If you've been locked in your studio disconnected from the world, the clocks have changed, the sun has come out and there is some incredible art shows this week:

Everyone loves a group show with a strong concept, like this one at MaCarthur b arthur on Thursday. "15 minutes," as they explain "showcases the  constructed relationship between public figures, and their audiences, as interpreted  by nine artists."

Art walks abound:  First Thursday in San Francisco's Downtown, and First Friday at Oakland Art Murmur. If you make it to the "murmur" make sure you hit the always wonderful Creative Growth with their "Annual Home Show," Cybele Lyle at Keys that Fit (a window space located at 2312 Telegraph Avenue), and next door the terrific Jeff Stratford at Mama Buzz Gallery.

For art enthusiasts and budding art patrons be sure to swing by The Lab's annual benefit in the San Francisco Mission on Saturday.

See you out there.

ps Don't forget our helpful "build-your-own-guide" feature of our website, with the gray arrows select the shows you want to see. When you print the list, it is accompanied by a map with your selections plotted out.

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- "George Wallace talks to Claudia Serea" by Gabriella Radujko
- "Graphite NY presents I Love Japan More Than Ever"
- "Unsound Festival New York 2011" by Helen Homan Wu

Wednesday:
+ Lecture: "Lecture by Sophie Calle" at California College for the Arts (CCA)
+ Adam Avilla, Aiyana Udesen, Alex Brown, Angela Simione, Audrey Erickson, Bo Heimlich, Emily Tareila, etc..., Jesse Balmer , Justin Lovato, Marcos Weiss, Matt Furie, Mia Christopher, Mike Kershnar, Rachel Annette Blodgett, Ryan De La Hoz, Sam Snowden "DECENT EXPOSURE" a night of selling/trading art. Prints, original drawings, zines, pins, stickers, etc.. at Project One
+ Reading: Robert Pinsky at Arion Press

+ Workshop: "The First California Bear Flag with Erik Bakke" 21 Projects x 21 days x 21 Hours at Royal NoneSuch Gallery

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Thursday:
+ Ben Carder, Carol Riot Kane, Claudia Hennum, Greg Wilson, Hannah Ireland, Kyle Mock, Matthew Gottschalk, Rachel Kaye, Takehito Etani "Fifteen Minutes" curated by Alison OK Frost, Kevin Clarke at MacArthur b arthur

Friday:
+ Chris Jordan at Electric Works

+ Bryant Austin "In the Eye of the Whale" at Electric Works

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+ Jeff Stratford curated by Jaclyn Tobia at Mama Buzz Cafe
+ Benefit: "Annual Home Show" at Creative Growth
+ Performance: "Rova Saxophone Quartet" L@TE Friday Nights curated by Sarah Cahill at Berkeley Art Museum

Saturday:

+ Benefit: "Annual Live and Silent Art Auction" at The Lab

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+ Amber Cady, Helena Keeffe "Alula Editions" at Triple Base Gallery

Monday:
+ Screening: "BAY AREA BEAT CINEMA (1950 - 65)" San Francisco Film Society at Roxie Theater

Wednesday, March 30

+ Lecture: "Lecture by Sophie Calle" at California College for the Arts (CCA)
Potrero Hill: 1111 Eighth Street , Free, but please contact gradoffice@cca.edu to request a seat in the lecture hall, 7-9pm

+ Adam Avilla, Aiyana Udesen, Alex Brown, Angela Simione, Audrey Erickson, Bo Heimlich, Emily Tareila, etc..., Jesse Balmer , Justin Lovato, Marcos Weiss, Matt Furie, Mia Christopher, Mike Kershnar, Rachel Annette Blodgett, Ryan De La Hoz, Sam Snowden "DECENT EXPOSURE" a night of selling/trading art. Prints, original drawings, zines, pins, stickers, etc.. at Project One
Potrero Hill: 251 Rhode Island Street, 6-10pm

+ Reading: Robert Pinsky at Arion Press
Marina District: 1802 Hays Street, Presidio, floor 1, $10, RSVP required: (415) 668-2548 or grabhorn@arionpress.com, 5pm

