“Liquid Hymn,” J.S. Weis, 1 A.M. Gallery, closing this Saturday, March 8

You only have until this Saturday, March 8, to see “Liquid Hymn," a solo exhibition of fresh, imaginative works by J. S. Weis.

Evoking the feeling of a kaleidoscope, the fantastical, mixed-media works on paper by Weis merge images of insects, animals and splashes of deeply saturated, vibrant hues, which serve as the artist’s ode to the beauty of wild places and the delicate and resilient characteristic of nature.

www.1amgallery.com

 www.jsweisart.com

“Hum from the Throat of a Flower” by J. S. Weis. Photo courtesy of the 1AM Gallery.

“Stripes on the Wind” by J. S. Weis. Photo courtesy of the 1AM Gallery.

“Springing Dirt” by J. S. Weis. Photo courtesy of the 1AM Gallery.

1AM Gallery, 1000 Howard St., S.F. Open noon to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. (415) 861-5089, www.1amgallery.com.

Street Date: Spring hike and visiting Jack London State Historic Park, Glen Ellen

Enjoy seeing the wildflowers Jack London State Historic Park through a series of curated walks led by park naturalists Deborah Larage and John Lynch. The first amble, the "Wildflower Walk," is a three and a half mile hike 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 8. $10 tickets-purchase online or by calling (707) 938-5216. There is also a parking fee of $10 per car. The walk includes a snack and water.

After the walk, visit stops through the park related to author Jack London:

In Sonoma County's Valley of the Moon, London Ranch Road leads to a 1,400-acre spread that writer Jack London called his Beauty Ranch. Nestled among moss-covered trees and undulating hills, it's now part of Jack London State Historic Park. From here, the man who penned "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang" raised pigs and horses, planted crops, entertained friends, and continued a prolific literary career.

-Stephanie Wright Hession

All photographs and content copyright 2014 by Stephanie Wright Hession.

1. The House of Happy Walls

London lived on the ranch with his second wife, Charmian, who shared his passions for country living, travel and adventure. Three years after London's death, she had this two-story home built, with the plan of it becoming a museum honoring him after she died. Upstairs displays include some of her fashionable wardrobe and living quarters.

2. House of Happy Walls Museum

Charmian's former abode houses a museum and visitor center containing exhibits on Jack London and the couple's life together. Watch films of their time at Beauty Ranch and see artifacts from London's career and their yacht the Snark, which they sailed to the South Pacific. Free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (707) 938-5216, www.jacklondonpark.com.

3. Jack London's Cottage

The Londons called this cottage home for about five years. From its attached study, the author spent mornings working toward his daily goal of writing 1,000 words and completed articles, short stories and novels. On Nov. 22, 1916, Jack London died here. He was 40 years old. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

4. Kohler and Frohling Winery ruins

Across from the cottage, you'll find remnants of the original main building of the Kohler and Frohling Winery, damaged in the 1906 earthquake. The Londons repaired it and used the main floor as a carriage house and a new, second story as rooms for guests and ranch hands, which a fire destroyed in 1965.

5. Sherry Barn and Distillery Building

London re purposed two stone winery structures, the Sherry Barn near the picnic grounds and the Distillery Building next to the cottage. Constructed in 1884, the Sherry Barn became a stable for London's prized English Shire horses, and farmhands used the Distillery Building, edged with a field of cacti, as an equipment repair shed.

6. Picnic grounds

Perched on a slope near the Sherry Barn, these scenic picnic grounds offer bucolic vistas of vineyards and a grove of eucalyptus trees, along with views of the Londons' cottage, the winery ruins and buildings. One of a handful of picnic grounds located throughout the park, it's dotted with picnic tables and barbecues.

Of Note:

From the House of Happy Walls, a half-mile trail leads to the Londons' graves and just beyond them, the ruins of the Wolf House. The Londons' dream home, it burned down in 1913, shortly before they were set to move in.

All content and photographs by Stephanie Wright Hession and may not be downloaded, copied, etc. without my permission.

 

"Brave New World: Currents in Contemporary Abstraction" at Scott Richards Contemporary Art through March 6

A group exhibition at the Scott Richards Contemporary Art gallery, "Brave New World: Currents in Contemporary Abstraction," examines various aspects of abstraction and questions traditional notions of color, meaning, surface and shape.

It features mixed media works by Tim Bavington, Sophia Dixon-Dillo, Peter Fox, William Metcalf, David Ryan, Patrick Wilson and Eric Zammitt.

"Quadrophenia," (2014), synthetic polymer on canvas by Tim Bavington. Photo courtesy of Scott Richards Contemporary Art. 

Untitled #2384 (2012), mixed media by Sophia Dixon-Dillo. Photo courtesy of Scott Richards Contemporary Art. 

Scott Richards Contemporary Art, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays and Mondays by appointment. 251 Post St., Ste. 425, S.F. (415) 788-5588, www.srcart.com.

