Arts Extra! San Francisco

DOWNTOWN — Arts Extra! joined the ranks of the Verasphere crew, a group of artists and friends with a flair for unbridled self-styled expression, to experience the eccentricity and fun of the 37th annual San Francisco LGBT Pride parade along Market Street on Sunday, June 24th.

Recognized as the world’s most vibrant affirmation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride celebration, people from all of the world participated in SF Pride 2007 to support the 2007 festival’s theme of “Pride, not Prejudice”, and to take that message to the streets.

The most audacious collective of colorful costuming that embarked upon the celebration may be attributed to Verasphere, a friendly crew whose creative focal point is centered on artist and designer Mrs. Vera, aka David Faulk. The international team of Pride participants embraced the welcomed hysteria of cheering sidewalk spectators along Market Street from Beale to Eighth Streets.

Whether embracing the public with kisses or performing zany skits from one side of the street to the other, Verasphere represents a shared perspective of local celebrants who turned out in unlimited color to march against intolerance and homophobia at the weekend-long event.

And the message does become all the more significant when demonstrated visually through outfits that push the limits of imaginative attire, according to Mrs. Vera. “I’m simply not going to wear this big fabulous outfit if I can’t have an attitude about it,” she said in reference to the pain-staking preparations involved with assembling her outfit.

But breaking new ground in outlandish looks continues to become all the more challenging in this city. “San Francisco is so jaded; they didn’t even look at us,” quipped photographer and Verasphere member Mister Tina, aka Michael Johnstone, as a bus full of people zoomed past us without even noticing our full queer regalia. Perhaps they were speechless.

Both Mrs. Vera and Mister Tina also work year-round as artists with the nonprofit organization Visual Aid, whose mission is to help present and preserve the work of professional artists whose careers are confronted with life-threatening illness. Visit visualaid.org to learn more.

Another highlight of the Pride festivities of the weekend was Robert Melton’s art exhibit in the Civic Center. Melton, an emerging curator in the local arts scene, provided a refreshing venue for Pride revelers to take in local artwork inspired by the Pride festival’s theme “Pride, not Prejudice”.

The Pride 2007 art exhibition, “Artspace”, featured artworks that focused on gay marriage, the AIDS Memorial Quilt, aidsquilt.org, and other queer-related themes. Melton recruited local artists to show their works in this inaugural exhibition for the Pride celebration, which included sculpture, mixed media, photography, painting, and a portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

“Artspace showcases many different works from local artists whose subjects tie into this year’s Pride festivities, illustrating tolerance and not prejudice,” he said.

Melton’s role in the exhibit involved recruiting artists and providing a vision for the exhibit. While knowing the artists may help assemble together a diverse showing of Pride-related works, but Melton also credits Visual Aid executive director Julie Blankenship for providing easels and other materials to make the exhibition successful.

For more 2007 Pride coverage and photos, visit the Bay Area Reporter online at ebar.com, or the San Francisco Bay Times at sfbaytimes.com. For more information on SF Pride activities or the Verasphere crew, visit sfpride.org or verasphere.com.

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View more photos from Arts Extra! at flickr.com/photos/artsextra.

All photos by Jamie Windborne unless otherwise noted. Copyright (C) 2007 Jamie Windborne, www.artsextra.com. All rights reserved.