Julie Alvarado has lived and worked in the Bay Area for 22 years yet there are moments when she still feels like a tourist. Part of the reason for this may be because she’s originally from Southern California, which is like being from another state. Another reason may be the fact that it is just ridiculously beautiful here. Faced with the possibility of having to move out of the Bay Area, she wanted to create a loving tribute to San Francisco through a series of paintings that focuses on the places and things that many visitors often think of as quintessentially San Francisco. Alvarado gathered ideas from old books, postcards and internet images whose subjects she found interesting to create narrative paintings that are both humorous and absurd. She uses acrylic paint to render these images in the same coloration found in old souvenir postcards. Into these perhaps overly familiar cityscapes Alvarado has added subjects of gigantic proportions, drawing fondly from old science fiction horror films of the 50’s and 60’s. As she painted, she could hear Tony Bennett humming in the background. Alvarado admits that while the city has been a great place to visit, she doesn’t want to leave her heart, or any other vital organs, in San Francisco.
Julie Alvarado has been in the San Francisco Bay Area for 22 years, and teaches at Creative Growth Art Center.
– Artists Reception: Saturday, September 9, 4-7 pm; Artist Talks 4:30
– First Friday Art Murmur: Friday, October 6, 6-9 pm