is an exhibition venue that engages in discourse embracing collaboration, new

and old modes of making, cross-media practices, and self-reliance. The gallery

provides access to artists driving innovation with sculptural and digital media and

whose breadth of work evokes conceptual rigor and advanced ideation processes.

They invite innovation in the arts by providing the necessary space for artists in a

professionally outfitted facility equipped with a fabrication shop, design studio, and

screening room. They have also instituted an artist-in-residence program for artists

and writers.

ARTISTS’ TELEVISION ACCESS (ATA)atasite.org

Artists’ Television Access is a San Francisco–based, artist-run, nonprofit

organization that cultivates and promotes culturally aware underground media and

experimental art. ATA was founded in 1984 by a group of young, radical artists and

activists, including Marshall Weber (MFA Art and Art History, 1984) and John Martin

(BFA Interdisciplinary, 1980), who are committed to using video, performance, art,

and education to progress culture and community. They provide an accessible

venue for the presentation of programmed and guest-curated screenings,

exhibitions, performances, workshops, and events, and believe in fostering a

supportive community for the exhibition of innovative art and the exchange of

nonconformist ideas.

SFAI’s historic Chestnut Street Campus Photographed by Robin van Wijk

A student-artist at work in the Graduate Center Photographed by Joshua Band

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EVER GOLD GALLERYevergoldgallery.com

Andrew McClintock (BFA Photography, 2008) and Gregory Ito (BFA Painting, 2008)

opened Ever Gold Gallery shortly after they graduated from SFAI. Converting a

jewelry store in the Tenderloin into a gallery with the same name, Ever Gold opened

its doors to programming that include a mix of highbrow/lowbrow aesthetics and

local/international themes from artists of all ages and backgrounds. While they

maintain a for-profit status, their curatorial choices continue to be conceptually

driven. The gallery offers a rotating residency program that transforms the space

into an artist’s studio.

GALLERY 16gallery16.com

Founded by Griff Williams (MFA Painting, 1993), Gallery 16 has been a force in the

San Francisco art world since 1993. Gallery 16’s exhibition program involves artists

working in a wide range of media exploring a variety of aesthetic, conceptual,

and technological issues. If there is a predominant theme, it is art as a form of

research and an act of investigation. In subsequent years, Gallery 16 has started

its own publishing program, utilizing contemporary printmaking methods to create

portfolios and artist books for many notable contemporary artists.

THE LUGGAGE STOREluggagestoregallery.org

The Luggage Store is a nonprofit, artist-run, multidisciplinary arts organization,

founded in 1987. The Luggage Store’s mission is to build a community by organizing

multidisciplinary arts programming accessible to and reflective of the Bay Area’s

residents. To implement their mission, they organize exhibitions, performing arts

events, arts education, and public art programs designed to amplify the voices

of the region’s diverse artists and residents to promote inclusion and respect, to

reduce intergroup tensions, and to work toward dispelling the stereotypes and

fear that continue to separate the community. The late faculty member Carlos Villa

served on the Board of Directors for many years.

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ROYAL NONESUCH GALLERY royalnonesuchgallery.com

Elizabeth Bernstein (MFA Photography, 2007) and Carrie Hott (MFA Painting, 2007)

established Royal NoneSuch Gallery, located in the Temescal district of Oakland.

It is an artist-run alternative space that is dedicated to creating community around

art-based experiences that are thought-provoking and conceptually rigorous, while

also being accessible and fun. Through a framework of monthly exhibitions and

related programs, Royal NoneSuch strives to maintain a dynamic schedule in which

the gallery is continuously reinvented to reflect the spirit and process of an artist,

specific program series, or collaboration.

BASS & REINER bassandreiner.com

Founded by SFAI alumni Mariel Bayona (MFA Sculpture, 2014), Chris Grunder (MFA

Photography, 2014), Cléa Massiani (MA Exhibition and Museum Studies, 2014) and

Emily Reynolds (MA Exhibition and Museum Studies, 2014), Bass & Reiner’s mission

is to foster dynamic dialogues in the Bay Area while creating access to other

emergent art worlds to promote, stimulate, and encourage a communal exchange.

