Unable to find a suitable venue in the Danville-San Ramon Area, a group of local artists has secured a space in San Francisco in which to showcase talent from around the Bay Area. United Artists Association, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization of working artists, of which�full disclosure�I am a member, plans to open the doors of Artsite Gallery in early December. Located at 101 Townsend Street, a baseball�s throw from AT&T; Park, the 1,400-square-foot venue will feature work of diverse Bay Area painters, sculptors, and other creators.

Other members of the Association to date include Diana Busse, Bill Carmel, Kevin Davidson, Marie Dutcher-Dreyer, Don Eagling, Eddie Fitzgerald, Joseph Hovadik, Leslie Ruth, Bill Weber, and Hooshang Yashar.

�We were looking for an exhibition space,� says Davidson, a founding member of United Artists, �and had exhausted the possibilities in the East Bay. When we found an opportunity to get a venue in a prime location in San Francisco, a major U.S. city and cultural destination, we jumped at the chance.�

Davidson notes that the gallery expects to not only feature paintings and sculptures but also to host poets, performance artists, and musicians. �We plan to offer an exciting environment for artists working in nearly any medium,� says Davidson.

The venue is ideal for a gallery, Davidson explains. It provides a wealth of wall and floor space, and the gallery�s north wall is nearly all window, admitting natural light that enhances the already attractive exhibition area.

An opening reception is scheduled for December 5, 2009, at 6 P.M.

Artists interested in becoming members of the United Artists Association should contact Bill Carmel at [email protected]. Davidson is recuperating from a bicycle accident (more on that in a future installment).