SF Artists Alumni Annual Report 2024–2025

SF Artists Alumni (SFAA) Annual Report Fiscal Year 2024/25

UNRULY: North Bay Artists from the San Francisco Art Institute at the Museum of Sonoma County, performance by Cristina Velazquez

Celebrating our community and creating new platforms During fiscal year 2024/25, SFAA continued to grow and enhance its programming, serving alumni, faculty, and staff of the former San Francisco Art Institute while honoring its legacy.

Several of our programs have continued into their 2nd years: Studio 8 Film Festival, Supermarket Art Fair in Stockholm, and the TRYST showcase in Torrance, California. We also participated in our 2nd major Northern California museum show, UNRULY at the Sonoma County Museum. Our Spotlight series of artist talks perseveres, our SFAI Memory Collection grows, and we carry on with support for the all-important SFAI Legacy Foundation + Archive, while also working to facilitate transcript access for alumni. All-in-all, it’s been a busy year with no signs of slowing down, as we continue to work to create community and exhibition opportunities for our world-wide artist community.

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Table of Contents 01. 2024-2025 Highlights​

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02. Future Projects and Updates​

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03. Engagement Summary​

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04. Donors​

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05. Financial Statement​

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06. Board of Directors​

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01. 2024-2025 Highlights UNRULY: North Bay Artists from the San Francisco Art Institute Museum of Sonoma County | February–May 2025

In early 2025, the Museum of Sonoma County hosted UNRULY: North Bay Artists from the San Francisco Art Institute, an exhibition celebrating the spirit of experimentation, resistance, and radical imagination that defined generations of artists rooted in SFAI’s legacy. Featuring alumni who live and work in the North Bay, UNRULY was both a testament to the enduring influence of the Institute and a snapshot of the region’s diverse and dynamic contemporary art scene.

The exhibition drew over 2,500 visitors and included a robust schedule of public programming.

Highlights included virtual artist talks with Liz Steketee and Richard H. Alpert, a historic lecture series featuring long-time librarian/archivist Jeff Gunderson, and a widely attended walkthrough with curator Jude Mooney. The events brought together alumni, local community members, scholars, and students in active dialogue, reinforcing the importance of artist-led education and intergenerational exchange.

Curated by Jude Mooney in collaboration with the SF Artists Alumni network, UNRULY emphasized the cross-disciplinary nature of SFAI’s legacy—ranging from conceptual photography and large-scale sculpture to social practice, painting, and performance. The title UNRULY reflects both the individual agency of the featured artists and the ethos of a school known for questioning boundaries and forging new paths.

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The exhibition featured 20 artists, including Richard H. Alpert, Chester Arnold, David Best, Mark Grieve, Robert Hudson, Anton Kuehnhackl, Evri Kwong, Virginia Linder, Janis Crystal Lipzin, Phil McGaughy, naomi murakami, Sam Roloff, Alice Shaw, Simone Simon, Liz Steketee, Inez Storer, Hwei-Li Tsao, Heather Wilcoxon, Christina Velazquez—who performed I Love SFAI live at the opening reception—and Ujjayini Sikha, whose participatory installation Community Security Blanket invited collective reflection and contribution.

A fully illustrated exhibition catalog accompanied the show, featuring curatorial essays, artist statements, and images of the artwork. The catalog is available to view online here: UNRULY Catalog 2025.

This exhibition marked the first large-scale museum show focused on SFAI alumni in the North Bay and coincided with ongoing efforts to document and preserve the Institute’s 150-year history following its closure. Through UNRULY, we celebrated not only the artists but also the communal networks of support, critique, and shared experience that define the SFAI diaspora.

The SF Artists Alumni network extends its deep gratitude to the Museum of Sonoma County for its vision and partnership, to the participating artists for their generous contributions, and to all who joined us in honoring a legacy that refuses to be quieted.

THE OFFICIAL PLAN TRYST Art Fair | Del Amo Crossing Office Building, Torrance, CA | August 23–25, 2024

SFAA Booth with works by Toban Nichols and Judy Zhu at TRYST

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TRYST’s unconventional format—activating disused spaces with temporary exhibitions—offered a potent context for THE OFFICIAL PLAN. The repurposed Del Amo Crossing office building served as both site and subject, aligning with the project’s thematic focus on infrastructure, vacancy, and reinvention. Over one intense weekend, the show welcomed hundreds of visitors, connecting alumni with LA-area audiences, curators, and peers.

