two locations struck and on that basis. thank you. director: thank you. president goh, there is no further business this evening. president goh: we are adjourned.

>> sanrio famous for the designs for hello kitty. i thought i would try to make it as cute as possible. that way people might want to read the stories. then people might be open to learn about the deities and the culture.

♪ they reached out to make about five or six years ago because of the book published. they appreciated that my work was clearly driven from my research and investigation. after i contributed my artwork, the museum was really beside themselves. they really took to it. the museum reached out to me to see if i would be interested in my own space inside the museum. i tell them that would be a dream come true. it is the classical, beautiful indian mythology through the lens of modern design and illustration and storytelling. they're all of these great sketch as i did for the maharajah exhibition. i get a lot of feedback on my artwork and books. they complement.

they say how original the work is. i am the first person to say that this is so derived from all of this great artwork and storytelling of the past. the research i put into all of my books and work is a product of how we do things that a-- at pixar. sometimes you will see him depicted monkey-like or as superman. i wanted to honor his monkey coloring. i decided to paint him white with a darker face. it is nice to breathe new life into it in a way that is reverent and honors the past but also lets them breathe and have fun. it is almost a european notion to bring these symbols and

icons from southeast asia. they decorate their deities. it was a god they interacted with every day in a human way. the most important thing has been to create work that is appealing to me. i want to see vishnu to pick did in a modern way. it dawned on me by reinterpreting the deities in a way that is modern and reverent to the history, i am building a bridge for young and old audiences to make friends with the culture and these icons to learn their stories. ♪

>> just a few steps away from union square is a quiet corner stone of san francisco's our community to the meridian gallery has a 20-year history of supporting visual arts. experimental music concert, and also readings. >> give us this day our daily bread at least three times a day. and lead us not into temptation to often on weekdays. [laughter] >> meridians' stands apart from the commercial galleries around union square, and it is because of their core mission, to increase social, philosophical, and spiritual change my isolated individuals and communities. >> it gives a statement, the idea that a significant art of any kind, in any discipline, creates change. >> it is philosophy that attracted david linger to mount

a show at meridian. >> you want to feel like your work this summer that it can do some good. i felt like at meridian, it could do some good. we did not even talk about price until the day before the show. of course, meridian needs to support itself and support the community. but that was not the first consideration, so that made me very happy. >> his work is printed porcelain. he transfers images onto and spoils the surface a fragile shes of clay. each one, only one-tenth of an inch thick. >> it took about two years to get it down. i would say i lose 30% of the pieces that i made. something happens to them. they cracked, the break during the process. it is very complex. they fall apart. but it is worth it to me. there are photographs i took 1 hours 99 the former soviet union. these are blown up to a gigantic images. they lose resolution.

i do not mind that, because my images are about the images, but they're also about the idea, which is why there is text all over the entire surface. >> marie in moved into the mansion on powell street just five years ago. its galleries are housed in one of the very rare single family residences around union square. for the 100th anniversary of the mansion, meridian hosted a series of special events, including a world premiere reading by lawrence ferlinghetti. >> the birth of an american corporate fascism, the next to last free states radio, the next-to-last independent newspaper raising hell, the next-to-last independent bookstore with a mind of its own, the next to last leftie looking for obama nirvana.

[laughter] the first day of the wall street occupation set forth upon this continent a new revolutionary nation. [applause] >> in addition to its own programming as -- of artist talks, meridian has been a downtown host for san francisco states well-known port trees center. recent luminaries have included david meltzer, steve dixon, and jack hirsch man. >> you can black as out of the press, blog and arrest us, tear gas, mace, and shoot us, as we know very well, you will, but this time we're not turning back. we know you are finished. desperate, near the end. hysterical in your flabbergastlyness.

amen. >> after the readings, the crowd headed to a reception upstairs by wandering through the other gallery rooms in the historic home. the third floor is not usually reserved for just parties, however. it is the stage for live performances. ♪ under the guidance of musical curators, these three, meridian has maintained a strong commitment to new music, compositions that are innovative, experimental, and sometimes challenging. sound art is an artistic and event that usually receives short shrift from most galleries because san francisco is musicians have responded by showing strong support for the programming.

♪ looking into meridian's future, she says she wants to keep doing the same thing that she has been doing since 1989. to enlighten and disturbed. >> i really believe that all the arts have a serious function and that it helps us find out who we are in a much wider sense than we were before we experienced that work of art. ♪

>> this is our costume shop. we build all of the clothes for all of our shows. we have been in this building for 13 years. it is an amazing locally hired, locally sourced workspace with amazing artisans. we build all the clothing. we use them in our performances. it is an amazing rental facility. we rent costumes to everybody for halloween, opera companies, theater companies, all over the city and country. it has always been a hive of activity. it was the brainchild of our director that we use the front space as a performing space.

we really want to make a contribution to the incredible thing is happening in san francisco, the revitalization of the corridor, through the arts. i want to give a big shout out to all of the artists who are here. i know i am predicting a bunch of view. there are wonderful, local artists who have been in this neighborhood for a long time. we want this to be a place where artists can gather. lots of different groups can rent the space. feel free to pass the word along. we are flexible. we can perform in different configurations. we have had lots of interesting people here. it is a great creative hub for our schools. education is a big part of our lives. we want young artists to think about why they are making the work they are making and for

what community they are making it. he has been a partner with us in exploring the neighborhood. [applause] he is the most patient man ever. he has been looking around and helping us make the connection. i think we're all in for a bright future. we have a fantastic new mayor. charles shultz said last night that the main buzzword he wants for his -- charlotte shultz said last night that the main bus or the ones for his administration is accessible. -- the main buzzword for his administration is "accessible." we are honored and thrilled he is here. we want to welcome him to the stage. [applause] >> congratulations.

