Mayor London Breed has nominated pink triangle co-founder Patrick Carney to the San Francisco Arts Commission, according to a June 21 release from her office.
Carney, a gay man, helped start the LGBTQ Pride art installation more than 20 years ago. Situated atop Twin Peaks, this year's edition is lighted at night, as was the case in 2021, and is visibloe during the day.
The 15-member arts commission is charged with approving the design of all public structures and any private structures that extend on city property, the release stated. The commission also administers the Art Enrichment Ordinance, approving the design and location of all city works of art and maintaining the city's art collections.
Carney's nomination is for an architect seat, a spokesperson for the mayor's office stated in an email. There is also another vacancy that was created when Breed nominated lesbian artist Debra Walker to the Police Commission, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported.
"The arts and San Francisco are inseparable, and as we continue to bounce back from this pandemic, we need to ensure that equity and diversity are at the foundation of our institutions," Breed stated. "Patrick Carney has committed his career to supporting the arts and uplifting the stories and experiences of so many in the LGBTQ community. I know that his experience and love for our city will be a great contribution to this commission."
Carney stated he was excited to be nominated for the post.
"I am looking forward to serving the people of San Francisco by contributing toward the oversight of upcoming artistic and aesthetic endeavors within our community's public realm," he stated. "It is an honor to be nominated by the mayor to add my voice to those striving to help make a positive impact on our city's art and culture to ensure it is inclusive, equitable, diverse, and beautiful so it uplifts the experiences of all San Franciscans and visitors."
Carney currently serves on the City Hall Preservation Commission, from which he will step down when he's seated on the arts panel.
Carney has participated in numerous renovations and historic preservation projects, including being on the renovation team for San Francisco City Hall in the late 1990s as the project designer for the lead firm of the joint venture. Carney holds a Master of Architecture Degree from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Cal Poly.
Beyond the realm of his architectural career, Carney's community leadership efforts to expand civil rights have earned proclamations of honor for the pink triangle on Twin Peaks. Carney has been the yearly-organizer of the installation since the beginning.
The Board of Supervisors has 60 days to either confirm or reject Carney's appointment to the arts commission once it is officially transmitted to the clerk of the board. If seated as expected, he will join fellow LGBTQ arts commissioners Roberto Ordeñana, a gay man who is the oversight body's president, and attorney Mahsa Hakimi, a lesbian and queer Iranian whom Breed appointed earlier this year.
Updated, 6/21/22: This article has been updated to correct that Mahsa Hakimi was appointed and sworn in to the arts commission in 2022.
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