The exhibition also underscored SFAA’s commitment to supporting alumni-led initiatives and fostering regional visibility for artists rooted in the San Francisco Art Institute’s expansive, experimental legacy. We extend our deep thanks to co-curators Toban Nichols and Michael Pollard, to the participating artists, and to the TRYST Art Fair team—including Max Presneill, Sue-Na Guy, Carl Baratta, and the City of Torrance—for their vision and support.

Participating Artists: Mia Capodilupo, Aragna Ker, Toban Nichols, Michael Pollard, Annie Reiniger-Holleb, Laura Ricci, Mitch Temple, Judy Zhu

EROS OF KOSMOS Supermarket 2025 – Stockholm Independent Art Fair | April 3–6, 2025

SFAA Booth at Supermarket Art Fair in Stockholm

In April 2025, SF Artists Alumni presented EROS OF KOSMOS at Supermarket – Stockholm Independent Art Fair, an annual platform for artist-run spaces from around the world. Curated by Eleni Exarchou, this exhibition brought together eight international SFAI alumni whose work

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explores the generative tension between passion and order, impulse and structure, chaos and beauty.

Rooted in the etymological depth of the ancient Greek words "Eros" (love, desire) and "Kosmos" (order, harmony, the universe), EROS OF KOSMOS offered a poetic, philosophical, and political reflection on the creative force that drives us—often irrationally—toward making and meaning.

Through photography, drawing, embroidery, video, painting, and installation, the artists invited viewers into spaces where civility and fervor coexist, and where the personal becomes cosmological.

Participating artists included Åsa Åkerlund (Sweden), Eleni Exarchou, (Greece), Liz Miller Kovacs (Germany), Elania Nanopoulos (USA), Aliki Pavli (Greece), Annie Reiniger-Holleb (USA), Eddie Ritter (Sweden), and Martin Wohlwend (Liechtenstein), each contributing unique perspectives informed by diaspora, feminist inquiry, mysticism, queerness, and poetic resistance.

As part of SFAA’s growing international presence, this project highlighted the rich global network of SFAI alumni and reaffirmed the enduring relevance of artist-led dialogue across borders. The presentation was met with strong engagement from the fair’s audience, fostering new connections with artist-run initiatives across Europe and beyond.

We thank Supermarket Art Fair, curator Eleni Exarchou, and the participating artists for their visionary work and dedication. You can listen to interviews with the artists on our YouTube Channel and view the catalog here.

Eleni Exarchou at Supermarket in Stockholm, Image credit: Liz Miller Kovacs

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Diego Rivera Gallery Poster Show As part of our ongoing commitment to honoring the legacy of the San Francisco Art Institute, the Diego Rivera Gallery Poster Show showcased a vibrant selection of exhibition posters from decades of student-led programming.

Presented online in collaboration with the SFAI Legacy Foundation + Archive, the show celebrated the creativity, experimentation, and community spirit that defined the gallery. Each poster offered a snapshot of artistic dialogue and innovation, highlighting the gallery’s vital role in shaping generations of emerging artists. This collaborative exhibition also sparked renewed interest in preserving these ephemeral artifacts as a crucial part of SFAI’s broader historical narrative.

Posters exhibited at the Diego Rivera Gallery Poster Show

Participating Artists: Aaron Eliah Terry, Alberto Mayer, Amayi Morales, April Lynn, Aubin Crowell, Ben Cornish, Betsy Carson, Bob Slote and unknown, Brian B. Decker, Chloe' Allison, Chris Novak, Claire Sorosky, Daniela Parrado, David Dugoncevic, David Fagan, Debra Kaufman, Eli Phelan-Harder, Elizabeth Eckman, Elliot Shannonhouse, Gilbert Major, Giuliana Funkhouser, Henry Chambers, Jeff Maylath, Jessica Hutcheson, Josh Mintz, Jun Mo Chung, Kate Rannells, Keith Beck, Kirk Le Claire, Krista Wright, Kristen Calabrese, Lexygius Calip, Lori Hanson, Magdalen Pierrakos, Marco Castaneda, Mar Doré Milpa aka Mary Mizenko, Marian Wallace, Meghann J. Riepenhoff, Minjun Kim, Nanette Love, Oscar Lopez, Patty Felkner, Phil Pasquini and Stan Askew, Rafael Bustillos, Richard Irwin, Roy Yoshioka, Ruby Yang, Sam Swigert, Sam Vaughan, San Francisco Art Institute Faculty 1981/1982, Sarah Aineb, Sequinette, Taravat Talepasand, Whitney Humphreys, Will Barclift and many more!!

