Help RPAH Help You

Unpaid communities of artists are performing, showcasing, finding outsiders to do some presenting, all for what? You! The Red Poppy Art House (RPAH), like many other artist communities, is primarily run on a volunteer basis. Dedication of individuals is what holds the program together and enables the artists to present themselves through their work to you, the public, to enjoy. Proceeds from concerts and artwork sales go towards the continuation of the program, while a small portion goes directly to the artists in residence. When the phrase, “suggested donation” comes into play, now is not the time to be thrifty (well, unless your thinking of our current economic crisis, then may be you are better off creating your own art at home). Think of yourself as making a direct contribution to the art world (increasing the circulation of cash to stimulate the economy, decreasing what you pay for an avocado, which are ridiculously priced at the moment!), more specifically a contribution to our local art and performance scene.

Photo Credit: unknown photographer www.redpoppyarthouse.org

Upon entering the Red Poppy Art House, I make my donation and turn the corner to find a rather comfortable armchair while I await the lecture. John Santos speaks passionately of Latin Jazz from the 1920’s to its presence today. Various songs are played off his i Tunes, making me now want to google a few names I enjoyed. The lecture ends with a movie clip. It shows the collaboration of the real big names of Latin Jazz from way back when. By the way, John has quite the resume which spans three decades. Not only has he worked with Santana amongst many other notables, he is also an educator, record producer, composer…the list goes on. I left with some interesting little tidbits I can throw around the dinner table. Ricky Ricardo from “I Love Lucy” popularized Congo to a craze amongst the North American crowd. Oh, and Carlos Santana is straight out of the Mission District! Ok maybe some of you are well aware, but I bet this comes as a surprise to quite a few.

Photo Credit: unknown photographer  www.johnsantos.com

Why?: Expand your “to do list” for fun/smarts

Location: 2698 Folsom @ 23^rd

^{For an up to date calendar and list of events check out:}

http://www.redpoppyarthouse.org/

Pioneering...or a Throwback to the Past?

Upon discovery of our local San Francisco artist communities, Million Fishes and The Red Poppy Art House, I have become enthralled with the concept. As many as 14 artists of various media reside together in a single space. This space not only provides for collaborative efforts, but also for the individual creation and development of almost any artistic whim. These emerging artists in residence can take full advantage of the writing(amongst various other) workshops to recording studio, dark room, and gallery spaces. Opportunities to perform and exhibit works to the public are made available to the artists through these communities.
photo credit: Misha Purcell www.millionfishes.com


Does this sound slightly familiar? One of many colonies (European and American), was a French commune, Auvers-sur-Oise, whose residence included a certain notable figure. Lets just call him Vincent van Gogh. This community concept of artists living and working together is applied in the early 19th century, but with conceivably less advanced studio conditions and PR work.
[John Rewald's 'The History of Impressionism']



Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
View of Auvers, 1890
oil on canvas, 50x52 cm
photo credit: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam www.vangoghmuseum.com