They work to introduce local artists to a broader audience, bringing artwork from

elsewhere to the Bay Area to expand beyond traditional regional boundaries.

Bass & Reiner is open to the public by appointment, during regularly scheduled

gallery hours, and during special events.

TO CONTINUE EXPLORING THE ART SCENE, CHECK OUT THE PUBLICATIONS ART PRACTICAL (ARTPRACTICAL.COM), SFAQ (SFAQONLINE.COM), AND STRETCHER (STRETCHER.ORG) ALL FOUNDED BY, AND OFTEN FEATURING THE WORK OF, SFAI ARTISTS AND ALUMNI.

28

ART SUPPLY STORESSan Francisco has a large variety of art stores selling both traditional and unusual

materials to meet all your creative needs. Many stores honor student discounts,

including Artist & Craftsman Supply, Blick Art Materials, Arch, Utrecht, and Flax.

Aaron Brothers

5600 Geary Boulevard

415.876.0150

aaronbrothers.com

The Arch PopUp

2349 3rd Street

415.433.2724

archsupplies.com

Art & Craft Supply Close-Outs

50 13th Street

415.861.0106

Artist & Craftsman Supply

555 Pacific Avenue

415.931.1900

artistcraftsman.com

Adolph Gasser Inc.

181 2nd Street

415.495.3852

gassersphoto.com

Blick San Francisco

979 Market Street

415.441.6075

1930 Van Ness Avenue

415.409.1359

dickblick.com

Flax Art & Design

1699 Market Street

415.552.2355

flaxart.com

Mendel’s

1556 Haight Street

415.621.1287

mendels.com

Scrap

801 Toland Street

415.647.1746

scrap-sf.org

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONUsing public transportation is a great way to travel in San Francisco. To learn more

about the public transportation system and to plan a trip, visit sfmta.com

Information on passes and fares can be found at:

sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passes.htm

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PLACES TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCOLooking for a place to stay during your next visit to campus? Whether you need a

room for the night before residence hall move-in, or for a week to explore the city,

San Francisco offers a number of short-term housing options to meet your needs.

Below are just a few of the great hotels and hostels located near the Chestnut

Street campus and residence halls.

HOTELSHoliday Inn-Fisherman’s Wharf*

1300 Columbus Avenue

800.942.7348

hifishermanswharf.com

Holiday Inn Express-

Fisherman’s Wharf*

550 North Point Street

415.409.4600

hiefishermanswharf.com

Columbus Motor Inn

1075 Columbus Avenue

415.885.1492

columbusmotorinn.com

Park Hotel

325 Sutter Street

415.956.0445

paramounthotelsinc.com

Hotel Des Arts

447 Bush Street

415.956.3232

sfhoteldesarts.com

*The Holiday Inn Hotel Group offers preferred rates for SFAI students and guests. Visit sfai.edu/orientation for more information and links to special rates.

HOSTELSUSA Hostels

711 Post Street

415.440.5600

usahostels.com/sanfrancisco

Hostelling International

Several locations

415.863.1444

sfhostels.org

The Living in San Francisco Housing Guide offers information on short-

and long-term housing options in the city. More information is available at

sfai.edu/livingoffcampus

30

DIRECTORYQuestions? Reach out to us.

Tony Labat

Chair, Master of Fine Arts Department

[email protected] | 415.641.1241 x1000

Tony Labat oversees and directs the MFA and Post-Baccalaureate programs.

This position involves a range of tasks, including teaching graduate studio courses

and developing studio curricula and programs in conjunction with fellow faculty

and Academic Affairs. A paramount role involves formally advising MFA and

Post-Baccalaureate students, but also, informally, being accessible to discuss

all graduate students’ academic and artistic practices and progress toward the

degree. With Claire Daigle, Tony directs the Graduate Lecture Series (GLS).

