My wife and I walked up the steps of City Hall to find an impressive array of activist folk crowding the halls like a sit-in from the Sixties. After worring their way through security and piling a plate full of beans and macaroni from a nearby conference room, the crowd mashed themselves into room 282 of City Hall to run their eyes over a collection of paintings and prints by Sara Thustra.

In place of Barry McGee's more overt "Smash the State" sprayed on the wall above Matt Gonzalez's desk (marking the sentiments of his farewall), Sara Thustra fills the offices with hypnotizing, technicolor-ray paintings. In general, Sara Thustra's brand of art/activism combines retina burning color, ironic humor, and a crowd-mantra version of Marxist critique as a kind of "optical protest."*

The office-shows, started in 2001 by Matt Gonzales while on the Board of Supervisors, are being carried forward by his brave replacement Ross Mirkarimi. While the desks and file cabinets remain, the three roomed office has turned gallery (despite the best intentions of the artist) including a bar soaked with cheap wine. It's exciting to think the work will remain up for a month, but wandering around the mostly vacant building last night, it occurred to me that we were probably standing witness to choir practice.

I encourage you to visit City Hall during regular business hours to knock on room 282.

* Quote from the artist in the email announcement