Explore San Francisco Through Keith Haring
This year marks the 25th year anniversary of Keith Haring’s passing on Feb. 16, 1990 and the de Young Museum mounted an exhibition that has never been done before: Keith Haring: The Political Line. The exhibition closed on Feb. 16, 2015; however, there are still ways to experience the work of Haring and see his political activism brought to life through his own art and that of others at several locations throughout San Francisco.
Three Figures Dancing
Keep an eye out for his famous sculpture (Untitled) Three Figures Dancing that has been temporarily moved to the de Young where it will remain until it may be returned to its home in SOMA at the Moscone Center after an extensive expansion of the Center is completed.
@Large Ai WeiWei
Aids Memorial Grove
This memorial grove is a tribute to all of the lives touched by AIDS. Keith Haring was a very prominent figure in advocating AIDS awareness. This memorial provides a place of remembrance for all of the people who have died from this disease. Located in Golden Gate Park, there are free tours of the grove available from 9 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of every month from March through October.
AIDS Chapel at Grace Cathedral
Located in Grace Cathedral’s North Tower, one of Haring’s last pieces was an altarpiece entitled “The Life of Christ.” This bronze and gold altarpiece was his last work before he passed away from AIDS. Grace Cathedral is proud to be the home of this piece of art which speaks so strongly on the AIDS epidemic. It is located in the Interfaith AIDS Memorial Chapel of this Nob Hill landmark.
Rainbow Honor Walk
Located in the Castro District, this tribute has 20 bronze plaques placed on the sidewalks of the neighborhood. The walk honors heroes and heroines who were prominent in the LBGT community and left a lasting impression on society. Through time, many plaques will change depending on what Castro residents want. Try taking a San Francisco City Guides walking tour of the Castro District to see the Rainbow Honor Walk which honors people such as Haring, Jane Addams and Frida Kahlo to name a few.
GLBT Museum
Located in San Francisco’s Castro District, the GLBT History Museum recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The museum is one of a kind, placing extreme attention on the GLBT community. Just $5 to get in, the museum highlights key activists for the GLBT communities from the past and present, as well as videos and artifacts from past decades.
San Francisco City Guides
San Francisco City Guides is a not-for-profit organization that enlists the assistance of city locals to run free walking tours in many neighborhoods of San Francisco. One in particular, the Castro walking tour, offers a glimpse of LGBT history as well as information about the AIDS Quilt. Starting in 1987 a small group decided to come together to make a quilt in remembrance of all of the people who had died from AIDS. More than 48,000 individual 3-by-6 foot memorial panels have been sewn together. Because of the grandiosity of it, check online to see where the quilt is currently being exhibited.
