Exhibition

From Street to Stage with Beaver Bauer

November 5, 2026 – April 11, 2027

San Francisco Public Library

An exhibition that surveys the career of Debra “Beaver” Bauer, which spans more than 50 years of creative work

Photograph of members of The Cockettes theater group in eccentric, colorful costumes celebrating outdoors in a park. Near the center, a person wears an elaborate white beard and crown made of what could be flowers, surrounded by long, flowing pastel ribbons. To their right, a a blonde person in heavily patterned makeup holds a baby wrapped in a pink and purple crocheted blanket. To their left, a person with bright blue face paint wears a large, voluminous yellow yarn wig and a black shirt decorated with pearls. Other individuals in eclectic, bohemian clothing and patchwork fabrics stand around them on a green lawn, while a person in a rainbow-striped knit hat captures the scene in the foreground.

San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102
Civic Center, NoPa, SOMA, Tenderloin

Monday  9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesday–Thursday  9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday and Sunday  12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday  10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Free

Partially ADA accessible

From Street to Stage with Beaver Bauer surveys the career of Debra “Beaver” Bauer, which spans more than 50 years of creative work. Bauer developed her reputation first as a member of the experimental Angels of Light Free Theater, which flourished for ten years before its cast was impacted by AIDS. Bauer then transitioned to work in costume design, becoming one of the Bay Area’s most respected and celebrated designers. She designed for major theaters like American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.) and Berkeley Rep, as well as experimental companies like First Voice and Theater Yugen. She also worked with circus ensembles including Teatro ZinZanni, while maintaining an approach based in drawing and a lifelong inspiration from the Angels. The exhibition includes original renderings, performance photography, video clips, and elements from costumes drawn from her expansive body of work. From Street to Stage with Beaver Bauer is curated by Mark Dean Johnson, Trisha Lagaso Goldberg, and Theodore Lau, in collaboration with Allison Wyckoff, Megan Merritt, Christine Darnell, and Ben Vilmain.

In conjunction with From Street to Stage with Beaver Bauer, we are hosting two satellite exhibitions that celebrate some of the themes explored in Jewett Gallery. The first presents archival materials from the Angels of Light, which will be on view in the San Francisco History Center and the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center. These exhibitions were curated by Sailor Galaviz and by Eric Noble, respectively, in collaboration with Christina Moretta and Cristina Mitra.

Costume design is the inspiration of the display on view in the Steve Silver Beach Blanket Babylon Center, curated by Morgan McGuire.

Exhibiting Artists

Debra "Beaver" Bauer

A wide stage production featuring actors in elaborate celestial-themed costumes. The stage floor is painted bright blue with numerous white stars. In the foreground, a performer wearing a white spiky wig and a patterned bodysuit walks while holding up a large globe prop on a long pole. To the right, another performer in a blue star-themed costume holds a pole with a smiling golden sun prop. Other characters in vibrant costumes stand or walk across the stage under a crescent moon structure in the background.
A group of performers posing on a dark stage in extravagant, colorful costumes. On the left, a performer wears an oversized pink lace-patterned hoop skirt and a towering white heart-shaped wig. To the right, another performer smiles while modeling an elaborate costume adorned with vibrant yellow and green feathers, topped with an oversized white wig. Other cast members in patterned outfits, including one wearing a red-horned headpiece, stand behind them against a background decorated with white lace-like patterns
A performer stands center stage under a spotlight against a dark background. She wears an elaborate, flowing green gown featuring red and orange tree-bark or moss-like textures and wide, draped sleeves. She has her arms outstretched wide, holding a tall, golden tree-branch staff in her right hand while delivering a dramatic expression.
Two performers wearing avant-garde costumes with wine glass headpieces embrace against a solid black background. The performer on the right has pale white facial makeup and dark lipstick, wearing a long white gown adorned with a purple satin collar and a dangling collar of geometric, prismatic metallic spikes. The performer on the left reaches over from behind, clad in a sheer, iridescent overlay. Both wear elaborate, crown-like headpieces branching outwards, completely constructed from upside-down, transparent wine glasses. The lighting is focused heavily on the performers, accentuating the reflective glass elements and the flowing fabric of their gowns.

Cast photo of Banana Musical Circus performance in Chiba Japan, 1995. Costumes by Beaver Bauer. Directed and choreographed by Tandy Beal.

Exhibition Support

From Street to Stage with Beaver Bauer was organized by Mark Dean Johnson, Trisha Lagaso Goldberg and Theodore Lau with the San Francisco Public Library’s Exhibition team and with the support of Friends of the Public Library and Independent Arts & Media.

Friends of the San Francisco Public Library logo
Independent Arts & Media logo

San Francisco Public Library

San Francisco Public Library connects our diverse communities to learning, opportunities, and each other. The library system is made up of 27 neighborhood branches, the San Francisco Main Library at Civic Center, and four bookmobiles. We strengthen our communities when we come together to engage, inspire, celebrate, and learn from each other; we embrace diverse perspectives through thoughtful collaboration.

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