PIER 39 is excited to announce the unveiling of their newest piece of art, Open Heart, which will be permanently located on Level 1 at the picturesque Bay End of PIER 39.  Open Heart is part of San Francisco General Hospital Foundation's 2014 “Hearts in San Francisco” collection that supports the vital programs and initiatives of San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

“PIER 39 is iconic to San Francisco, as are the hearts that we see throughout the city,” said Sue Currin, CEO of The General.  “Each year, artists create new hearts to support the city's only trauma center.  We are thrilled to have this heart on display here, and to welcome PIER 39 into our family of corporate sponsors.  It is through their generous support that San Francisco General Hospital Foundation is able to fund vital programs and initiatives at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.”

Open Heart was hand-painted by local artist Patrick Dintino, a San Francisco native whose mother's life was saved more than a decade ago by open heart surgery.  “Open Heart represents the larger idea of love and understanding self-concept—of opening our hearts and seeing what's inside, what makes us tick,” said Dintino.  “It symbolizes the openness of our city's heart, as well as the idea of falling in love with and leaving your heart in San Francisco.”

San Francisco General Hospital Foundation is currently accepting artist submissions for the 2015 “Hearts in San Francisco” series.  Design renderings may be submitted online at sfghf.net by the Friday, August 1, 2014 deadline.

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHY:
High-resolution photos are available by emailing Alissa Fiset at afiset@pier39.com.

About “Hearts in San Francisco”   The city-wide public art project, 'Hearts in San Francisco' was introduced in 2004, featuring 130 five-foot tall heart sculptures designed by local and national established and emerging artists. The unique works of art were featured in plazas, parks and on street corners throughout San Francisco. To conclude the public art display, hearts were auctioned and sold with proceeds benefitting SFGHF and its efforts to fund projects and initiatives that provide quality care at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Since then, more than 100 hearts have been created to benefit programs at The General.

About San Francisco General Hospital Foundation   San Francisco General Hospital Foundation is an independent not-for-profit corporation 501(c)(3) that provides fundraising support to San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (SFGH).  San Francisco General Hospital Foundation is dedicated to promoting excellence in research, education and care for all at SFGH.  The vital funding raised by SFGH Foundation allows SFGH to continue its long history of providing quality health care to San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area. Some of the programs funded wholly or in part by SFGH Foundation include the Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Center, ACE Unit (Acute Care for Elders), Institute for Global Orthopedics and Traumatology (IGOT), The Children's Fund, Women's Health Initiative, The Center for Vulnerable Populations (CVP), Cancer Awareness Resources Education (C.A.R.E.), Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center (BAPAC), and the Orthopedics Trauma Center of Excellence. For more information, please visit www.sfghf.net.

About Patrick Dintino   Born in San Francisco, Patrick Dintino grew up in Sunnyvale, in the south Bay Area.  He earned a BA degree in Industrial Arts from San Diego State University and a Masters of Fine Art degree at the California College of Arts and Crafts (CCA) in San Francisco and Oakland.  Dintino was invited as a guest artist to work with Sol LeWitt to create “Sol LeWitt: A Retrospective” at SFMOMA.  He was a finalist for SFMOMA's SECA emerging artist award, and a Pollock/Krasner Foundation Grant recipient.  Dintino recently participated in a group show called “The Future of Abstraction” at the Chelsea Art Museum in New York and currently teaches painting at California College of the Arts (Oakland/San Francisco).  Dintino's next exhibit is this September at the Andrea Schwartz Gallery in San Francisco.  For more information about Patrick Dintino, visit www.patrickdintino.com. 

About PIER 39   From amazing views and a sea of sea lions to chowder bread bowls and California wines, your visit to San Francisco starts at PIER 39.  Kick off your visit by exploring two levels of dining, entertainment, shopping and attractions, all surrounded by a 300-berth marina and unbeatable views of the city and the bay.  Take it from the world famous sea lions: a visit to San Francisco starts at the PIER.  For more information, visit www.pier39.com.

MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:

SUE MUZZIN: (415) 705-5541

ALISSA FISET: (415) 705-5562

###