This month’s ‘Disco is a synchronized hybrid of art and musical performance to celebrate the latest Land and Sound record release of SF’s own beloved Coconut, featuring a site-specific installation by Jesse Schlesinger and images by Sean McFarland – all under one Gothically vaulted roof.

The Art

Maggie Otero and Chris Duncan are the DIY architects of Land and Sea records and publishing house, which is releasing Coconut’s seven inch. These two are the masterminds behind the evening and will contribute imagery to accompany Coconut’s music during their performance. Aptly, imagery selected by Otero and Duncan will be of land- and seascapes. Land and Sea began in 2009 by renowned SF artists Otero and Duncan to contribute limited, hand-assembled editions to sonic and visual culture.

Jesse Schlesinger is a San Francisco-based visual and social practice artist whose installation, created specifically for this event, will mimic the delicate graphite drawing of a nest that Schlesinger created for the cover of the Coconut seven inch. The three-dimensional interpretation of Schlesinger’s original drawing will perch atop the cathedral’s indoor labyrinth, just beyond the entrance to the nave. In addition to his work with Coconut, Schlesinger’s work has been shown at San Francisco’s Eleanor Harwood Gallery, Triple Base Gallery and General Store, respectively.

Photographer Sean McFarland is known for his subtle manipulation of black and white Polaroid images, particularly landscapes, both natural and urban. As part of his current body of work, titled “The Dark Series”, McFarland investigates “natural” landscapes that exist through human intention, such as contrived man-made scenes to depict the wilderness areas that have been tamed through conservation. Projected versions of McFarland’s landscapes will accompany the evening’s first musical act, Aero Mic’d.

The Music

The evening will begin with a candlelit procession to the first musical performance of the night: Aero-Mic’d. Wayne Smith, Cliff Hengst and Scott Hewicker explore the melding of found sounds and electronic experimentalism. The procession will continue with the lovely cozy ballads of Ben Grass.

Coconut, the evening’s esteemed guests of honor, will perform the songs on the new 7″ as well as as-yet unreleased material. Coconut began in 2002 with founding members Tomo Yasuda and Colter Jacobsen and has since been graced by various
members such as Leyna Noel and Michael Oliveras, among others. This last year has seen Coconut grow into a ripe and hairy four-piece with the addition of Justin Loney and Keiko Kayamoto. Coconut’s sounds range from melodic pop anthems and mash-ups to improvisational jazz and noise outbursts. Follow the light at night.

Paradise Now

Theology, music and art all share the aspiration to transcend the borders that language cannot. Paradise Now is a nondenominational curatorial duo that is exploring this commonality by showcasing artists who engage the awe-inspiring space within Grace Cathedral through multi-media installations and performing arts. Paradise Now is Eve Ekman and Elizabeth Parks Kibbey.
EpiscoDisco

Recently recipients of an SF Guardian Best of the Bay award for Best Dance Floor Transcendence, voted one of 7×7 Magazine’s 250 Things To Do In San Francisco Before You Die and anointed “unusual fun” by the SF Chronicle, EpiscoDisco is a monthly event where community congregates to enjoy contemporary art installations, live performance, drinks and DJ’ed music at Grace Cathedral. EpiscoDisco is hosted on one Friday of each month by the young and incredibly cool Reverend Bertie Pearson and curatorial duo Paradise Now.