Opening Night Party: Bay Area Now 9

Public Programs

Opening Night Party: Bay Area Now 9

Presented by YBCA |

October 6, 2023, 7:30—11:00 PM

Celebrate the opening of Bay Area Now 9, YBCA’s signature triennial exhibition. Join us for a jubilant party featuring drinks, dancing, photobooths, and a first look at dynamic new works from 30 Northern Californian artists. Don’t miss this thrilling night out featuring drag performances from Clutch the Pearls and music sets from local DJs SMARTBOMB!

7:30 PM | Doors open
8:30 PM | Performance by Clutch the Pearls
9:30 PM | DJ sets by SMARTBOMB

To make this event accessible to everyone, we’re excited to announce a unique ticket pricing structure that ensures you don’t miss this opportunity to experience Bay Area Now 9!

Tickets

Free Limited-Time Tickets (On sale September 18–21, 2023)

Early Bird Tickets (On sale September 22–28, 2023) – Only $9

Standard Tickets (On sale September 29, 2023–October 6, 2023) – $20

*Please note: Each tier of tickets will only be available during the dates listed above.

SMARTBOMB

SMARTBOMB is an Oakland, CA based creative collective and multimedia/live events platform which shines light on the flourishing creative community of the bay area and beyond. Created in 2013 as a monthly live art/music party in downtown Oakland, SMARTBOMB has continued to hold essential spaces, providing resources for artists to be seen, heard, and supported by a nurturing community of like-minded beings, becoming a cultural hub for the ever burgeoning art/music/culture scene in the bay area.

In 2017, SMARTBOMB was honored as part of YBCA 100 by Yerba Buena Center of the Arts, celebrating 100 figures, collectives, and entities pushing culture forward into the future. SMARTBOMB projects have featured the likes of Toro Y Moi, MNDSGN, Muzae Sesay, Liv.e, Dibia$e, Ras G, Dakim, Flatspot_., Count Bass D, Keiyaa., Mark De Clive-Lowe, Wardell McNeal, Kiefer, Salami Rose Joe Louis, Cheflee, Linafornia, Pink Siifu, Ovrkast, Demahjiae, Carlos Nino, Lealani and more.

RITCHRD

Three6sashia

Clutch the Pearls

A cabaret of drag curiosities on the first Sunday of every month! Dedicated to uplifting BIPOC and trans voices, Clutch the Pearls celebrates Bay Area audiences with an incredible cabaret of drag performances with a mission to showcase cutting-edge artistry, performance, and dance.

Featured performers for YBCA’s Bay Area Now 9 Opening Night Party include Eric Garcia AKA Churro Nomi, Kat Gorospe Cole AKA Sir Acha, Alex Locust, MS AKA Glamputee, Amanda Vigil AKA Sir Vesa, Kevin Lopez aka Mira, Melissa Lewis Wong aka DEUCE LEE, Saharla Vetsch AKA Major Hammy, Salimatu Amabebe aka BARRACUDA, and Ka’lonji Lee aka ONYX Moschino Escada.

Eric Garcia AKA Churro Nomi

Kat Gorospe Cole AKA Sir Acha

Alex Locust, MS AKA Glamputee

Amanda Vigil AKA Sir Vesa

Kevin Lopez aka Mira

Melissa Lewis Wong aka DEUCE LEE

Saharla Vetsch AKA Major Hammy

Salimatu Amabebe aka BARRACUDA

Ka’lonji Lee aka ONYX Moschino Escada

Del Medoff

Exhibition

Bay Area Now 9

The ninth iteration of YBCA’s signature triennial exhibition highlighting 30 artists working throughout the Bay Area’s nine counties.

Explore →

Bay Area Now 9 is curated by Martin Strickland, Director of Curatorial Initiatives, and Fiona Ball, independent curator; under the artistic leadership of Amy Kisch, Head of Art + Public Programming; and developed with the inaugural YBCA Curatorial Counsel of curators, artists, activists, and cultural workers working across the Bay Area’s creative disciplines and communities: Erina Alejo, Gina Basso, Jason Bayani, Mina Girgis, Candace Huey, José Ome Navarrete Mazatl, Aay Preston Myint, and Lehua Taitano.

The BAN9 YBCA project team also includes Yoni Asega, Manager of Exhibition Design; David Tim, Head Preparator, Project Design; Bella Manfredi, Senior Preparator, Multimedia + Graphics; O Soo Vegh, Exhibition Project Manager + Registrar; Rea Lynn de Guzman, Manager of Public + Educational Programs; Flavia Mora, Public + Educational Programs Coordinator; and Cori Lucas, Community + Program Event Manager.

YBCA is grateful to the preparator team who made this exhibition possible: Isaiah Acosta, Amy Bergstein, Micha Dudgeonwood, Owen Goodwin, German Hoyle, Calvin Jones, Linden Julien-Lehr, Lauren Kenwood, Benjamin Leon, Maren Mouhanna, Éamon McGivern, Christian Neill, David Prigge, and Kelsey Westphal.

YBCA Programs are made possible in part by the City and County of San Francisco, MacKenzie Scott, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), #StartSmall, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Marilyn Conrad Trust, New England Foundation for the Arts, California Arts Council, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, William G. Irwin Charity Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation, The Sato Foundation, Gaia Fund, Office of Mayor London N. Breed, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Headlands Center for the Arts, ICA San Francisco, Bay Area Mind and Music Society, GitHub, Harvey and Leslie Wagner Foundation, McNabb Foundation, Raymond James Charitable, Savant Group Charitable Foundation, The Building Works, Fremont Group Foundation, and YBCA Members.