The San Francisco Parks Alliance is again hosting free screenprinting events, the first of which will be held at Heron’s Head Park.
It’s that liminal, occult time of the year in San Francisco where cool winter evenings are juxtaposed by ostensibly warm afternoons set amongst clear blue skies. Flowers bloom. Allergy pills are taken with a seasonal fervor. Tens of thousands of free tulips blanket Union Square — snaked through by lines of people keen on plucking one or two (for free).
Helping welcome this enchanting period is the San Francisco Park Alliance — the SF-based nonprofit dedicated to bolstering the city’s litany of public parks through community occurrences, clean-up programs, and fundraising campaigns — putting on its beloved collection of screenprinting workshops.
In a press release from the nonprofit, the pop-up events, aptly included in its “Heart Your Parks” series of community events, will kick off Saturday, March 30th at Heron’s Head Park. Much like last year, each of the four consecutive affairs will occur at a different San Francisco park leading up to Earth Day weekend.
And just like the 2023 iterations, screen-printed designs will be specific to the park where the pop-up is held; all designs are made by local artist Orlie K., whose unique use of line work and color motifs celebrate the unique character of iconic San Francisco parks.
Live jazz music is set to serenade the expected massive crowds, long lines, and many leashed doggos in tow as parkgoers wait for their turn to snag a screenprint.
“We were blown away by the number of people who couldn’t wait to get their hands on these prints last year,” says Drew Becher, CEO of SF Parks Alliance, in the same press release, noting that the money raised last year through the “Heart Your Parks” series — mind you, the screenprints remain free, but patrons of the pop-ups are encouraged to donate to the nonprofit, however much they see fit/are comfortable with expending — helped raise capital that went on to support “really impactful work” — “the funds [SF Parks Alliance] raised [through the services] enabled us to do really impactful work, and we’re hoping San Francisco comes out to do it again.”
SF Parks Alliance members will also have the option to create their screenprints on the provided paper; those interested in creating their own print can sign up to become an SF Parks Alliance member at the pop-ups or online, here.
Below is the current schedule for the 2024 screenprint pop-up aries, though whether conditions could alter the published dates:
- Saturday, March 30 @ Cargo Way / Heron’s Head Park (11 AM-4 PM)
- Saturday, April 6 @ Golden Gate Park (Murphy Windmill) (11 AM-4 PM)
- Saturday, April 13 @ McLaren Park (Tai Chi court) (11 AM-4 PM)
- Saturday, April 20 Earth Day Weekend @ Crane Cove Park (11 AM-4 PM)
Get outside. Take a lil’ (or big ol’) mental health walk. Find gratitude and peace and serenity in knowing you’re communing with one of the most gorgeous cities in the world. Take a deep breath. Exhale. Rinse and repeat; and, indeed, heart your SF parks.
Feature image: Courtesy of SF Parks Alliance, via Casey Whalen
