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Photos | Ryan Coogler, Margot Robbie and Sarah Polley honored at SFFILM Awards Night
Event: SFFILM Awards 2022
Date: December 5, 2022
Location: Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, San Francisco
Photos (38): Drew Altizer and Devlin Shand of Drew Altizer Photography
SFFILM, the leading film arts organization in the Bay Area held their annual SFFILM Awards Night honoring Ryan Coogler (director, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Sarah Polley (writer/director Women Talking), Margot Robbie (actor, Babylon), and Stephanie Hsu (actor, Everything Everywhere All at Once) on Monday, December 5 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The highly anticipated event honors exemplary achievement in film craft and is a fundraiser with proceeds from the event supporting the organization’s mission to discover, nurture, and showcase the next generation of film artists.
“Each of these phenomenal artists brings the highest levels of skill to their latest work, creating the year’s most indelible films. This evening of celebration not only honors their unique contributions, but also fuels our ability to sustain the network of support that is needed to take a filmmaker from a dreamer to an award winner. In the last year alone, support from Awards Night taught 11,000 local students about filmmaking, helped to re-open a centrally-located FilmHouse —the professional home of the Bay Area filmmaking community, and welcomed audiences back to the movies to see films and filmmakers from around the world,” said SFFILM’s Executive Director, Anne Lai. “The impact of Awards Night is felt in every corner of our mission, and we’re grateful for that.”
To learn more about SFFILM, visit sffilm.org.
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Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita: Suba Trio feat. Gustavo Ovalles
Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa is one of the most versatile jazz artists on the scene today. He fuses a wide range of jazz, world music, and electronic elements with his native Afro-Cuban roots to create a fresh and original urban sound – all with a Latin jazz heart. Omar Sosa’s musical trajectory has taken him from Camagüey and Havana to touring in Angola, the Congo, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua in the 1980s; to a sojourn in the African-descent communities of Ecuador in the early 1990s; to an extended presence on the San Francisco Bay Area Latin jazz scene; to his current engagement with artists from France, Cuba, Brazil, and several North, West, and East African nations.
Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita: Suba Trio feat. Gustavo Ovalles
Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa is one of the most versatile jazz artists on the scene today. He fuses a wide range of jazz, world music, and electronic elements with his native Afro-Cuban roots to create a fresh and original urban sound – all with a Latin jazz heart. Omar Sosa’s musical trajectory has taken him from Camagüey and Havana to touring in Angola, the Congo, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua in the 1980s; to a sojourn in the African-descent communities of Ecuador in the early 1990s; to an extended presence on the San Francisco Bay Area Latin jazz scene; to his current engagement with artists from France, Cuba, Brazil, and several North, West, and East African nations.
Avery*Sunshine
Avery*Sunshine takes no detours in creating melodious music for the masses. She makes the kind of music that undeniably satisfies the soul. Her sound is uplifting, vibrant, and exactly as her namesake suggests, full of sunshine. She brings people together through her riveting stage performances, candid and often humorous stage banter, and optimistic anthems about love and life. Born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania, her roots are firmly grounded in the church. Avery, along with her Grammy award winning, creative life partner, Dana “BigDane” Johnson; the singer, pianist and composer has created a remarkable and unforgettable sound.v
Avery*Sunshine
Avery*Sunshine takes no detours in creating melodious music for the masses. She makes the kind of music that undeniably satisfies the soul. Her sound is uplifting, vibrant, and exactly as her namesake suggests, full of sunshine. She brings people together through her riveting stage performances, candid and often humorous stage banter, and optimistic anthems about love and life. Born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania, her roots are firmly grounded in the church. Avery, along with her Grammy award winning, creative life partner, Dana “BigDane” Johnson; the singer, pianist and composer has created a remarkable and unforgettable sound.v
Locals Night: Pro Jam Night w/ Tony Saunders & the Noteworthy Band
Pro Jam Night features Tony Saunders and the Noteworthy Band!
