SUNDAY IN THE CITY: Park Life (Retail & Gallery)

In a city like San Francisco, which boasts a prominent and diverse art scene, Park Life is a beacon of inspiration waiting to be found by artists and art "fans" alike.




Started in 2006 by SF-based artist, Jamie Alexander, and Derek Song, this 1400 square-foot space houses a wide array of retail items fit to feed the art-junkie's craving for inspiration.

(Co-owner, Derek Song)

Featuring primarily contemporary art-based inventory, Park Life prides itself on carrying rare, hard to find, limited edition, and out of print artwork, books, magazines, jewelry, modern design objects, gifts and clothing (including their household brand of Park Life T's and Hoodies printed on 100% cotton American Apparel gear).


(Park Life Interior)


(T-shirt wall)


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(Thomas checking out the T-shirts **they have both Men's & Women's**)


(Park Life features tons of hard to find art magazines)

In the back of the retail store is the Park Life gallery which features work by local modern artists that are hand-picked by Gallery Director, Jamie Alexander. Most exhibits stage for roughly a month, giving the artist ample time to showcase their work as the crowds of local and tourist art collectors and artists pass through the store.


(Thomas checking out this month's featured artist, Chris Johanson, in the gallery)


(Chris's latest published book, featuring artwork being shown currently at Park Life)

Unlike most stores of its kind, Park Life leaves all pretense at the door. Considering the depth of knowledge the owners have, and the refined taste that goes into selecting both artists and merchandise as high a caliber as Park Life has, one would usually expect to be confronted with a disregarding eye-roll when asked if they have a copy of Nan Goldin's out-of-print "The Ballad of Sexual Dependency," (a cult classic, but predictable and amateur request). On the contrary, the humble employees are not only quick to help you find whatever it is you're looking for (however obscure or obvious it may be), but even on their busiest day (like the Sunday we were there) will engage with you in genuine conversation.


(Derek mingling with a customer)



(Jewelry and other goods at the front counter)


(My personal favorite...)

It seems the welcoming vibe of the place flows over to their patrons...the day we were in shopping, Heidi Schumann, a photographer for the New York Times, was in shooting for an article on the store as well. Holding her Canon 5D Mark II in hand (the same camera I shoot with), she politely asked us if we minded if she took pictures of us for her article for the Times...to which we facetiously said "only if you dont mind us taking pictures of you for our blog." Needless to say, both parties complied.


(Check out her work at www.hsphoto.com)

Friendly and well-educated employees, free art exhibits, plenty of interesting/humorous/obscene merchandise to keep you occupied, hard to find magazines and books, and dozens of T-shirts and hoodies....what more could you ask for on a foggy Sunday in SF?!

Park Life is located in the inner-Richmond district of SF at:
220 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94118

Come in and say hi.

They usually close at 8, but if it's 7:55 and you decided that you DO want that awesome purple hoodie that you had on hold and you're 15 min away, they'll stay open just for you. :)


www.parklifestore.com

SUNDAY IN THE CITY: Mollusk Surf Shop

Located on the corner of Irving and 46th, the Mollusk Surf Shop is an inviting welcome in from the foggy, windy SF coastline.


Greeted by one of a few friendly surfer dudes, we walked in to find ourselves faced with large blocks of colorful folded T-shirts, featuring unique brands designed by illustrative artsits such as Sprout, Ando & Friends, Warriors of Radness, and the house brand, Mollusk.




While the selection of clothing alone could set this surf shop apart from the thousands of others that dot the CA coastline, perhaps the most notable quality of Mollusk is the sense of community and creative embracing that seems to be consistent throughout the city of San Francisco.

Thomas, a local SF artist, immediately approaches the guy at the register to ask about the price of a small piece of paper with a drawing on it by transient musician and visual artist, Kyle Field (aka "Little Wings"). The guy squints his eyes to get a better look at the piece, and then politely offers to make a phone call to find out...



...he returns a few minutes later and leads Thomas to a "secret" drawer housing an array of Field's work. As he sifts through the loose papers of line drawings, he casually mentions that Field is in NY, as he had just recently gotten kicked out of his previous residence...a tree-house-looking "attic," as he calls it, located directly above the front entrance to the store.



The entire store, in fact, could be qualified as a piece of art in and of itself. Aside from featuring framed pieces by local Bay Area artists, most of whom are somehow linked to the surf community, both on the store walls and in the small gallery located in the back, there also appear mixed-media sculptures hanging from ceiling and wall panels that give the store a comforting "artist's wonderland" feel.



As I perused the store while Thomas looked at boards and tried on shoes, I couldn't help but notice the familiar surf video, "Wet & Wreckless," by our beloved local surfers/party-planners, San Franpsycho.



Whether you're a die-hard surfer mogul, a tourist looking for a unique SF surf-culture souvenir, an artist looking to purchase or display art, or a local who happened to be strolling through the neighborhood and felt like stopping in to sit on the comfy, worn-out vintage couch to chat with the clerks, there is something for everyone at Mollusk.




Check out the other Mollusk stores in LA & NY, or visit their online store at www.mollusksurfshop.com