thank you. welcome, everybody. you have got to know what is going on in my mind. i do not talk a lot about things sometimes because they are very personal. i have to share with you the level of excitement coming into this store tonight. in preparing, i am feeling the same way as win in college -- when in college and performed in my first drama class. i performed in "butterflies are free." i was 3,000 miles away from my original home, from seattle to maine. i felt like i could do anything i wanted and my friends would not laugh at me. i took drama class. i was really excited. i got to perform. this is kind of how i feel tonight with this opening. it is wonderful.

congratulations. act coming to mid market is huge. we have wanted the active arts to be such a great part of this. they have been paired wit.-- the been a big part of this. to have act joining us in a deliberate move to revitalize the area and make arts the leading factor, to join the great art foundation, burning man, all of the business locating here, it is wonderful. i feel very excited about this. this is another smart thing on behalf of our arts community to join the mayor's office, the office of workforce development. i know amy and jim are excited, the whole crew. [applause] thank you.

i share in her staff's excitement when they can make an agreement and get the right funds together. a lot of it is still about financials. if we can leverage what we have with the excitement that you bring in, we are on our way to a good foundation for revitalization. this community needs it. it has the connection to the soma and tenderloin. i think we're on our way to a very positive, a successful story of how we work together to make this community, alive. you already know what we have done. we have done anchors with twitter. on fifth and market, we have the first of many financial institutions. it is the fifth largest bank in china that has now opened their

office on the market street. that is to complement what we're doing your business-wise. that is along the lines of what some of the smaller agencies are doing. you will hear more about this. dottie's blues cafe will be around the corner. we're committed to the six st. sub-station. you are already seeing the community ambassadors walking the streets. they are greeting people. they're getting to know everybody. please know them by first name. they will be your partners to make everybody feel safe along the street. i have to thank act for taking this opportunity, activating the space, making it available. i know you are an educational institution as well as a

performance institution. your masters of the arts program will be delighted to embrace your best grant students as they perform here, really get their education started. it is the performances and people you bring your that well and live in the area. -- that will enliven the area. i cannot remember what i did with "butterflies are free," but i do remember the excitement of that performance. thank you. congratulations. thank you, everybody, for coming here tonight. [applause] >> we are going to give you a little taste and performance. our board president will introduce it. we have two other great allies here from the unified school

district. this is going to be a space for education programs and young people to come in and perform. we're honored am thrilled they are here. >> thank you so much for joining us today, mayor lee. we're deeply appreciative. you are so encouraging. it is a great launch. i am nancy livingston, i cha ir the board of act. we want to welcome all of you here today, particularly our sister organizations in the arts. we are so thrilled to be putting down serious routes -- roots here. the kind of work that will be done here is very different from what we're doing elsewhere. we have amazing opportunities to do cutting edge work, kind of

grassroots and community-based work we do not have the opportunity to do in a 1000 seat theater. we are thrilled to welcome all of you today. as the mayor indicated and everything you have read in the newspapers, act is dedicated to putting down community roots in a significant and serious way in this area. the costume shop has been here for a while. we are dedicating and inaugurating this brand new space. we have dreams of putting in a second stage in this neighborhood. we want to be good neighbors and good friends. come often. bring your friends. thank you so much for your support today. rusty? [applause] >> we have to think another

institution, the irvine foundation. it is making the performances that happen here available to us. that is really great. it takes a village. it takes fund-raising to make these things happen. the irvine foundation has been awesome to us. thank you to them even though they are not here this evening. we have a special performance tonight. we have our class of 2013, we call them our second year's. they will be doing a musical revue, two songs. if you get a chance to come see it, we would love to have you come back into the space and see it. you can see the full performance tomorrow night at 7:30, friday at 1:00 in the

afternoon, saturday at 2:00 and 7:30. we would love to have you come back and see it. it is directed by travis greisler who did "tales of the city" last year. it is a family affair tonight. we are all here together. we're going to let them come up and do their thing. the exit stage right. -- we exit stage right. [applause] >> please spell chimera?

>> can i have a definition? >> highly unrealistic, imaginative. ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ if i go to washington, will i be on my own? because if i go to washington, who will be my chaperone? ♪ ♪ we always knew you were a

winner. we smiled when you smiled. from the beginning when you are a beginner, you were the perfect child. we always knew you were a champion. if you should feel my [inaudible] blame it on your memories. i love you. i love you and.

i love and remember you. i love you. ♪ >> i love you. >> my dad said -- >> i love you. ♪ i love everything about you, dear. maybe it is true. i love you. ♪ ♪ i wrote you a letter. mama, but you didn't react. you never asked me if i joined

you in the bombay sun. mama, when are you returning? i know we agreed. tell me what you are learning. i think dad takes out on me what he wants to take out on you. mama, i think that is angry. i do not know what to do. mama, mama, mama, how i wish you were home. how i wish you were home.

i wish you were here. ♪ we always knew you were a winner ♪ ♪ i wish you were home ♪ we could not be prouder ♪ ♪ i love you ♪ i love everything about you, dear. baby, it is true. i love you. i love you.

i love everything about you. baby, it is true. i love -- >> chimerical. highly unrealistic, highly danceable. -- highly fanciful. >> that is correct. ♪ i love you ♪ [applause] >> ♪ i wish i could go back to

college. life was so simple back then. >> ♪ what would i give to go back and live in the dorm with a meal plan again? >> ♪ i wish i could go back to college. in college, you know who you are. you sit in the sun and think i am going to go far. ♪ ♪ how do i go back to college? i do not know i am any more. >> ♪ i wish i could just drop a class. >> ♪