Exhibitions at the Library

Jewett Gallery and Skylight Gallery

Afghanistan 1970-1975: Images From An Era of Peace - Striking black and white pre-war 1970s photographs of Afghanistan by Joseph Hoyt depict people of all ages, landscapes and ancient ruins in a poor but culturally and historically rich nation before the start of conflict and turmoil. “The photographs in this collection reveal an Afghanistan very different from the one we hear about today. What we see in these images is not just an Afghanistan at peace, but a people and a country at peace within itself –a remarkable country and its resilient people going about their daily routines,” said Hoyt.

Exhibition:  October 11, 2008 - January 18, 2009
Main Library, Sixth Floor Skylight Gallery
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
Related Programs: One City One Book: West of Kabul, East of New York: An Afghan American Story. For a complete schedule of events, please visit: Complete schedule with more than 20 events, book discussions and related exhibitions
Rebuilding Afghanistan: Literary, Artistic and Cultural Endeavors
  Watch Video of this Program
Tamim Ansary will moderate this panel discussion about current events in Afghanistan with special guests Mo Qayoumi, president of California State University: East Bay; UC Berkeley professor Wali Ahmadi; photographer Joseph N. Hoyt; and Humaira Ghilzai, president of Afghan Friends Network.
Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30pm
Koret Auditorium, Main Library,
100 Larkin Street at Grove
Thursdays at Noon : Film series on Afghanistan
October 9, 16, 23 and 30
Koret Auditorium, Main Library,
100 Larkin Street at Grove
The Role of Women in Afghanistan
  Listen to Audio of this Program
Panelists include photographer Joseph Hoyt, award-winning Afghan American journalist Fariba Nawa, Nima Sadati, founder of many refugee programs for women in Afghanistan and entrepreneurial programs for Afghan women in the East Bay, Raelle Myrick-Hodges, Artistic Director for BRAVA Theater Center and Zohra Daoud, Co-Founder of the Afghan Women Association and radio host of Voice of Afghanistan
Sunday, November 16, 2:30-3:30 pm
Koret Auditorium, Main Library,
100 Larkin Street at Grove

The 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-U.S. Diplomatic Relations - Today China leads the fourth largest economy in the world and is one of the most popular countries for tourism. Its hosting of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing brought it global attention and prominence, sharing its culture from both urban and rural cities. As the world’s largest developing country, its positive relationship with the United States has a profound influence on the geopolitical climate. Yet, it was only 30 years ago that China and the U.S. reopened doors to each other. On December 16, 1978, the governments of two countries simultaneously announced the “Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America”. Two weeks later, on January 1, 1979, the two nations officially established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. This exhibition, featuring color and black and white photographs, explores the result of Sino-U.S. cooperation, providing a look at how both countries have benefitted from sharing ideas in the fields of economics, trade, science, technology, culture, education and military affairs.
Exhibition:  From December 12, 2008 through January 15, 2009
Main Library, Lower Level, Jewett Gallery
Related Program: Opening Event Performance
Sunday, December 14 2008, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
News Release - The 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-U.S. Diplomatic Relations

Other Exhibition Areas in the Library

San Francisco Public Library Holiday Train - Featured is a Lionel O Scale replica of the Polar Express, which starred in Chris Van Allsburg’s 1985 holiday classic and in the subsequent 2004 movie adaptation. Accompanying the Polar Express, you’ll see another face familiar to children and adults who love trains – Thomas the Tank Engine, with his friends, the passenger coaches Annie and Clarabel. Large, easy to use push buttons allow children of many ages and abilities to start the trains and to operate accessories, including a ski gondola, a toboggan run, and lights for the Holiday Village. This year, the Holiday Train display also features many new village buildings, plus a beautifully lit and operating ferris wheel.
Exhibition:  From December 7, 2008 through January 9, 2009
Main Library, Second Floor, Fisher Children’s Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

FBI Turns 100 - In July of 1908, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte responded to legislation prohibiting the Department of Justice from continuing their long-standing practice of borrowing Treasury Department agents for their investigations by creating a small investigative bureau within the Department of Justice. Over the next century, this 34-agent investigative force would grow into the FBI (with 30,000 employees in 2008). In honor of the FBI's 100th birthday, the Government Information Center has selected some items documents from our collection and the San Francisco Historical Photo Collection that show this evolving government agency at work.
Exhibition:  Opens September 1, 2008
Main Library, Fifth Floor, Government Information Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

Harvey Milk: Private Life/Public Life - An exhibition of original photographs and archival material drawn from the collections of the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center and the San Francisco History Center that explores the life of Harvey Milk from his childhood to his days on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Highlights include family photos, love letters, candid snapshots and political papers.
Exhibition: 
From October 25, 2008 through January 10, 2009
Main Library, Third Floor, James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center and
Sixth Floor, San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

On the Yellow Brick Road: Market Street’s “Sound Money” Parade, 1896 - 35,000 people marched down Market Street on October 31, 1896 in support of “sound money” and the gold standard, protectionism and William McKinley. This exhibition features political banners carried that day, along with press reports and political cartoons published in the months leading up to the November general election.
Exhibition:  From November 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009
Main Library, Sixth Floor, San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

Our Rights as Human Beings: The 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - In honor of the December 10, 1948 United Nations General Assembly adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Library presents a unique 1949 photo display designed to explain these rights in a way accessible to all, regardless of the language you speak, along with the full text of the Declaration.
Exhibition:  From December 1, 2008 through February 1, 2009,
Main Library, Third Floor, International Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

The Colorful World of Nancy Hom - Featuring children’s book illustrations in silkscreen, gouache and colored pencil.
Exhibition:  From December 2, 2008 through January 23, 2009
Main Library, Second Floor, Fisher Children’s Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

