Bernal Art Walk: A Conversation with Jenna Melnyk

Event organizer Jenna Melnyk discusses bringing a new art-focused community event to Bernal Heights on June 21st.

Could you provide some background information about the event and how you became involved?

Well, I know the neighborhood has had summer solstice events for years. My involvement stems from my time with the BBAA and my background running an art gallery in the Lower Haight. We did art walks four times a year there that helped local artists and drove foot traffic to businesses.

When I moved to this neighborhood and stopped running that gallery space, I had a full-time job, so it was getting too much. I kept thinking about how I could bring some of that energy to my actual neighborhood. People would always come into the gallery in Lower Haight and say, “Wow, this is such great energy, I’m so glad something like this is happening in the neighborhood I live in.” And I realized I wasn’t doing that for where I live.

BBAA ARTWALK

Exactly. We’d been discussing where I could try to do an art walk, and with Laurie retiring, there was a need for different folks to step in and run events. This aligned perfectly with my interests. I don’t think it’s a huge repositioning from what’s been done before; sometimes the solstice events included art components, such as pop-up galleries.

When it was open, a pop-up might have been in Sarah Zemunski’s Dog Studio, Four Chickens, and the Inclusions Gallery.

Yes, and since my interest as an artist is art, I thought if I ran a whole event, I would make it about art. Everyone was on board with that. It was really important to me to lean into gallery-style showcasing rather than just a maker faire approach, though maker faires are awesome, too.

Bernal Art Walk Locations

Could you tell me about the gallery shows you have lined up?

Right now, I have eight confirmed gallery art shows. Inclusions Gallery is showcasing Jenny Phillips, a local artist who will also be doing a live art demonstration. Pinhole Coffee is doing a pop-up show for Tanya Wischerath. Sarah Zemunski is doing a solo photography show in her space.

We also have several group shows: Baukunst is allowing us to use their space for a show I’m organizing, although I haven’t selected the artists yet. Cork’s Barbershop, formerly Four Chickens, is hosting a show featuring some of their clients and friends. Next to Good Life, Shop Sommer is participating, and Good Life is letting us curate their windows for a street show. Finally, the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center is hosting a group show.

What about other activities beyond the gallery shows?

There’s quite a bit more happening. Pinhole will have an art market outside during their show. Bernal Beast will host pop-up market-style vendors, including a woman who does custom pet portraits and hand-illustrated watercolors.

For music, Vega is hosting the band Silver Bell, we’re arranging a live DJ set at Baukunst, and Lucky Horseshoe has agreed to feature a band during and after the event. They will host our official after-party.

Pinckney Clay is moving into the old Kingmond Young space, and they’re doing their soft launch that day with an art market featuring tabled vendors. We also hope to get a dance troupe to perform at the FTK Studio.

It sounds like you’re being selective about who participates.

The goal is definitely to attract people who want to view fine art, shop makers’ markets, or watch performances in the neighborhood. I did get requests that were less artist-centered, which I declined. I want to keep the focus on celebrating local artists, musicians, and performers. If businesses want to do other things around the event, that’s fine; it just won’t be an official part of this event.

Where can people find more information?

The event is scheduled for June 21st from 4 to 8 PM, and attendees are invited to stay afterwards at Lucky Horseshoe. All the information is at BernalArtWalk.com, and we’ll have a map online so people can keep track of everything happening.

Do you have any final thoughts on what you hope this will bring to the neighborhood?

I want this to be a destination event that celebrates our community’s artists and creative individuals. It’s about highlighting the creative energy right here where I live, hopefully boosting artists and local businesses.

Bernal Heights Art Walk & Summer Solstice Stroll