Starting tonight through March 4th, the University of San Francisco will feature the art of Richard Kamler, who throughout his career has maintained that "art can make the world a better place... art is an agent for social change... our fuel and our glue." Kamler spent two years as Artist-In-Residence in San Quentin Prison, where he created the "central works of his career: "Tablee of Voices," a sound installation giving voice to both victims and perpetrators." (USF event information) Tonight beginning at 7pm at Intersection for the Arts, in an event free and open to the public, Kamler will moderate the Art Activism discussion with four other Bay Area artists, who will talk about their work and strategies for engaging the community. The conversation will include the audience.

Richard Kamler: A Retrospective" (www.richardkamler.org) includes early sketchbooks, installation works, drawings and photographic documentation that trace his career using art as a catalyst for social change.

See the USF Thacher Gallery web page for full information.

• Four Decades of Art Activism A fishbowl conversation moderated by Richard Kamler with Tom Ferentz, Judith Selby Lang, Peter Selz and Scott Tsuchitani (see full description below). Fri, Jan 27, 7-9 pm Intersection for the Arts, 925 Mission (at 5th Street)
• Richard Kamler and Robert Atkins in Conversation Thurs, Feb 2 and Wed, Feb 8, 2:30-3:30 pm McLaren 250, USF (at Clayton)
• Opening Reception and Birthday Celebration Thurs, Feb 2, 4-6 pm Thacher Gallery
• Meet the Artist Saturdays, Feb 4, 11, 18 and 25, 11 am to 1 pm Thacher Gallery

Links: Conversations with Richard Kamler and Richard Whitaker for "Works and Conversations" KQED's Spark on Richard Kamler