SF supe Mandelman opens Pride Month with art exhibit
At least a few dozen people were crammed into gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman's second floor City Hall offices in the late afternoon June 1 for rainbow cake and a display of art by six San Francisco LGBTQ artists in a small kick-off event for LGBTQ Pride Month.
Cheerfully, Mandelman welcomed the crowd to his office but acknowledged that this year's Pride celebration was different than in years past."And of course, there's more tragedy in the world but art actually gets better, we know," he told visitors. "The role, and the importance of artists, of art, actually grows as times become more tumultuous and as people suffer more, and that's a horrible thing, but it actually is true.
And so I'm just so excited to have the artists in my office and to have all of you. So have a wonderful, wonderful Pride everyone!"The collection of work displayed in the supervisor's office replaced an unintentionally extended display, a collection of tapestries titled "Larger Than Life" depicting several notable San Francisco drag queens such as Juanita MORE!, Heklina, Sister Roma, and others, by artist Joseph Abbati.
Like many things just over two years ago, his work had been intended to be displayed for only a short while but the COVID pandemic prevented him from being able to take it down and Mandelman's staff continued their work under the watchful eyes of Honey Mahogany and Peaches Christ for more than two years.
