Stan in SOMA Park

Join us for the dedication on  Friday, July 20, 2007 at 5pm in  VMD Park  Folsom Street at Sherman, 
between 6th and 7th in San Francisco's SOMA District

Black Rock Arts Foundation Unveils 'Stan, Submerging Man' in  Victoria Manalo Draves Park PARK

Northern California artist Finely Fryer’s beloved work takes root in new urban park as part of neighborhood beautification

Black Rock Arts Foundation is proud to present Stan the Submerging Man, an installation supported by the efforts of local community members. Weighing just over a ton, the jewel-like visage of Stan is an 18-foot-tall figure lit from within and constructed out of fragments of reclaimed plastic toys and colored vinyl demo records. The sculpture will overlook a playground in one of San Francisco’s newest neighborhood assets, Victoria Manalo Draves (VMD) Park, through April 17, 2007.

After a seven-month fabrication period, Stan was first exhibited in 1999 at the Burning Man Festival where the sculpture developed an affectionate following. Stan and his creator, Finley Fryer, have since charmed visitors at temporary venues including the Siskyiou County Fair and the Coachella Music Festival. Stan’s exhibition in VMD Park is a project of the Black Rock Arts Foundation and the result of the tenacity of a local resident, Laura Weil, who tirelessly petitioned the Foundation to bring art to her neighborhood park.

About the Park

Victoria Manalo Draves Park is located in the South of Market (SOMA) district, an area of San Francisco that has long been home to artists and the alternative arts scene. In the mid twentieth century, SOMA was the center of the Filipino-American community and the new park is named after “Vickie” Manalo Draves, the first Asian American Olympiad. The neighborhood still thrives with local organizations and performance groups, many of which contributed to the funding of Stan’s temporary exhibition there.

Located between Folsom and Harrison Streets, VDM Park heralds the community’s desire to create a green oasis in an urban area. Located in the shadow of a freeway, this new two-acre park serves hundreds of neighborhood families and a vibrant arts community. Community members worked with city agencies like the Recreation and Parks Commission to include a play area, dog run, softball field, basketball court and picnic area in the new setting. For the next six months, Stan the Submerging Man will overlook the children’s and toddlers play-space. As the city government encourages diversity and business in SOMA, its art in the park promotes health and creativity and is a natural complement to the recreation experience.

About the Artist

Finley Fryer is a painter and a sculptor who has also performed in the films of his friend, noted American photographer Robert Frank. Finley received his BFA from University of California, Davis in the mid-1970’s. After graduating, he worked as an itinerant stained-glass restorer, repairing church windows along the West Coast, and soon the translucent nature of stained glass and assemblage became a persistent theme in his artwork. Since 1998, Fryer has installed his monumental sculptures at Burning Man, and become well-known around the world for his whimsical, approachable and engaging creations. His use of reclaimed materials continues to challenge audiences’ assumptions about what can be considered beautiful. Finley is always careful to acknowledge his own inspiration, a friend and fellow creator, Kirk Le Claire. 'Stan', also known as 'The Diver'  was inspired by the main character in LeClaire’s musical, STAN’S ROOM.

About  the Foundation and the Project Sponsors

The mission of the Black Rock Arts Foundation is to support and promote community-based interactive art. The primary goal of the Foundation is to promote a revival of art's culture-bearing and connective function by operating outside of a marketplace and reintegrating the art into community settings. BRAF is currently piloting a program designed to pair artworks with parks and other locales in urban areas and Stan’s visit to VMD Park is part of this effort.  More information about the foundation is available at www.blackrockarts.org.

This project is supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation. Additional support was provided by grants from The Darby Foundation, The Mental Insight Foundation, The Winifred and Harry B. Allen Foundation, Folsom Street Events, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Green Door and many individual contributors. Generous in-kind support was received from Degenkolb Engineers, Digital Pond, The End-Up, Mario Rubino, MonkeyBoy, and Jayne Bruck Fryer. Special thanks to our collaborator, The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

Please Help!

We 'd like to expand our efforts to bring art to public places in a community near you.  Click here to make a contribution via credit card or Paypal.

If you would like to make a donation via check, please make the check out to: Black Rock Arts Foundation. Please note on the check: 'for Civic Arts Programs', and mail it to: BRAF/1900 3rd Street/SF,CA 94158. All donations will be acknowledged with a written receipt and are tax-deductble.