Regarding Here by Claire Bain - A mural artist for 15 years, her paintings are based on her site-specific mural called Regarding Here in San Francisco's Mission district. The mural reflects the relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous plant and animal species, using imagery of the surrounding urban built space as a visual foundation. It was painted over existing large graffiti bubble letters, which Ms. Bain simply incorporated into the mural. The theme of the mural is primarily the native anise swallowtail butterfly and its dependence on fennel, an invasive culinary plant from Europe. The materials Ms. Bain used include acrylic mural paint, mica flakes and reflective glass beads.
Exhibition:  From January 3 through February 28, 2009
Main Library, Lower Level, Library Café Glass Case
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

Digging Deep: Underneath San Francisco Public Library – In honor of the Library’s 125th Anniversary celebration. The current Main Library rests on a Gold Rush era cemetery and the ruins of the old City Hall, destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. The archaeological remains pulled from the site include some of the everyday and unusual objects that tell the story of the development of the Civic Center and The City’s earliest residents.
Exhibition: Ongoing
First Floor, Grove Street entrance exhibit cases
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
Complete listing of Earthquake & Fire Centennial Exhibitions and Programs

Bayview’s Historical Footprints - Photographic exhibition celebrating the diverse history of Bayview Hunter’s Point featuring multimedia oral histories from elders in the community. In collaboration with Bayview Hunter’s Point Neighborhood History Preservation Project.
Exhibition:  Permanent at
Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library
5075 Third Street (at Revere)

Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise in the Bay Area - Through the sea level rise mapping project, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission has identified shoreline areas to be most affected by the sea level rise that include the following areas: San Francisco, San Francisco Airport, the Central and South Bay, Corte Madera/San Rafael and Oakland Airport. These maps are a gift from the San Francisco Department of the Environment. For additional information check the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission website at http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/
Exhibition:  Permanent at
Wallace Stegner Environmental Center,
Main Library, Fifth Floor, Elevator Bank,
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

A Selection of Our Online Exhibitions

*Picture This: Family Photographs of Everyday San Francisco - This exhibition draws from a collection of photographs shared with the San Francisco Public Library by community members from the Western Addition, Ocean View/Merced/Ingleside (OMI), Mission and Sunset neighborhoods. On Shades of San Francisco Photo Days, library staff, volunteers, and professional photographers copied photos from the family collections of local residents which recorded their daily lives as well as the cultural, historical, and political contributions of these neighborhoods. In this Online Exhibition we share approximately 150 of the photographs from the Shades of San Francisco project. Online Exhibition

*Out at the Library - Out at the Library celebrates the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Library’s James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center by highlighting its collection and offering a rare look into what an archives is and how it ensures the legacy of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. From boots worn by cross-dressing Civil War surgeon Dr. Mary Walker to classic LGBT pulp paperbacks to the 1978 appointment book of assassinated City Supervisor Harvey Milk, the objects and stories in Out at the Library offer compelling views of remarkable and ordinary lives. Online Exhibition

*Reversing Vandalism - An exhibition of over 200 original works of art created from books mainly on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics, women's issues and HIV/AIDS, that were destroyed by a vandal and withdrawn from the San Francisco Public Library's collection. Artists and concerned individuals from around the country worked to turn the damaged books into works of art. The wide variety of responses to this hate crime vividly demonstrates the transformative power of art.
Online Exhibition

*Amusing America - The premiere exhibition of the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society, cosponsored by the San Francisco Public Library with support from the California State Library.
Online Exhibition

Library's 125th Anniversary - Two online historical displays were created as part of the Library's 125th Anniversary celebrations.
The Library Timeline presents a history of the San Francisco Library system from 1877 through the 2004.
The Then & Now Photo Scrapbook features historical and contemporary photographs of the Branch Libraries.

A Selection of Our Upcoming Exhibitions and Shows

A Tribute to the Palette - An exhibition celebrating the history, science and art of color. Featuring highlights from the library’s collection as well as objects d’art and other visual treats.
Exhibition:  From January 10 through March 26, 2009
Main Library, Fourth Floor (Floor-wide exhibition)
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

The San Francisco Black Panther Party - An exhibit of photos, newspapers and memorabilia that explore the personal and historical significance of the San Francisco Black Panther Party that came into existence in 1968 in the Fillmore district. Presented in association with It’s About time Committee: Black Panther Party Legacy and Alumni
Exhibition:  From January 18 through March 12, 2009
Main Library, Third Floor, African American Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

Celebrating Our Urban Wildness: Coyotes to Quail
- San Francisco photographer, Janet Kessler, has captured surprising images of thriving wildlife in the midst of a major city - San Francisco. All her photos were taken on her daily walks within the city in 2008.
Exhibition:  From January 24 through May 28, 2009
Library, Fifth Floor, Wallace Stegner Environmental Center
Related Program: Meet the Artist,
Wednesday, January 28, 2009,
Main Library, Lower Level, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 6:30─7:30 p.m.
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

Visual Aid Presents Hedgehog Boy: A Graphic Novel - San Francisco artist Rene Capone creates a world where boys become avatars--taking on the characteristics of animals and transforming their identities both physically and spiritually. In this exhibition of pen and ink illustrations for his first graphic novel, The Legend of Hedgehog Boy, Capone appropriates and humorously references traditional Japanese comics. Dynamically integrating image and text, Capone tells a story of an abused child who rejects the role of victim and enters an alternate reality where he sets off on a dangerous adventure of revenge, self discovery and ultimately, love and redemption.
Exhibition:  From January 24 through March 5, 2009
Main Library, Third Floor, James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

Programs marked with an asterisk (*) are funded by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. All programs at the Library are free.