The San Francisco Art Institute was never about playing it safe.
For more than 150 years, the institute nurtured rule-breakers, visionaries and artists who colored outside the lines—sometimes quite literally. The legendary institution closed in 2022, but its rebellious spirit lives on in UNRULY: North Bay Artists from the San Francisco Art Institute, opening Feb. 15 at the Museum of Sonoma County.
The exhibition honors SFAI, the oldest and most influential fine arts school on the West Coast, which fostered generations of bold, boundary-breaking art. The show illustrates the school’s notable impact on the North Bay art scene. It includes 18 North Bay artists who studied or taught at the institute, featuring more than 30 works, including painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media.
Guest curator Jude Mooney, an SFAI alumna and Sonoma County liaison for SF Artists Alumni (SFAA), says, “In times of political and social division, teaching young people to think outside the box and speak their minds is more critical than ever.”
SFAI was founded in 1871 by Northern California artists and intellectuals. By the 20th century, it was renowned for its radical exploration and occasional controversy. Mooney showcases these aspects in UNRULY.
“The work that I was drawn to was more experimental, mixed media or really pushing boundaries in the way we think about art because we can learn from the work that is really asking questions,” Mooney says. “There were plenty of well-behaved artists at SFAI, but it’s often the rule breakers who stand out.”
Historically, SFAI became a hub for innovation in art and culture in the American West, setting the trends rather than following them. The vast, glowing color field paintings of SFAI professor Mark Rothko—though not featured in this show—were a radical departure from the norm in their time.
“I recall a young man in my painting class who did not feel like painting,” reminisces Mooney of her own days at SFAI. “While I toiled away at my paintings, he found a creative way to not paint and make it through the critiques. Each day, he peed in a mason jar. The color of the pee was different each day because of what he ate. In our [critiques], we looked at all his jars of pee together against the white wall and discussed the varying shades of yellow. Our teacher, Carlos Villa, accepted the student, his work, and everyone took it very seriously. Acceptance was a big part of the ethos.”
Featured UNRULY artists include Richard H. Alpert, Chester Arnold, David Best, Mark Grieve, Robert Hudson, Anton Kuehnhackl, Evri Kwong, Virginia Linder, Janis Crystal Lipzin, Phil McGaughy, naomi murakami, Sam Roloff, Alice Shaw, Simone Simon, Liz Steketee, Inez Storer, Hwei-Li Tsao and Heather Wilcoxon.
UNRULY traces the creative lineage of living SFAI artists. To put this in perspective, multi-media artist Virginia Linder studied at SFAI in the late 1950s, while photographer Anton Kuehnhackl completed his MFA just before the school closed in 2022.
“The loss of the San Francisco Art Institute is a blow to the Bay Area art community,” says Mooney. But while SFAI’s closure marks the end of an era, alumni and supporters are determined to carry its spirit forward.
‘UNRULY: North Bay Artists from the San Francisco Art Institute,’ Feb. 15–June 8. A public opening and reception will be held, and two live performances will be given by SFAI alumni. From 5 to 7pm, Feb. 15, at the Museum of Sonoma County, 425 Seventh St., Santa Rosa. The event is free. museumsc.org.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Curatorial walk-through (artists present) at 2pm, Saturday, March 8. Free.
SFAA Spotlight Online Program featuring artist Liz Steketee in conversation with ‘UNRULY’ curator Jude Mooney at 10am, March 3. Free.
SFAI librarian emeritus Jeff Gunderson speaks about the history of Sonoma County’s SFAI alumni at 5pm, Saturday, April 19. $10 general public. Free for SFAI alumni.
Museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11am–5pm. Adults: $10; seniors 62+, students, people with disabilities: $7; museum members: free; children 12 & under: free. Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free admission for up to four people to the Museum of Sonoma County simply by presenting their EBT card.
