Changes

Larkin Street Youth Services & Qcc present
Changes
June 9 – Opening Reception – 6pm
Exhibition June 9 – July 2
LARKIN, Opening Reception – 6pm
134 Golden Gate Avenue, SF
Curated by Alex Hernandez

FREE

Due to San Francisco’s rising cost of living, it has created a lot displacement for various groups that once thrived in the city. Based on San Francisco’s 2013 Homeless Count, 29 percent of the city’s homeless population identified as LGBT. A portion of those homeless are Queer youth that have run away from home from other parts of country, coming to San Francisco in hopes of finding a community that will love and support them. Due to the economic changes to the city, a lot of these young folks struggle to obtain housing and jobs.

Larkin Street Youth Services has been helping youth get off the streets since the 1980’s. The Art department at Larkin has been encouraging artistic inclined youth to use art as a way to express their struggles and aspirations. This exhibition perfectly fits the NQAF theme of Horizons because it gives young Queer artists a voice and perspective of San Francisco’s changing landscape. It’s an exhibition about origins and destinations.

CURATOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Alexander Hernandez (Curator) is San Francisco based artist He received his BFA (2007) in Painting and Drawing from Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design in Denver, CO and his MFA (2012) at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA in Studio Art. His current work is mixed media with an emphasis in textiles. He currently works at Larkin Street Youth services empowering At-risk youth to make art from their surroundings.