Comment: Oodles of eligible artsers packed the Old San Francisco Mint for Luxe, the opening of Emerge, Gen Art's seventh annual multi-medium juried art exhibition, highlighting the work of some of the Bay Area's better emerging talents. But on opening night, art takes a back seat to party time, live entertainment, the thrill of the hunt, and the prospect of bagging that cultural someone special. Several purveyors of cosmetics, spa services, and beauty treatments were also on hand offering free samples, demonstrations, and even quickie treatments for those lucky enough to get good places in line. Trying to see art was daunting, to say the least, but not to worrry-- everything stays on display through November 21, admission is free, and the show's open to the public. The Old Mint, by the way, is a superb venue to see art-- a bit like a Venice Palazzo at Biennale time, but on this night, it's all about the fun.

Artist/Artists: Lorene Anderson, Lisa Chou, Mel Davis, Ann Marie Selvidge, Mayumi Hamanaka, Casey Logan, Lisa Solomon, Jennifer Starkweather, Sarah Barsness, Paz de la Calzada, Sarah Hluchan, Anli Liu, Chad Stayrook, Victor Barbieri, Inga Dorosz, Jackie Sumell, James Tantum, Mark Scheeff, Shirley Shor, Lise Swenson.