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Talks Program SFAI Memory Collection

In collaboration with the SFAI Legacy Foundation + Archive, the SFAI Memory Collection initiative launched as a dynamic effort to preserve and share personal stories, reflections, and materials from the San Francisco Art Institute community.

Through a series of live talks, recorded interviews, and an open call for submissions, this project invites alumni, faculty, and staff to contribute their memories—creating a living archive that honors SFAI’s enduring cultural impact. As part of this initiative, we hosted three major Memory Collection talks focused on key departments and iconic spaces.

In December 2024, photography legends Linda Connor and Jack Fulton joined Jeff Gunderson to revisit the legacy and experimental spirit of the Photography Department. In February 2025, Richard Shaw and Rodger Jacobsen reflected on the distinctive culture of the Sculpture and Ceramics Departments, and in June 2025, John Lindsey and Pete Stanwood shared lively stories about the role of Pete’s Café as an informal creative hub on campus.

This final talk was presented in a hybrid format, with more than 20 alumni attending in person at The Great Highway Gallery in San Francisco—marking an exciting return to live community events and a model we hope to build upon. These conversations—rich in humor, insight, and historical depth—are being recorded and preserved as part of the growing digital archive, forming a foundation for future public programming, research, and potential publication while fostering deeper intergenerational connections across our alumni network.

You can view the SFAI Memory Collection talk series on our YouTube channel.

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Spotlight Talks Our monthly SFAA Spotlight Series—held on the first Monday of each month—continues to grow as a cornerstone of our programming, offering alumni and faculty a platform for dialogue and reflection.

In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, we proudly hosted 11 alumni presenters, each bringing a distinct perspective shaped by their unique practices and experiences. These Spotlight events served as meaningful moments of exchange, reflection, and recognition within our growing network.

This year’s Spotlight presenters included: Nykelle DeVivo, Evri Kwong, Cecilia Sterner, Rye Purvis, Bruce McGaw, Michael Santiago, Ashveta Budhrani, Liz Steketee, Dewey Crumpler with Dr. Ben L. Jones, Richard Alpert, and Lance Shields and Anni Henriikka Löppönen with Beth Waldmann. We thank each participant for their contributions and look forward to continuing this vital program in the coming year.

The total number of RSVPs for our Talk programs reached 1,350, with 484 attendees joining us live across sessions, and $1,456.84 collected in optional "tip jar" donations via Eventbrite. Our most attended session was the November 2024 conversation with longtime painting faculty Bruce McGaw, drawing 82 attendees. Bruce passed away on March 22, 2025, and we are grateful to have recorded his generous insights for the community.

These conversations not only preserve living history but continue to foster connection across our alumni community.

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1st Annual SFAA Board Retreat SFAI Legacy Foundation + Archive | February 14, 2025

In 2025, the SF Artists Alumni board convened for a retreat at the Legacy Foundation to reflect, strategize, and prepare for the future of the organization. This gathering provided a space for both introspection and collaborative planning, marking a pivotal moment of growth and transition for SFAA. The retreat opened with a focused session on the structure and evolution of the board, including discussions around new candidates for both the Advisory and SFAA Boards. Drawing inspiration from peer models—such as the Chicago alumni board—the group explored ways to build a more transparent and inclusive nomination process that reflects the diversity and dynamism of our alumni network.

As a first step, we created a public Board Member Nomination Form to invite input from the broader community and support the development of a more open selection process.

In the second session, Mitch Temple from Root Division led a conversation on long-term sustainability, capacity building, and strategic priorities for the next five years. Participants reviewed and contributed to the working Strategic Planning document, identifying key goals and actionable steps to support programming, visibility, and fundraising.

The day concluded with a planning session to define next steps, clarify roles, and set the timeline for implementation. The retreat reaffirmed SFAA’s shared commitment to artist-centered leadership, intergenerational dialogue, and the preservation and activation of the SFAI legacy.

