Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart

​Captain Beefheart, the noted experimental musician and painter born Don Van Vliet, died this morning in California following complications from multiple sclerosis. He was 69.

Van Vliet is best known for his 1969 album with the Magic Band, Trout Mask Replica, a work Rolling Stone recently ranked the No. 58 greatest album of all time. The record, and Beefheart's subsequent musical career, fueled the idea that rock music could be experimental and untethered to the limits of rhythm, tempo and key -- despite the fact that the skilled Van Vliet was known for a legendary five-octave vocal range. Born in California, Van Vliet found an educator and muse in Frank Zappa, who encouraged his evolution from visual artist to R&B harmonica/sax player to blues rocker to avant-garde luminary throughout the course of the Magic Band's career.

More >>

Work by Masterminds finalist Andrew Schoultz

​

Support your fellow Bay Area artists tonight as SF Weekly hosts Artopia 2010, a party celebrating local art, music, and culture at Project One. We'll have pieces on display from all 12 finalists for our annual arts grant program, talented folks who work in painting, sculpture, photography, conceptual art, dance, film, fashion, installations, and comedic performance art. 

Also on tap: complimentary hors d'oeuvres and hosted open bar from 6-7 p.m., a communal art project, music by DJ Marc D, multiple vendors, and other good stuff.

Most importantly, we'll annouce the three Artopia winners tonight, awarding each one a grant of up to $2500.

Artopia goes from 6-10 p.m. $5 adv., $10 at the door.

​
Support your fellow Bay Area artists on Wednesday, February 17, when SF Weekly hosts Artopia 2010, a night of art, music, fashion, and culture from 6-10 p.m. at Project One. (Also on tap that night: complimentary hors d'oeuvres and hosted open bar from 6-7 p.m., body painted ladies by Ian Ross, a communal art project, music by DJ Marc D, multiple vendors, and much more...)

Most importantly, Artopia will showcase the this year's MasterMinds, SF Weekly's annual grants to local artists.The 10 finalists will have their work on display at Project One, with the 3 winners being announced that very evening and awarded grants of up to $2500!

If you or any artist you may know is interested in submitting work to be considered a Mastermind, please submit it before Friday, Jan. 29th to Andy.Wright@sfweekly.com or SF Weekly, C/O Andy Wright, 185 Berry Street, Lobby 5, Suite 3800, San Francisco, CA 94107. Here's what we need in order to consider your submission:

Art categories = Visual, Fashion Design, Film/Video/Media, and Performing Arts. Please include a cover letter, full contact info (name, address, phone number and e-mail address), slides/DVD/CD-ROM, press kit and/or website where works can be viewed. Samples of work will not be returned.

Tickets are on sale now here.

Proceeds will go towards funding the MasterMinds grants of 2011.

​Screw the bad economy. We want to do our part to help local artists when we can, as part of the annual SF Weekly Masterminds grants program.

As you can see from last year's finalists, Masterminds gives up to $2,500 to creative people in the visual arts, fashion/design, performing arts, and film/video/media arts. All you've gotta do to be considered is get your work on our radar by submitting images or links to our office before January 29. More info can be found here.