Mirkarimi Art Show on San Francisco Theatres Opens Today

by , 2007-04-20

On Friday April 20 from 5:30-8:00pm, in SF City Hall Room 282 ( the office of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi) local artist R.A. McBride presents a series of stunning large architectural photographs entitled, Left in the Dark: Portraits of San Francisco Theatres. The show explores the changing landscape of film exhibition and examines the rich cultural history of cinemas. The structures are pictured empty, allowing the grandeur of the architecture to take center stage. The photographs portray this cinema culture, both active and decaying, in color prints. This project investigates how independent, single-screen theatres struggle to survive competing with strip-mall multiplexes, home entertainment systems, and the demand for commercial real estate. Left in the Dark documents the importance of small businesses, theatre architecture and cinema culture in San Francisco.

Left in the Dark documents an important part of San Francisco's history, allowing it to live on years after the theatre doors have closed. San Francisco is world-renowned for its independent film scene and innovative cinema exhibition. Recent economic factors have endangered this reputation. As the landscape of this culture unravels, Left in the Dark may become one of only a few documents of this important history.


Seats in the Harding Theater on Divisadero. Photos by R.A. McBride