111 Minna Gallery presents new works by Eddie Colla, Hugh Leeman and D Young V (David Young), Feb. 7-March 29

The 111 Minna Gallery's first show of the year features new works by Eddie Colla, Hugh Leeman and D Young V (David Young). The trio create graphic-focused, mixed media pieces influenced by the street and urban life. They have also collaborated on installations together. Opening reception 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7.

www.111minnagallery.com

www.eddiecolla.com

www.hughleeman.com

www.facebook.com/DYoungV/

Ambition 2 by Eddie Colla. Courtesy of the 111 Minna Gallery.

A work by Eddie Colla. Courtesy of the 111 Minna Gallery.

Disovering the Energy in Self by Hugh Leeman. Courtesy of the 111 Minna Gallery.

Of Love and Luck by Hugh Leeman. Courtesy of the 111 Minna Gallery.

A work by D Young V (David Young). Courtesy of the 111 Minna Gallery.

D Young V (David Young) installing his work. Courtesy of the 111 Minna Gallery.

Jeremy Sutton exhibits retrospective paintings at "People and Places," Feb. 6 through Feb. 9

"People and Places," an exhibition featuring 16 retrospective paintings encompassing the last 20 years by Jeremy Sutton and travel photographs by Sarka Holeckova, takes place at the Harrison Street Pop-Up Art Gallery.

The opening reception happens from 6-10 p.m., today and includes a live performance by Hardly Strictly Jazz 8-10 p.m. The show continues from 6-9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7, noon-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, 1-4 p.m.Sunday, Feb. 9 and by appointment. The Harrison Street Pop-Up Art Gallery, 2407-11 Harrison St., #5, S.F.

www.jeremysutton.com

www.sarka-trager.com

www.jr-guitar.com/hardlystrictlyjazz

Moment in Time (2004) pigment ink and acrylic on canvas by Jeremy Sutton. Courtesy of the artist.

Ralston Hall Mansion, Belmont

San Francisco financier William Chapman Ralston, who established the Bank of California, crowned his 14-acre estate with Belmont, a sumptuous manor. His lavish fetes attracted society's elite, among them Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins and James Flood. Renamed Ralston Hall Mansion and now part of Notre Dame de Namur University, it offers a glimpse into an opulent 19th century lifestyle. The hall is currently closed for a major renovation but you can take an  online tour: www.ralstonhall.com

All photographs by Stephanie Wright Hession copyright 2013.

1. Ralston Hall Mansion

Approaching the exterior of this 55,360-square-foot, 80-room Italianate Villa-style structure, it's easy to imagine being a guest at a Ralston soiree. Except for the furniture, the first-floor interior appears as it did when the family lived here, with the original chandeliers and mirrors.

2. Sun Parlor

This rectangular parlor mimics a riverboat's promenade deck, one of the "steamboat gothic" architectural elements of the guest areas. A nod to when Ralston plied the waters of the Mississippi as a riverboat captain, they include hand-etched glass doors that slide into the walls or open flat, creating unobstructed spaces for entertaining.

3. Formal Dining Room

For dramatic effect, dinner parties commenced with the pulling open of a large door to the formal dining room, revealing a large, extravagantly set table. Because of the home's popularity as a wedding and social venue, people continued to dine here or used it as a bar or hors d'oeuvres station.

4. Opera Box Gallery

At the top of the main staircase is a very unusual feature that may evoke Mary Cassatt's painting "In the Box" (1879) - especially as this gallery is fashioned after the Académie Nationale de Musique-Théâtre de l'Opéra, the former location of the Paris Opera. The mid-banister chandelier's hand-shaped glass.

5. Cipriani Room

Ralston built his grand 1868 summer residence around an existing villa he purchased from Count Leonetto Cipriani in 1864. Because of this room's Italian marble fireplace and exterior windows, it's believed to be from that villa - purportedly shipped piece by piece from Genoa, Italy. 

6. Grand Ballroom

You can almost hear the swish of ball gowns in this ballroom. Inspired by Versailles and embellished with exquisite architectural details, grand mirrors and antique French crystal chandeliers, it's stunning. Couples often exchanged vows under its arched window, and receptions and other festivities have taken place here.

Lamplighters Music Theatre, "Upside-Downton Abbey," Nov. 10 and Nov. 24

For its annual champagne gala and Auction fundraiser, the Lamplighters Music Theatre indulges in a bit of mirth with its full-length production of “Upside-Downton Abbey” or “The Lass that Loved a Chauffeur."

The playful parody of “Downton Abbey,” the highly praised drama made for British television, is set primarily to lyrics by Sir Arthur Sullivan, with stage direction by Phil Lowery and musical direction/conducting by Monroe Kanouse/Baker Peeples.

Sunday, Nov. 10: 3 p.m., silent auction and 4 p.m. performance at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco. Tickets: $35-97 available through the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org.

Sunday, Nov. 24: Performance at 4 p.m. at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets: $58-83. (650) 903-6000, www.mvcpa.com.

Photos by David Allen and Joanne Kay.

Out and About: Hayes Street, Hayes Valley, S.F.

Hayes Street, S.F.: On a recent Friday evening, after beginning their weekend with appetizers and drinks at restaurants in Hayes Valley, au courant men and women zig-zag in and out of boutiques in search of up-to-the-minute designs in a neighborhood known for its fashionable wares. Nearby, an ethereal mural, adorning a freshly revamped Beaux Arts theater, overlooks it all.

