Mark Your Calendar: Weekend Art Openings and Events

A few things on my radar this weekend:

Friday, May 1

* The Den, the brand-new lounge at the fabulous Fox Theater, hosts its inaugural "First Friday" Poster Art Party featuring gigposters from Jason Munn of The Small Stakes and Lil' Tuffy. The party (complete with drink specials and posters for sale) runs from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Den is located at 1912 Telegraph Ave. at 19th St. in Uptown Oakland.

* Old Oakland's FiveTen Studio presents The Home Show, a group exhibition featuring work from Modesto Covarrubias, Miriam Fagan, Linda Braz, Glenna Alee, Elyse Hochstadt, and Dave Higgins. The opening reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m., and the show will be up through May 30. FiveTen Studio is located at 831 Broadway at 9th.

* From 7 to 10 p.m., 21 Grand hosts its 9th Annual Art Sale featuring more than 100 affordable pieces from a dizzying array of local artists. (If you can't make it tonight, the sale continues Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.) 21 Grand is located at 416 25th St. near Broadway in Uptown Oakland.

* Over in San Francisco, Rare Device unveils Rachel Denny's Out of the Woods, showcasing the Portland artist's textile taxidermy and other sculptural pieces. The opening reception is from 7 to 9 p.m., and the show will be up until June 2. Rare Device is located at 1845 Market St. near Guerrero.

Saturday, May 2

*After you hit the Modern Economy Sale at Fort Mason Saturday morning, swing over to the other side of the City for the Dogpatch and Bayview Artists Spring Open Studios, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Artists Annie Galvin and Eric Rewitzer and ceramist Diana Fayt will open their doors for studio tours, art previews, and light refreshments. Galvin and Rewitzer's 3 Fish Studios is located at 610 22nd St. #243 at Illinois, and Fayt's space is at 1044 Revere Ave. #B29 at Griffith.

* Close out the day at Needles + Pens for the opening of You've Got Light in Your Eyes, a group show curated by art blogger extraordinaire Meighan O'Toole of My Love for You is a Stampede of Horses and featuring work from 1911, Kate Bingaman Burt, Jill Bliss, Will Bryant, Kime Buzzelli, John Casey, Lisa Congdon, Liam Devowski, Bill Dunlap, Kenn Goodall, Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch, Know Hope, Olivia Jeffries, Aidan Koch, Ashley Lande Brown, Jeremiah Maddock, Leslie Martinez, Terri Olsen Von Schaub, Mike Perry, Shannon Rankin, and Dan Szymanowski. The opening reception runs from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and the show will be up through June 28. Needles + Pens is located at 3253 16th St. at Guerrero.

* P.S. Don't forget that Saturday is World Naked Gardening Day! And Sunday is, of course, the Alameda Flea Market.

Have fun!

The Artful Home: Annie Galvin Small Originals

Who says you needs lots of cash to afford original art? These sweet 4-by-6-inch original paintings by San Francisco artist Annie Galvin will set you back just $15 each. So what are you waiting for? Above: #13

#6

#20

#17

#16

See these and the rest of Galvin's affordable mini artworks in the 3 Fish Studios' Small Originals Shop.

P.S. If you're in the Bay Area, mark your calendar for the spring shindig at Annie and husband Eric Rewitzer's San Francisco studio from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The event is co-hosted by Victoria Smith, aka sfgirlbybay, and will feature wines from La Crema and new art and silkscreened posters for sale.

Mark Your Calendar: 3 Fish Studios Holiday Market

I haven't officially taken the "Handmade Pledge" (I will, I promise), but I'm determined to skip the mall and give my loved ones unique, heartfelt, made-by-humans items this holiday season.

So what better way to get started on my gift shopping than at the 3 Fish Studios Holiday Market in San Francisco this Saturday, November 17.

There will be locally made paper goods, art, clothing, accessories, and decor for sale from the likes of Honeycutt Made, Wexford Girl, Sarah Chase, Charm Foundry, Sprout Studio, Namaste Mofo, Dana Robson (aka Aquarabbit), Kate Durkin, Lonely Robot, and Ashli Rietz.

The sale is from noon to 5 p.m. at the American Industrial Center, 610 22nd St. (between 3rd and Illinois), Suite 243, San Francisco. The number is 415-865-0420.

P.S. If you know of any other good upcoming indie art-and-craft fares in the Bay Area, please shoot me a line.