Claire Daigle

Chair, Master of Arts Department


Claire Daigle oversees and directs the MA and Dual Degree programs. This involves

a range of tasks, including teaching graduate seminars and developing MA curricula

and programs in conjunction with fellow faculty and Academic Affairs. A paramount

role involves formally advising MA and Dual Degree students, but also, informally,

being accessible to discuss all graduate students’ academic and artistic practices

and progress toward the degree. With Tony Labat, Claire directs the Graduate

Lecture Series (GLS).

GRADUATE CENTER STAFFDuring your time at SFAI, you will work closely with the staff of the Graduate Center.

The members of the community listed below are often your primary points of

contact with the administration at large and can help you become acquainted

with the requirements of your program and the graduate facilities.

Zeina Barakeh

Director of Graduate Administration

[email protected] | 415.641.1241 x 1003

Zeina Barakeh implements and directs all graduate academic events that occur

throughout the year, including orientation, registration, reviews, the graduate

catalogue, co-curricular projects, graduate exhibitions, studio visits, curatorial

week, and open studios. She is available to address all graduate academic issues

and is the liaison between Academic Affairs, the faculty, and the students.

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Milton Freitas Gouveia

Graduate Studio Operations Manager


Milton Freitas Gouveia manages Graduate Center resources and improvements.

He supervises the A/V Checkout and oversees film and video resources at the

Graduate Center. He is a point person for student and faculty concerns and is an

emergency contact for students and faculty.

Kedar Lawrence

Graduate Studio Evening Coordinator


Kedar Lawerence is the evening coordinator at the Graduate Center. He contributes

to the efficiency of Graduate Center resources and improvements. During the evening

hours, he also supervises the A/V Checkout and oversees the film and video

resources. He is the evening emergency contact for students and faculty and is

available to assist with any issues related to student projects, work spaces, and

other Graduate Center affairs.

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GENERAL DIRECTORYAcademic Resource Center

[email protected]

415.749.4593

Accessibility Services

Gina Davis

[email protected]

415.351.3523

Career Resources Center and Professional Practices

[email protected]

415.749.4536

sfai.edu/career

Counseling Center

[email protected]

415.749.4587

sfai.edu/counseling

Email Support

[email protected]

415.351.3545

Financial Aid

[email protected]

415.749.4520

sfai.edu/financialaid

Health Insurance

Anthony Molinar

[email protected]

415.749.4524

sfai.edu/health

Housing and Residential Life

Nick Rougely

[email protected]

415.351.3556

sfai.edu/housing

ID Cards

[email protected]

33

International Student Advising

Jill Tolfa

[email protected]

415.749.4530

sfai.edu/visa

Library

[email protected]

415.749.4562

sfai.edu/library

Orientation

[email protected]

sfai.edu/orientation

Student Accounts

Hasib Khan

[email protected]

415.749.4547

sfai.edu/studentaccountsA student-artist at work in the Graduate Center

Photographed by Joshua Band

34

Around the Sculpture studios Photographed by Robin van Wijk

35

CHECKLIST I have completed the online Writing Placement Exam

I have waived or enrolled in health insurance

I have sent my photo for my SFAI Identification Card

I have set up my SFAI email

I have submitted complete paperwork to the

Disability Services Office, if applicable

I have turned in my housing application

I have completed my Winter Making Project

I have completed my Optional Reading Project

COVER Work by Francisco Pinheiro at the MFA Exhibition Principal

Photographed by Shane O’Neill

Ilchi Kim A Metropolitan Lover, 2012

Acrylic on board 12 x 12 inches

BACK View of the Zellerbach Quad

Photographed by Robin van Wijk

800 Chestnut Street San Francisco, CA 94133

sfai.edu

San Francisco Art Institute

@sanfranciscoartinstitute

@SFAIevents

sfai graduate roadmap - fall 2015

Documents