Saunders comes from a musical family. His world-famous keyboardist father, Merl Saunders, got him started at an early age. He began singing at the age of five and played piano from age eight. Herbie Hancock and Sly Stone were among Saunders’ early teachers. Stone gave Saunders an organ at the age of ten. At age fourteen he began playing the bass.
Video | Echoes of Practice: Bay Area Artists on Faith Ringgold
Hear Bay Area artists Angela Hennessy, Hannah Waiters, and Mattie Loyce discuss the lasting impact of Faith Ringgold’s creative and community work. Devine Malone, our director of public programs and community engagement, will moderate. More…
Photos | SF Black MBA Scholarship & Awards (2022)
Event: SF Black MBA Annual Scholarship & Awards Black Tie Affair (2022)
Date: November 19, 2022
Location: Oakland Marriott
Photos (134): Courtesy of SFNBMBAA
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Photos | McMullen Boutique Celebrates 15 Years In Fashion
Event: McMullen 15th Anniversary Party and Fashion Presentation
Date: November 17, 2022
Location: Shack15, San Francisco
Photos (75): Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography
With a strong sense of community and a track record for building brands, Sherri McMullen has created a fashion destination that brings some of the world’s most sought-after brands to the neighborhood she has come to adore. To commemorate her namesake store’s 15 year milestone and honor her beginnings, McMullen hosted a runway show inside San Francisco’s Shack15 to debut select looks from the 15 For 15 Collection and her latest designer offering. Each of the night’s guests were able to observe and celebrate the impact of McMullen’s dedication to growing her inclusive platform that empowers both the talent and the space she’s cultivated to discover them.
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Photos | Sherri McMullen & Tamu McPherson host Christopher John Rogers Welcome Dinner
Event: Sherri McMullen & Tamu McPherson host Christopher John Rogers Welcome Dinner
Date: November 19, 2022
Location: (Private Event Space), Oakland
Photos (20): Susana Bates for Drew Altizer Photography
On November 19th, Sherri McMullen of McMullen and Tamu Mcpherson of All the Pretty Birds, hosted an intimate dinner with a presentation by CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award winner Christopher John Rogers. Guests were given an exclusive look at his latest collection in an private event space in Oakland that also featured a performance by House of Amor.
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Sammy Miller and the Congregation
Sammy Miller and the Congregation are on a mission, crisscrossing the country like a vaudevillian revival show with evangelic fervor for music. The seven-piece band, described as a mashup of Ben Folds Five and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, is putting people in the moment with a bracing dose of joyful jazz performed with infectious theatricality. The New York City-based, familial collective has captured its frenetic energy and unflinchingly optimistic songwriting on its debut album, Leaving Egypt. “We want to get people back in a room together,” Sammy Miller says.
Sammy Miller and the Congregation
Sammy Miller and the Congregation are on a mission, crisscrossing the country like a vaudevillian revival show with evangelic fervor for music. The seven-piece band, described as a mashup of Ben Folds Five and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, is putting people in the moment with a bracing dose of joyful jazz performed with infectious theatricality. The New York City-based, familial collective has captured its frenetic energy and unflinchingly optimistic songwriting on its debut album, Leaving Egypt. “We want to get people back in a room together,” Sammy Miller says.
Photos | Urban Ed Academy Annual Gala in Support of Black Male Teachers
Event: Urban Ed Academy Annual Gala in Support of Black Male Teachers
Date: November 5, 2022
Location: SHACK15, San Francisco
Photos (25): Drew Altizer for Drew Altizer Photography
Urban Ed Academy held their annual gala at SHACK15 on Saturday, November 5. Nine of their esteemed teaching fellows: Shyheikm Benton, Shawn Vanderpool, Jalen Jackson, Kameron Corprew, Taliv Coffield, Gerrard Watts, Codion Isom, Debon Maynard and Harry Searight; were honored at the gala.
The highlight of the evening was a stellar performance by musician Martin Luther McCoy, a man who serves as a conduit for socially conscious music!
Sponsors included Bonhams, Gilead Sciences, Martin Luther McCoy, Power Station, San Francisco Giants, SHACK15, Swinerton, Union Bank, and Warriors Community Foundation. Urban Ed Academy is an organization that strives to put black male teachers in the grade schools in SF and Oakland. It was founded as part of a strategy to inspire excitement for learning in young boys of color by matching them with mentors who looked like them.