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SFAA is deeply grateful to the Legacy Foundation for hosting this important gathering, and to all board members, advisors, and guests whose insights and contributions continue to shape the future of the organization.

SFAA Turns 5!

Rusty Ladle | June 29, 2025 This year, we celebrated the 5th anniversary of SF Artists Alumni with a joyful gathering that brought together alumni, friends, and supporters from across the decades. The event was generously hosted by John Lindsey at his soup restaurant, Rusty Ladle, in San Francisco.

Guests enjoyed live music by The Situational Jazz Band, featuring Pete Stanwood on bass, adding to the festive and nostalgic atmosphere. It was a meaningful moment to reflect on how far we’ve come since our founding in 2020, and to celebrate the vibrant community that continues to grow around the legacy of SFAI.

The Situational Jazz Band at Rusty Ladle

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02. Future Projects and Updates SFAI History Book Project

Image: SFAI Timeline created by Annie Reiniger for THE SPIRIT IS ALIVE event

In collaboration with the SFAI Legacy Foundation + Archive, we are continuing work on our most ambitious project to date: the SFAI History Book Project. Few institutions have been more central to the development of art in the United States over the past 150 years than the San Francisco Art Institute—yet no comprehensive, published history of the school currently exists.

This book will permanently safeguard, share, and celebrate the remarkable legacy of SFAI. Over the past year, we’ve made significant progress: we’ve developed a detailed project proposal, crafted a marketing and outreach strategy, and begun identifying potential publishers.

Our aim is not only to preserve the institutional history, but to tell the story of a century and a half of artistic and cultural creation through the lens of San Francisco’s ever-evolving cultural landscape.

We look forward to sharing more updates as the project moves forward—and as always, we invite alumni and community members to contribute memories, materials, and support for this historic publication.

Forthcoming Exhibitions We are thrilled to share a preview of upcoming exhibitions and events that continue to elevate and connect the SFAI alumni community across regions and generations.

This July, we return for a second consecutive year to the TRYST Art Fair at the Torrance Art Museum in Los Angeles. Our booth will feature the work of SFAI alumni, curated by Michael Pollard and Toban Nichols.

Looking further ahead, we are in active planning with the Palm Springs Art Museum for a major alumni exhibition scheduled for 2027, to be curated by Claire Tom and Toban Nichols. We are 12

also in conversation with SFAI liaison Martin Wohlwend about organizing an alumni exhibition in Liechtenstein.

This fall, we will present the 2nd Studio 8 Film Festival, honoring the groundbreaking work of Lawrence Jordan and Gunvor Nelson. The festival will include an open call for submissions, inviting a new generation of experimental filmmakers to share their visions alongside these influential artists.

Opening Reception for UNRULY at the Museum of Sonoma County

SFAI Transcripts Update Since Fall 2023, the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) has been processing transcript requests for SFAI alumni. As of June 2025, BPPE has fulfilled 373 transcript requests for the 2024–2025 fiscal year. In the previous period (which did not cover a full fiscal year), 191 requests were fulfilled. One international alum has reported issues with transcript acceptance by another institution.

Please note that BPPE is unable to issue diplomas. We recognize that this poses a significant challenge—especially for our international alumni—and we are actively working with the SFAI Legacy Foundation and the former SFAI registrar to explore potential solutions.

In parallel, we have been in conversation with Parchment, a digital credential service, regarding a possible transfer of transcript services. This would allow for expanded options, including 13

official transcript delivery and diploma reissuance. The estimated cost for this transition is $33,000, which SFAA is currently unable to take on. However, if you are interested in sponsoring this project, please reach out.

If you have experienced issues with transcripts issued by BPPE, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@sfartistsalumni.org. Stay tuned for further updates.

SFAI Alumni and Community Directory Launched in June 2025, the SFAI Alumni and Community Directory has already welcomed 248 members in its first weeks. This growing resource connects alumni, faculty, staff, and community members across generations and geographies. In addition to fostering renewed connections and collaborations, the directory is also being shared with curators and cultural organizers as a tool for identifying artists for future exhibition proposals. The response has been enthusiastic, and we look forward to seeing how this platform continues to support the creative networks rooted in SFAI. We invite all members of the SFAI community to join and be part of this living archive: https://www.sfartistsalumni.org/sfai-alumni-directory.

