Celebrating our 40th Anniversary
Hunters Point Shipyard artists, 1984-2024
Against All Odds…
When Jacques Terzian founded The Point and initiated the Hunters Point Shipyard Artists in 1984 he knew the challenges they faced. Artists drawn to neglected neighborhoods for affordable spaces often find themselves displaced, yet the shipyard offered a unique refuge despite its inherent dangers. After the Navy’s closure of the shipyard in 1974, artists and small businesses filled the void, creating a vibrant community amid industrial decay.
The shipyard’s fate took a dramatic turn in 1986 with the Navy's plans to station the battleship USS Missouri there, leading to the departure of Triple A Shipyard and many small businesses. However, the steadfast determination of the artists, backed by Mayor Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, ensured their survival. The site’s designation as a Superfund site in 1989 marked the beginning of a lengthy cleanup process, during which artists faced eviction yet again. With Pelosi's and Mayor Gavin Newsom's aid they secured interim leases in 2008, providing temporary relief.
Plans for a new building to house the artists were ultimately derailed in 2018 due to a scandal involving falsified soil samples, halting all construction. Today, the artists persevere, facing issues like no running water and leaking roofs, as they seek to raise over $1 million to sustain their studios amidst new environmental concerns about the rising sea level and contaminated groundwater. Against all odds, the resilience and creativity of the Hunters Point Shipyard artists endure, reflecting their unyielding commitment to their art and community.
The Shipyard's sculptors and metalworkers relocated to nearby Islais Creek Studios, but remain an active part of the Shipyard artist community.