+ Workshop: "The First California Bear Flag with Erik Bakke" 21 Projects x 21 days x 21 Hours at Royal NoneSuch Gallery Oakland: 4231 Telegraph Avenue, 7:30-8:30pm

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Thursday, March 31

Leonardo Drew at Anthony Meier Fine Art
Downtown: 1969 California Street, at Octavia, floor 1, 6-8pm

+ Ben Carder, Carol Riot Kane, Claudia Hennum, Greg Wilson, Hannah Ireland, Kyle Mock, Matthew Gottschalk, Rachel Kaye, Takehito Etani "Fifteen Minutes" curated by Alison OK Frost, Kevin Clarke at MacArthur b arthur
Oakland: 4030 Martain Luther King Jr Way, floor 1, 7-10pm

Friday, April 1

+ Chris Jordan at Electric Works
SOMA: 130 8th Street, Project Space, 6-8pm

+ Bryant Austin "In the Eye of the Whale" at Electric Works SOMA: 130 8th Street, 6-8pm

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"The New Deal's Legacy Around the Bay" at Canessa Gallery
Downtown: 708 Montgomery Street, 5-9pm

+ Jeff Stratford curated by Jaclyn Tobia at Mama Buzz Cafe
Oakland: 2318 Telegraph Ave (between 23rd St & 24th St) Oakland, CA 94612 , Ground floor, 6-9pm

Carrie Mae Smith, Greg Watson "Good Times" at Kuhl Frames +Art
Oakland: 412 22nd Street, 6-9pm

+ Benefit: "Annual Home Show" at Creative Growth
Oakland: 355 24th Street , 5-9pm

Joan Weiss, Julie Alvarado, Mary V. Marsh "Singular Sensations" at Mercury 20 Gallery
Oakland: 475 25th Street, at Telegraph Avenue, floor 1, Free, 6-9pm

Terryl Dunn "Travels and Dreams" at Mercury 20 Gallery
Oakland: 475 25th Street, at Telegraph Avenue, floor 1, Free, 6-9pm

Margaret Chavigny "Family Ties" at Mercury 20 Gallery
Oakland: 475 25th Street, at Telegraph Avenue, floor 1, Free, 6-9pm

+ Performance: "Rova Saxophone Quartet" L@TE Friday Nights curated by Sarah Cahill at Berkeley Art Museum
Berkeley: 2626 Bancroft Way, at College Avenue, 5-9pm (performance at 7:30pm)

Saturday, April 2

Julio Cesar Morales "Contrabando" at Frey Norris Gallery
SOMA: 161 Jessie Street, first floor, 4-7pm

John O'Reilly, Reed Danziger at Hosfelt Gallery
SOMA: 430 Clementina Street, b/w Howard & Folsom, 4-6pm

Art Rogers, Barbara Kyne, Brenda Rose, Frank Skillman, Gary Janis , Jack Freeman, Sue Gonzalez, Tim Gravesen, Zea Morvitz "Grand Opening Gallery1044" at Gallery 1044
Downtown: 1044 Larkin Street, at Sutter St., floor 1, 7-10pm

+ Benefit: "Annual Live and Silent Art Auction" at The Lab Mission District: 2948 16th Street, $20 - $50 Sliding Scale, 7-10:30pm, Live auction at 8:00 pm

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+ Amber Cady, Helena Keeffe "Alula Editions" at Triple Base Gallery
Mission District: 3041 24th Street , at Treat Avenue, 7-10pm

Peter Gronquist "American Mythic" curated by Jillian Mackintosh at Gallery Hijinks Mission District: 2309 Bryant Street, at 21st Street, floor 1, free, 6-10pm

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Sunday, April 3

Erik Parra "Expectator" at WE artspace
Oakland: 768 40th Street, 2-5pm

Monday, April 4

+ Screening: "BAY AREA BEAT CINEMA (1950 - 65)" San Francisco Film Society at Roxie Theater
Mission District: 3117 16th Street, $15 SFFS Member/$20 General, 7-10pm

Artcards San Francisco is a weekly email publication led by editor Emma Spertus. Email event submissions to sfinfo@artcards.cc or use our submission form. New: you can now add an image to your listing by using the submission form.

+ = Editor's pick
? = Opening not confirmed - check site for updates.