Audience at Pete’s Cafe Talk at The Great Highway Gallery

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03. Engagement Summary

SFAI Memory Collection talk at The Great Highway Gallery

Our digital platforms continue to be essential tools for engagement, outreach, and archiving, with strong growth across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Eventbrite, and email—and now expanding to Bluesky. Early in 2025, we transitioned to Constant Contact for newsletters and updates, sending 165,510 emails with a 96% delivery rate and an average open rate of 50%, which is 17% above the industry average.

Top-performing campaigns included the Studio 8 Film Festival open call and our five-year anniversary newsletter. On YouTube, we saw a 60.72% increase in total views (4,669), 320 hours of watch time, and a 250% jump in subscribers. High-performing videos included Spotlight Talks, the Studio 8 tribute, the SFAI Memory Collection session, and UNRULY performance footage. Our Instagram following grew by 10% to 2,052, with 82,503 post views over a 90-day period and an average engagement rate of 11%. Top posts reached over 1,200 users, while Instagram Stories reached as many as 474 accounts.

On Facebook, we recorded 7,339 impressions, 5,811 reach, 431 page views, 561 reactions, and 324 new likes in the same 90-day span. Eventbrite remained a vital tool for hosting events, generating over 800 RSVPs and bringing in both returning and first-time attendees. This year, we also launched an account on Bluesky, further expanding our presence in decentralized and artist-driven online communities.

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04. Donors This list includes donations made in the period of July 1st, 2024 to June 30th 2025.

AK Gubser Adrian Card Alberta Mayo Alice Shaw Alisha Trimble Beth Davila Waldman Brian McPartlon Charles Forrester Christina Corfield Cycladic Arts Dan Bockmier Daniel Postaer Deborah Fort Emberly Modine Gilbert Cohen Gordon Ricketts Jacqueline Sue Jane Bauman Jeanne Ting Chowning Jeffrey Clark

Jerry Barrish Jim (James E) Guigli Joell Hallowell John Marx John Roloff Jonathan Naisteter Joseph Dodson Julie Blankenship Julie McManus Justin Schuetz Karen Finley Karla Klarin Kate Mauldin Kathleen Thompson Laurel Watanabe Linda Connor Lisa Salazar Maria Theresa Barbist Marian Wallace Mauricio Robalino

Merylee Smith Bingham Michael Naify Mike Chambers Nona Haydon Paul and Alan Holleb (DOMAH) Paula Levine Rebecca Chou Richard Alpert Richard Pinegar Stephen Martin Stuart Bass Susan Weiss Susanna Lamaina Suzie Buchholz Texas Starr Toby Levine Tomas Nakada Valentine Wallace Wendy Case William Messer

We would also like to thank all our Tip in the Jar donors on Eventbrite and the many volunteers who supported us this year — including our amazing liaison team, exhibitions team, and general volunteers.

V. Vale and Marian Wallace at the SFAA is turning 5! Party at the Rusty Ladle

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05. Financial Statement Fiscal Year: July 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 This fiscal year, SF Artists Alumni saw continued growth in both foundation support and grassroots giving.

Total revenue was $68,432.19, a significant increase from last year’s $58,475.00. Over $50,000 was secured through grants and foundation support, with the remainder raised through individual donations and program-related income.

Total expenses were $18,900.52, up slightly from the prior projection but still well below the previous year’s $34,888.52. This increase reflects investments in expanded programming while maintaining lean operations.

REVENUE

EXPENSES

Fundraising

$7,259.20

Programming

$11,006.01

Grants/Foundation

$50,000.00

Operating Expenses

$7,894.51

Programming

$10,593.96

Total

$18,900.52

Other

$579.03

Total

$68,432.19

John Lindsey hosting the SFAA is turning 5 event at Rusty Ladle

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06. Board of Directors Annie Reiniger-Holleb (Vice-President)

Advisory Board

Brianna Hyneman (Secretary)

April September

Cristina Velazquez

Becky Alexander​

Jackie Buttice

Jeff Gunderson ​

Linda Connor

Rye Purvis​

Lior Bar Maria Theresa Barbist (President) Marian Wallace (Interim Treasurer) Toban Nichols

UNRULY: North Bay Artists from the San Francisco Art Institute

DONATE TO SFAA

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