A very special thanks to Benny Gold for his amazing Tenderloin Project collaboration. This tee was initially created for the TL Project show in Tokyo and it’s great to now have the shirt available here in the states. You the man Benny! http://shop.bennygold.com/products/the-tenderloin-project-x-benny-gold for more details…
From the beginning this project was always about giving back to the Tenderloin community in the form of creating access to the arts. In order to do this the first steps of the project involved interacting with the residents and getting a first-hand look into the art of living in this marginalized community. After shooting the initial portfolio of images that formed my portrait of the community the project expanded to all the many many collaborations with artists throughout the world. Then came the living exhibitions which took the project from San Francisco, to Atlanta, Miami, New York and as far away as Tokyo, giving people across the globe a chance to get a firsthand look into the project, what life is like in the Tenderloin, and to see all of the art that can come from such a society when we choose not to ignore it. While traveling with the project it became so clear that there are Tenderloins throughout the country, and throughout the world. This is a universal community.
Being able to create this project from essentially nothing and to see it go so far and to touch so many people, proves that we as individuals all have a chance to make a difference, as small as that difference may be. This project was never about politics, or creating massive social change. It was simply about the art of living, and what it means to be a human being. We’re complicated, and we all walk different paths, but when we come together and choose to collaborate I think it’s clear that good things can come. On behalf of everyone who has been involved with the project, this is our gift to The Tenderloin…Thank you.
-sean desmond
The workstation is located at the Community Arts Program. To find out more about their amazing program please visit: http://www.hospitalityhouse.org/community.htm
I will be giving weekly workshops at the Community Arts Program every Thursday from 10am – 3pm. To book a workshop session please email me at sean@thetenderloinproject.com.
Special thanks to Brian Chu of The Werehaus for the video!
THANK YOU TOKYO!!! This was a completely unreal moment for the project…
The sixth living exhibition for The Tenderloin Project opens tonight at Public Image 3D in Tokyo! The address is Ikegiri 2 -32 – 2. This is a dream to bring the project out here. 17 Japanese artists did collaborations for the show along with new collaborations by Mike Giant, Jen Arbini and exclusive shirts by Benny Gold for the show. Here is a preview of what to expect for the opening…Special thanks to Kaz and everyone at ZacPac for bringing me and the entire show out here!
It was great to link up with Benny Gold yesterday at his shop in the Mission district of SF where I picked up the shirts he did as a collaboration for The Tenderloin Project. The shirts are available in three color ways and are going to be an exclusive release for the Tenderloin Project exhibition opening in Tokyo on November 19th. Time and time again I’m amazed at where this project has gone from its grassroots beginnings. Will be updating the website soon with pictures from abroad. Thanks again for the collab Ben! The shirts look AMAZING.
Select images from The Tenderloin Project will be included in Gallery Heist’s one year anniversary show this weekend entitled, “Till Death Do Us Part.” For more information visit, galleryheist.com.
TL Project collaborative artist Mike Kershnar did an amazing mural last week over at 1AM Gallery, just outside of the Tenderloin area. He invited me to come along and document the process. 3,000 pictures later…
Met up with Mike Giant last week to make a video of him doing a new collaboration for the upcoming Tenderloin Project show in Tokyo. Here is a little preview of the new collaboration…
Was unreal to pick up the November issue of Juxtapoz over the weekend and to see The Tenderloin Project featured as a showstopper. The article was based off of the last living exhibition for the project here in the states, which took place last month in New York at 99% Gallery. I remember beginning this project almost 2 years ago and having no clue what would come of it. No idea as to what images I’d capture, who the images would reach, who I would collaborate with or where the project would be exhibited. I was just curious and passionate and inspired and ready to form my own opinion about what life is like in The Tenderloin. To now have the project published in Juxtapoz, especially in an issue with the cover artwork done by Barbara Kruger, is beyond a huge honor. It is testament to the grassroots nature of this project and further proves that when people from all walks of life decide to put their minds together and interact, communicate and collaborate – to form community – we can affect culture in new and illuminating ways.
The sixth Living Exhibition for The Tenderloin Project will be opening on November 19th in Tokyo, Japan. The show will feature 16 new collaborations with Japanese artists, an exclusive new print collaboration with Mike Giant, and a new garment release with famed SF designer and artist, Benny Gold. More details to come soon….
