Sink or Swim ~ San Francisco Wrap Up

By Tre’ Packard – PangeaSeed Managing Director

After two incredible and life changing weeks in San Francisco, I’ve landed back in Tokyo, attempting to revert into everyday 9-to-5 life. Damn near impossible due to the restlessness inside me pulling in a variety of directions. This new sense of confidence and motivation continues to scream from within, urging me to take the PangeaSeed message to new heights and across new borders in order to help save our friends with fins while we still have a fighting chance.

With the recent passing of AB376, the California bill outlawing the practice of shark finning in the state, the climate toward controversial shark conservation is quite palpable in San Francisco. After all, people will eventually lose jobs and income – nobody wants that to happen to themselves or families and in turn folks can be quite sensitive to said issues. But we have to step back and seriously ask ourselves a number of crucial questions: What is more important, short term economic gain or the future health of our fragile planet? Most of us are working to support our families but what type of future will they inherit if we continue to destroy at breakneck speeds what’s left of our world? Is this the future our children would want to inherit? From where I stand, it’s our responsibility as the dominant species on the planet to protect, sustain and manage what can’t protect itself. Cultures have the choice to evolve but extinction is forever.

In mid-September I boarded a flight from Tokyo to San Francisco somewhat nervous and unsure of how the PangeaSeed message and approach to saving sharks would be received in the great state of California. We’ve been in the trenches for several years now, campaigning throughout Asia, and we’re pretty confident what we are up against on this side of the globe. But America – she’s a totally different animal.

Arriving at SFO with two oversized suitcases carefully packed with works of art from several of my personal heros in the modern art community, the PangeaSeed crew were welcomed with open arms by the gracious people at Spoke Art. Ken and Sarah, working tirelessly on several other projects, took the time to make sure we were comfortable and had what we needed to set up for our inaugural stateside fundraising event.

After a couple of days preparing and planning – assembling the event began. Several local artist as well as numerous friends from around the world stepped up to lend a helping hand within 24 hours, the stage was set for Sink or Swim ~ San Francisco.

When we arrived at the gallery the morning of the opening my previous apprehensions were quickly washed away when I noticed a line of 10 people road-worn and weary who had driven through the night and camped in front of the Spoke Art gallery in hopes of being the first in line to secure a first edition print of one of Josh Keyes most popular artworks – Scorch 1. Like most of us, I’ve been a fan of Josh’s work for several years now. Having the privilege to collaborate with him in 2009 for our first art fundraiser, No Fin No Future, we both had been waiting for a future opportunity to collaborate again and SOS SF seemed like the perfect platform.

For weeks my inbox had been swamped with inquires regarding the collaboration and release of Keyes’ work. Seeing people lined up in front of the gallery since 6AM brought back images of Star Wars fans camping for Episode 1 tickets. And after seeing the finished product and with Ken’s attention to detail combined with a relentless pursuit for nothing less than perfection, I knew we had hit a homerun.

Throughout the day leading to the opening, lines outside began to grow and then swell around the block with close to 150 people deep by the time we opened the doors. Thankfully, waiting didn’t seem to be an issue due to Pacha Mama blessing us with postcard-picture weather and perfect temperatures. There was even a fire on the second floor of the building followed by a personal appearance from the San Francisco Fire Department with three massive fire engines in tow. (Watch the attached video if you don’t believe me). After avoiding potential disaster and the reassurance that attendance wasn’t going to be affected – not even a fire could hold this crowd back – we opened the doors to PangeaSeed SOS San Francisco!

When attendees walked through the doors they were consumed by artworks from over 40 world-renowned artists, all focusing on sharks and addressing the plight they face. The artist interpretations were vast and deep like the oceans themselves. From legends and heavyweights such as Jim Phillips and Dave Kinsey to artists from distant corners of the globe like Japanese artist Yoh Nagao, Norway’s Ingri Haraldsen and Michael Glinski – all the way from the world’s first shark sanctuary in Palau – the SOS SF line up was beyond stellar. It was a true international effort – the first of it’s kind in North America – and an amazing collaboration to help save sharks and our oceans. Following in the tradition of SEED in our name, the jaw-dropping artworks spoke for themselves, planting new ideas and information into the hearts and minds of everyone who walked through the door.

Throughout the evening the lines seemed to get longer and from the amount of conversation regarding the issue, the exhibition and artists left me feeling dizzy and somewhat punch drunk. A constant stream of Keyes disciples flowed through the door, each one beaming with pride as they posed for a picture with their flawless edition of Scorch 1.

Several past and present PangeaSeed supporting artists such as Serge Gay Jr., Ryan Maguire, Michael Glinski, Gale Hart, Kevin Earl Taylor, D.H. Rosen, John Fellows, Bu Nations, Samuel Rodriguez, Spencer Keeton Cunningham and Christopher Huth came out in full support. Some of these folks traveling great distances to help us celebrate and campaign for sharks on the American West Coast.

Beaming with pride combined with a buzz from the beer, we decided to keep the doors open past the initial closing schedule. Both attendees and artists, continued into the night with inspiring conversation and the sharing of ideas to help combat the problems sharks are facing. Throughout the evening I realized that what our team traveled around the world for and worked so hard to create had actually transformed into a well-oiled machine. To put it simply: Mission accomplished.

The show was a success with several local people within the art community commenting how they had never seen lines like these at a gallery opening in San Francisco. Others offered praise on the nature and selflessness of the show – “a true artistic collaboration without any drama, ego or the bullshit – the way a show should be, “ was a favorite of mine.

Upon arrival in San Francisco, the PangeaSeed crew was nothing more than strangers in a strange land. Though on departing, we had gained a new band of friends, family and allies coming together and connecting through common passions such as art and nature, generously helping to save one of the planet’s oldest and most important animals from extinction.