In this issue:

Join us for the IlluminArts Walk. Tonight!
The Artumnal Gathering: Thank you to all who attended and participated!
Aurora in Palo Alto is up and looks fantastic!
Grantee Updates
- Before I Die…
- The Temple for Christchurch

… and don’t forget to make your tax-deductible end-of-year gift to BRAF! Help us bring more great art into the world next year!

Donate Now

The IlluminArts Walk

Just another reminder to join us for our fun and free event Thursday, December 5th, the IlluminArts Walk.

Wear your most funky and fun illuminated wearable art, and join us for an evening of participatory pageantry. We’ll tour our favorite illuminated works of public art, ending at one of the Exploratorium’s monthly After-Dark events.

Schedule

5:30 p.m. Meet your tour guide, BRAF Executive Director Tomas
McCabe, at The Language of the Birds, Colombus Ave. and Broadway St.,
San Francisco, CA, 94133. Hear artists Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn
speak about the work.

6:15 p.m. The group will walk via Telegraph Hill. As we descend the
Filbert Steps, where a perfect vista of the Bay Lights will be before
us, we’ll hear Illuminate the Arts Executive Producer Amy Critchet
share stories of the creation of this unbelievable artistic
achievement.

We’ll end our walk at the Exploratorium (www.exploratorium.edu,)
where we’ll hear artist Peter Hudson speak about his beloved work,
Homouroboros.

After that, you’ll have the option of joining us at one of the Exploratorium’s monthly, adult-only After Dark events. Admission for the event is $15, but if you’re wearing an illuminated outfit, and you receive the secret password from Tomas, you’ll get a $5 discount!

This month’s After Dark event highlights a number of activities related to exploring bioluminescence, florescence and phosphorescent artwork and activities. Light-focused artworks that will be on display include Ruby Bettencourt and Jeff Howe’s Whirld (viewable from outside the museum), and Mark Lottor’s Cubatron Core.

For more information, visit blackrockarts.org/events/the-illuminarts-walk

The Bay Lights. Photo courtesy of James Ewing.

The 7th Annual Artumnal Gathering – Thank you!

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all who contributed and attended this year’s Artumnal Gathering. Just when we thought this event couldn’t be more fabulous, fun, and successful, our community’s supporters, artists and performers show up to dazzle and astound us.

We’d like to extend our sincerest and deepest thanks to the 250 volunteers, performers, BRAF Board members, crew, and staff who made this event the wondrous spectacle it was. These volunteers and artists donate their services to BRAF, and many work throughout the year and around the clock at the event to make it happen.

Last year, we established a new tradition: The Affinity Award, named after our fabulous friend, contributor and volunteer, Affinity Mingle. This award is granted to volunteers who go above-and-beyond in their volunteerism for BRAF. Under this criteria, it follows that we’d grant the honors to our committed and spirited Advisory Board Member, Maria Partridge. Maria’s initiative, determination and commitment have been absolutely vital to our programs in Reno, Nevada. Congratulations to Maria for a very well-deserved honor!

And thank you to all who attended; to those of you who participated in our action-packed auction, dazzled us with your costume and fashion finery, reveled with us on the dance floor. Your participation ensures another year of BRAF projects and programs around the world. Thank you!

We couldn’t do this without any of you!

And for those of you who couldn’t join us this year, we hope to see you at 2014’s Artumnal Gathering!

More photos will be posted on our website, soon, but here’s a few gorgeous shots from Marco Sanchez to tide you over! And here are a few more from Videosynth here! Enjoy!

Installation by Paul Hayes (hanging above,) and Love by Laura Kimpton at the Artumnal Gathering, 2013. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez (marcosanchez.net)

Art environment by Bunnie Reiss at the Artumnal Gathering, 2013. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez (marcosanchez.net)

If you loved Bunnie’s installation work (above,) don’t miss her upcoming solo show!

Interactive video installation, Videosynth, at the Artumnal Gathering, 2013. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez (marcosanchez.net)

More images from Videosynth at Artumnal, here! (Note the links to separate galleries on that page.)

The exciting live auction at the Artumnal Gathering, 2013. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez (marcosanchez.net)

Thanks to our Auctioneer, Chip Conley!

The Lucent Dossier Experience at the Artumnal Gathering, 2013. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez (marcosanchez.net)

Aurora in Palo Alto

Congratulations to the Aurora Kids, artist Charles Gadeken, and to YOU! Thanks to your support and to the tireless, hard work of the Aurora crew, we made this project a reality.

Aurora stands proudly in its new home, but this project was not fully funded and needs your support. Any amount helps! Donate now!

We hope you have a chance to visit it!

Stop by at:

Palo Alto City Hall Plaza
250 Hamilton Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301