63 Bluxome was an artist run space created by John Behanna, Brian McPartlon, Bill Quinlan, Katherine Quinlan, Doug Gower, and Alex Buys and located in the South of Market area of San Francisco that emerged in the mid 1970s,[1] which became recognized as an “alternative space” that presented works of various mediums of art from neighboring artists in a casual and social environment.
[2] 63 Bluxome Street considered the first of this concept in the South of Market area was operated by local area artists and friends and supported either by artists renting gallery space for a nominal fee and/or fundraiser events held at the gallery.
Regular visits from a supportive art critic of the San Francisco Chronicle, Thomas Albright helped artists and alternative spaces flourish throughout the seventies which marked changes in art, presentation and style and allowed emerging artists an opportunity to present work in an open concept space to the public.
This paradigm shift reflected the social and political sentiment of artists whose work didn't fit into conventional spaces.
By opening up the opportunity to explore other avenues numerous alternative spaces began appearing throughout the deserted commercial area of San Francisco known as “South of the Slot” because of its location south of the cable car tracks on Market Street in San Francisco.