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Photos | After a Two-Year Hiatus, MoAD Makes Big Splash with Afropolitan Ball
Event: MoAD Afropolitan Ball 2022
Date: October 15, 2022
Location: City View @ Metreon, San Francisco
Photos (14): Courtesy of MoAD / Y’Anad Burrell
After a two-year hiatus, this year’s fundraising gala returned this year headlined by Bay Area triple Grammy Award-winning artist, Fantastic Negrito, and with electrifying performances featuring the uptempo grooves of local supergroup Bayonics, who performed their unique blend of Latin music, reggae, and R&B. In addition to DJ sets from Oakland’s DJ Lady Ryan, who has played with artists such as George Clinton, Journey, Erykah Badu, and is resident DJ for the Golden State Warriors.
Guests did not disappoint with the vibrant and couture designs worn at the event. These designs represented many African continents and watching them dance the night away added even more flavor to the evening. Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of tastes from the African Diaspora and a hosted bar sponsored by Hella Coastal Brewery and Uncle Ernest, as well as other surprises.
The annual Afropolitan Ball benefits MoAD’s exhibitions, emerging artists, public programs featuring renowned artists and authors, and award-winning arts education programs serving over 6,000 youth.
Related
• MoAD Celebrates Black Artists – Nob Hill Gazette
• Museum of the African Diaspora Presents It’s Annual Gala Afropolitan Ball 2022 – Black Press USA
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Photos | Dorian Webb 2nd Annual OAACCF Fundraiser (2022)
Event: Dorian Webb 2nd Annual OAACCF Fundraiser (2022)
Date: November 6, 2022
Location: Fairmont Claremont Hotel & Spa, Oakland
Photos (38): Michaela Joy Photography
Award winning jewelry designer Dorian Webb hosted her 2nd Annual Fundraiser for the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce Foundation at the Claremont Hotel and Spa. To aid this impactful organization that supports the city’s Black businesses through education, workforce development and community wellness, attendees enjoyed champagne, hors d’oeuvres and desserts as they purchased jewelry. 10% of each sale was donated to the OAACCF to further the Foundation’s visionary work.
Dorian believes that taking the time to savor the small, yet luxurious indulgences in life is what makes it so pleasurable and rewarding. As a junior at Yale University spending a semester abroad, Dorian came to appreciate the artistry and tradition of Venetian glassblowing. After graduation, she founded her eponymous company to create handcrafted objects that encouraged people to pause to recognize the beauty that surrounds them.
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Photos | Mayor London Breed Swears In New Arts Commissioner Jeanne Anyanwu McCoy
Event: Mayor London Breed Swears In New Arts Commissioner Jeanne Anyanwu McCoy
Date: November 1, 2022
Location: FOUR ONE NINE, San Francisco
Photos (29): Drew Altizer for Drew Altizer Photography
Congrats to new San Francisco Arts Commissioner Jeanne Anyanwu McCoy.
Leveraging her cultural background, Jeanne leads Customer Loyalty Solutions for Accor Group, a French multinational hospitality company with brands such as Fairmont, Sofitel and John Paul.
Jeanne has lived in Paris, London and Lagos, Nigeria and considers herself a global citizen. Jeanne and her husband, recording artist Martin Luther McCoy, have built their home together in San Francisco and in 2020 launched their arts and music experience company that helps artists, nonprofits and corporate entities create meaningful collaborations and experiences for their employees and members. Jeanne and her husband have worked with organizations such as MOAD, SF Jazz, Urban Ed Academy, and many professional Bay Area professional sports organizations and community foundations.
Jeanne comes from a family of artists and is a passionate art collector, content creator and community organizer.
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Photos | 19th Annual OAACC Business Awards Luncheon (2022)
Event: 19th Annual Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC) Business Awards Luncheon (2022)
Date: October 27, 2022
Location: Scott’s Seafood Grill & Bar Pavilion, Oakland
Photos: Courtesy of Photographers at Large
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