About San Francisco Artists Alumni (SFAA)
SFAA is an international non-profit artist-run organization representing the alumni of the recently closed San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI). SFAI, founded in 1871, was one of the oldest and prestigious institutions of higher education in the practice and study of contemporary art. It was an institution with 150+ years of history renowned for its rich legacy of innovation in the contemporary fine arts.
SFAA was created in 2020 to advocate for SFAI alumni, the SFAI archives and to communicate with the general arts community Our core mission is building community through events, a monthly artists’ lecture series, a newsletter and curating exhibitions We foster a sense of community and celebrate a century and a half of artistic excellence accomplished by the alums Our future plans are to create new partnerships with other cultural institutions to engage in a dialogue committed to original thinking in an open, experimental and interdisciplinary context
Curators’ Statement
The Tryst Art Fair and its singular artist side Nomad are an exciting new idea for presenting art in a Guerilla Style In my own work I am fascinated with public installation as well as detritus as medium so the idea of launching a massive one-weekend-only show in what is basically an abandoned building was something I just had to be a part of Having participated before I was thrilled to be asked to do it again and bring along SFAA with us The first year I did the show, one of the other alumni and myself walked around interviewing other SFAI alums that were also a part of the show and it was a thrill to meet and talk to so many great artists When Michael approached me about who we’d put in the show, I was again very excited to think about the local alumni to the LA area and how all of the work could go together in this unusual and interesting way. It’s been an honor to work with each of them on this project and I’m thrilled with the results.
Toban Nichols co-curator
Like Toban, I have also been a past participant in Tryst (2023) and upon my return to Chicago, I was energized and focused from the experience. I am pleased to continue this again this year as a member of SFAA, contributing as an artist and organizer The group of SFAI alumni we have selected are artists driven to create, explore, and provoke
Many thanks to Toban, Maria, and everyone from SFAA Great thanks and appreciation also go out to Max Presneill, Sue-Na Guy, Carl Barratta, and everyone from the TAM team and the City of Torrance for putting together this amazing opportunity
Michael Pollard co-curator
ARTISTS
MIA CAPODILUPO
SFAI Alumni MFA 2002 Chicago, IL, US https://www.miacapo.xyz/
1 sweater, 1 bottle of pain reliever, 3 credit cards 2016
8” x 8” x 3” Mixed media
ARAGNA KER
SFAI Alumni BFA 1999
Los Angeles, CA, US
https://wwwinstagram com/aragna kerart
Smells Like Teen Spirit
1985
TPU Filament in shadow box white frame 11" x 14"
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is from the series “FRISSON”, which explores music and lyrical superpowers to amplify emotion, and in turn, make us feel larger than we are. A native of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aragna Ker immigrated to Southern California suburb at age 6. Aragna Ker is a graduate of Claremont Graduate University (MFA in Sculpture) & the San Francisco Art Institute (BFA in Painting 1995).
TOBAN NICHOLS
SFAI Alumni MFA 2003
Los Angeles, CA, US
https://wwwtobannichols com/
Accretion 2024 video
8 min
Accretion is a collaborative improvised experimental video by Toban Nichols and Kym Preiss using the Oblique Strategies card deck as a topic selection tool Oblique Strategies is a card-based method for promoting creativity jointly created by musician/artist Brian Eno and multimedia artist Peter Schmidt, first published in 1975
The two artists envisioned a collaborative video created out of sheer improvisation and reacting to one another without editing It was decided initially to bring 2 outfits and 2 items to use in the video along with an array of musical instruments that could be used in various ways At the beginning of each 2 minute timed video a card from the deck was selected and the word on the card is the inspiration for the video. Similar to the filming process, editing of the final video was kept to a minimum using jump cuts and three image filters. The opening scene of the mushroom house, meant to establish location was made with an online AI tool.
The resulting experimental video is chaotic, loud, and rhythmic while also seeming fresh and instantaneous.
MICHAEL POLLARD
SFAI Alumni 1994-1997, 2000–2001
Chicago, IL, US
michaelrobertpollard net
Stomping 2024
Pen, marker, colored pencil on paper 10“ x 7“
I have found myself of late making work with strong lines, and bold colors, expressive and improvised.
Next stop: Be-Bop and Salt Peanuts.
ANNIE REINIGER-HOLLEB
SFAI Alumni BFA 1980
Santa Monica, CA, US
https://wwwinstagram com/reinigerholleb
Untitled 2024
Acrylic on canvas
36" x 24"
I make abstract paintings by using intuition, spontaneity, and chance to uncover non-linear narratives that are neither deliberate nor expected My work often contains allusions to geometry and grids, but I aim to ensure that nothing literal can be recognized Instead, I prefer to make shapes and atmospheres that cannot be explained by words or rational thinking The grids in my work appear unstable, dissolving, collapsing, or rebuilding into precarious and provisional arrangements This creates an atmosphere and mood that enriches the tension between order and chaos
Originally from New York, I drove zig-zagging across the country before moving to San Francisco to attend the San Francisco Art Institute I earned my BFA in 1980 and my MFA from UCLA in 1993 My work has been exhibited internationally I currently reside in Santa Monica and have a studio in Los Angeles
LAURA RICCI
SFAI Alumni MFA 2002
Los Angeles, CA, US
https://lauraricci.net/
One 2024
coffee, graphite, acrylic paint, duralar, mirrored paper, archival glue, fine scenic turf, sanded pastel paper on plexiglass lightbox
9 5" x 12" x 1 5"
MITCH TEMPLE
SFAI Alumni MFA 2002
Los Angeles, CA, US
https://www.mitchtemple.com/
The Dreams of Al Capone 2023
video 1:36:01
An investigative reporter is trying to figure out how her mother’s suicide might be connected to an illegal cia mind control operation, code named “the dream machine”. She tracks down the only living agents remaining from the project in her search for meaning and justice in the chaos of recent American history.
JUDY ZHU
SFAI Alumni BFA 2019
Torrance, CA, US
https://zhujudyzhu com/
Blue Morpho 2024
36” x 48”
Acrylic on Canvas
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SPECIAL THANKS
Curators
Michael Pollard
Toban Nichols
SFAA Board
Maria Theresa Barbist (President)
Annie Reiniger-Holleb (Vice-President)
Marian Wallace (interim Treasurer)
Toban Nichols (Co-Secretary)
Brianna Hyneman (Co-Secretary)
Cristina Velazquez
Jackie Buttice
Linda Connor
Lior Bar
SFAA Advisory Board
April Martin
Becky Alexander
Jeff Gunderson
Rye Purvis
and all participating SFAI artists!
