From Tea to Barbie

Art on Hayes Street

Through next Spring, AgeSong Senior Communities is sponsoring local artists in hosting art exhibits at the former Hayes Valley Market. The market, located at 580 Hayes Street, is being used as a studio to showcase talent not only for public viewing, but also to enrich the lives of the residents of the AgeSong communities. AgeSong is offering artists exhibition space in exchange for their involvement in activities that integrate the communities’ residents. The art shows will encompass a diverse array of media and genres, including painting, photography, performance, and film.

Art with Heart

The month of July will showcase the art of associates of Modern Tea Cafe. In addition to the show, there will be a silent auction, benefiting the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group and The Press Institute. In August, Chatterbox Gallery will be hosting the 5th Annual Recycled Barbie Show, featuring over 100 artists and vendors who re-use and recycle the famous doll into art. For more information about these and future shows, please visit www.agesong.com, or by phone at 415-431-8143.

Staff, friends & neighbors who’ve become friends of Modern Tea will showcase their artwork in Hayes Valley from July 6-29th at the Market. Exhibit hours will continue Tuesdays-Sundays in the afternoons & evenings. The closing event will be on Sunday, July 29th, 3-5 pm, with the gavel going down on the silent auction portion at 4 pm.

Modern Tea is a restaurant & retail destination for tea in Hayes Valley. Open for morning pastries, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch & tea throughout the day, Modern Tea’s food menu is based in local, organic ingredients, serving fresh, modest meals with a touch of both Californian and European flair. In addition, the extensive list of carefully steeped teas & herbals all have organic, fair trade or wild-crafted traditions behind them.

Mirrors and Legs by Deborah Colotti. This piece is part of the 5th Annual Recycled Barbie Show in August. Photo: Agesong

You can sense the relaxed, community feel when you walk into the restaurant. “Recently we were talking at the tea bar with our servers, many of whom are artists, about what they would like to do if a space became available,” says owner Alice Cravens, “and it all began to fall into place, believe it or not, like the Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney movies. It really was one of those ‘Let’s find a barn and we’ll have a show’ moments.”

Tea, art & community have gone hand in hand for thousands of years so it is not that unusual for this art show to develop on its own. Cravens says, “I have a feeling we will see more events that bring tea and the arts together here in the United States.” One coinciding example is the Santa Fe Opera’s production of Tea: A Mirror of Soul, being performed in Santa Fe, New Mexico in mid-July that can be enjoyed during a tea immersion week at Sunrise Springs Resort Spa with tea expert and author James Norwood Pratt.

About the Charities

Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group: The Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group’s mission is to promote safe and sustainable parks, and create recreational opportunities for the culturally diverse children, youth, and adults and seniors of Hayes Valley. Where this ties in with Modern Tea is that the funds will help further support the connection from garden to table with our local youth, adults & seniors.

The Press Institute, founded by Cristi Hegrenes, one of Modern Tea’s first servers, is a non-profit group that teaches women in the developing world how to be journalists & writers in their own communities. “Journalism is an empowering tool that can bring voice, strength and light to issues that are hidden and people who are oppressed,” says the piwdw website, and Modern Tea is excited to find such a creative way to help support this worthwhile endeavor. To find out more, please visit www.piwdw.org.