-Stephanie Wright Hession

All photographs by Stephanie Wright Hession. Copyright 2013 All rights reserved.

1. Dish

541 Hayes St.: A carefully edited collection of well-crafted pieces - from linen shirts to jeans to that little black dress, by new and established designers including Citizens ofHumanity, Frank & Eileen and Matta - a super-friendly staff and an understated space make shopping at Dish a pleasure. (415) 252-5997. www.dishboutique.com

2. Alla Prima

539 Hayes St.: This fine lingerie shop features ultra-feminine bras and panties, ranging from sheer ebony fabric edged in white lace to solid, printed fabrics by Andres Sarda, Prima Donna and more from countries across Europe. Alla Prima also carries swimwear. (925) 864-8180. www.allaprimalingerie.com

3. Nida

544 Hayes St.: Nida specializes in women's basics by European designers such as Alberto Aspesi and Les Prairies de Paris. Family owned, Nida opened its first shop in Caserta, Italy, five decades ago, its second in San Francisco in 1995 and its third in New York in 2010. (415) 552-4670. www.nidaboutique.com

4. Fiddlesticks

540 Hayes St.: Endearing clothes, shoes, accessories and toys dot the inside of this children's shop. They include a Joules white dress adorned with a border of merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels and the names of English coastal towns; Mary Janes by Livie & Luca; and Appaman plaid shirts and solid trouser shorts. (415) 565-0508.www.shopfiddlesticks.com

5. Nomads

556 Hayes St.: Established in 1990, Nomads keeps the men's fashions crisp here by mixing classics - button-down shirts, pullover sweaters and leather belts - with paisley printed vests. Brands include Aiaiai, Field Notes, Grown & Sewn, Sutro and Universal Works. (415) 864-5692. www.nomadshayesvalley.com

6. The Learning Wall

275 Hayes St.: For his mural "The Learning Wall," Keith Sklar painted totemic faces, a single pale blue eye and other mystical imagery, which covers an entire side of the Nourse Theatre. The theater is the new venue for City Arts & Lectures, which raised funds to restore the Beaux Arts treasure. www.keithsklar.com

Of Note:

Since 1980, City Arts & Lectures has presented lectures, onstage conversations and performances with prominent members of the arts community. The Nourse Theatre, 275 Hayes St. (415) 392-4400. www.cityarts

Out and About: Octavia and Hayes streets, Hayes Valley, S.F.

With projects such as the Proxy, Hayes Valley continues to evolve as a place where enterprising dreamers - including inventors, chefs, fashion designers, artists and gardeners - with crisp ideas see their aspirations realized, not despite the economic climate but because of it.

-Stephanie Wright Hession

Photographs by Stephanie Wright Hession. Copyright 2013 All rights reserved.

1. Ritual Coffee Roasters

432 Octavia St.: Ritual sources its own coffee beans, freshly harvested within the past 12 months, by traveling to Costa Rica and Guatemala to meet with growers on their farms. Roasting in small batches, it creates single-origin espressos for a macchiato or a cappuccino.www.ritualroasters.com

2. Smitten Ice Cream

432 Octavia St.: From an ethereal mist - created by a liquid nitrogen ice cream maker developed by proprietor Robyn Sue Goldman - emerges made-to-order ice cream utilizing fresh, seasonal, local ingredients. Flavors include Tcho dark chocolate, creamy vanilla and two seasonal choices, which currently include a sublime hibiscus. (415) 863-1518.www.smittenicecream.com

3. Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley

Hayes and Octavia streets: The next time your dog or child frolics in this park, with its patch of lawn, domed play structure, public art, benches, tables and trees, think of Patricia Walkup, the park's namesake. A tireless neighborhood advocate who died in 2006, she played a pivotal role in revitalizing Hayes Valley. www.patriciawalkup.org

4. Patxi's Chicago Pizza

511 Hayes St.: Although Patxi's serves up thin-crust pizza, the reason to eat here is for the Chicago-style stuffed pizza. Bring your appetite, but don't arrive in a rush: These pies are hearty, and you'll want to savor each bite - and they take 35 to 40 minutes to prepare and cook. (415) 558-9991. www.patxispizza.com

5. La Boulange

500 Hayes St.: Order from the large menu board, find a seat and settle in or opt for a bistro table and chair outside. Select soup du jour, salad Nicoise or a croque monsieur. Be sure to save room for a sweet treat and a bag of mini palmiers to go. (415) 863-3376.www.laboulangebakery.com

Of note

Ritual and Smitten are part of Proxy, a temporary, two-block project with providers of food, art and culture housed in repurposed shipping containers. Plans include constructing a permanent structure on the site in about four years. www.proxysf.net

"Picturesoteric" mural by San Francisco artist Sirron Norris

While walking in the Mission District in S.F. one day, I happened across "Picturesoteric," a wonderful mural painted by San Francisco artist Sirron Norris.

-Stephanie Wright Hession

All photographs by Stephanie Wright Hession copyright 2013. 

To learn more about Norris go to: www.sirronnorris.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Q6ac5NVgU&feature=youtu.be