Upcoming Exhibition at the Luggage Store Gallery: 

10th Anniversary Fecal Face group show

curated by John Trippe

September 10th - October 9th, 2010

(*TNF:  name derived from SFSU student Marco Crescenti) 

Cohen Alley, between Leavenworth and Ellis Street, San Francisco

a continuing public art project

lead artists DARRYL SMITH/LAURIE LAZER of the luggage store
1989 - present

"from black flies to butterflies

Tommy Guerrero at Tenderloin National Forest

Luggage Store Co-Artistic Directors/Artists Darryl Smith
and Laurie Lazer of the luggage store have been working to transform
Cohen Alley since 1989 from a place emblazed in a health-hazardous
cesspool of bodily fluids and other dumped items, non-supervised open-air
chemical experiments and illicit – criminal activities -- to a community commons where people of all ages can gather for public art,
performance, experimental art projects. and classes and activities
related to this inner city garden which is home to naturally growing
vegetation and built organic structures, or just to sit....

The Alley has been reclaimed and will be rededicated May 9,
2009 as “The Tenderloin National Forest." With recent funding from the San Francisco Art Commission/Creative Space Fund and the Mayor's Office, Community Challenge Grant, a series of physical improvements were completed.

One of the very few open spaces in our high density
neighborhood of over 40,000 culturally and ethnically diverse residents, the
Alley lies adjacent to two heavily trafficked inner city streets
(Leavenworth running north and Ellis running est); and it is roughly 23 feet
wide by 136 ft. deep. It is surrounded by multi story residential
buildings and hotels that house formerly homeless, immigrant individuals and families, as well as seniors, artists, active drug users, dealesr and
others. The Tenderloin Children’s Playground is situated directly
across the street.

In 2000, Lazer and Smith negotiated a lease with the City
of San Francisco for $1.00 per year, which permanently closed the alley to
traffic. A sculptured gate, commissioned by the luggage store and
built and designed by Bay Area artist Kevin Leeper was installed.

Over the years, Lazer and Smith have organized murals to be
painted on all sides of the Alley, produced and presented hundreds of
performances and cultural events, planted trees, vegetables, herbs, flowers, built a small “ green” structure with a living roof, a staging area, seating, a
clay oven, and upgraded lighting.

The Tenderloin National Forest is now dynamic, and is one of the most
peaceful, quiet and inspirational areas in then neighborhood.

The name "Tenderloin Naitonal Forest" came from Marco Crescenti, a student of Sarah Lewison's at SF STate University during Lewison's residency in the alley...The alley's original name is Cohen Place. 

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS AN ABRIDGED HISTORY AND WILL BE UPDATED SHORTLY....

Nen Tv

and in celebration of the completion of several projects

"CULTURAL GEOMETRY," a project by RIGO 23

in collaboration with JOSE FERNANDO CARDOSO and the luggage store

funded by The Creative Work Fund/SF

see below for more information on "Cultural Geometry"(scroll down and click on "More" for additional information)

BARRY MCGEE MURAL on roll down door 1009 Market Street PAINTED OVER

We have literally received hundreds of inquiries regarding the painting over of

our roll down door that the luggage store commissioned BARRY MCGEE to paint in 1994.

The luggage store did not paint over this door.

It was ipainted over w/o our permission by the Central Market Community Benefit Corp.

We are in the process of negotiating a settlement, as there are ethical issues, legal issues and financial issues.

We are encouraging people to write us and let us know your thoughts/feelings/ideas

about the door and this highly unfortunate situation.

at the luggage store's  

COHEN ALLEY (the luggage store's venue for public art/performance and greening; home of the Tenderloin National Forest..
Darryl Smith and Laurie Lazer began this project in 1987-88 and it continues to morph and grow...

ongoing activities and performances....

Ellis Street btw Leavenworth and Hyde (SF)

 
MICHAEL SWAINE
"Sewing for the People"
Noon - 5pm

REHISTORICIZING ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM

featuring women and artists of color, late 1950s to 1970

coming to the luggage store in MARCH 2010

 CARLOS VILLA, curator

featuring Debra Remington, Jimmy Suzuki, Sun Lu Chon, Manuel Neri,

Arthur Okemura, Carlos Villa, Leo Valledor, Win Ng, Bernice Bing, Gustavo Rivera,

Dewey Crumpler and others to be announced.

For more information see REHISTORICIZING