SFBayStyle

Shopping at the American Craft Council Show in San Francisco

This year’s American Craft Council show, August 13-15, marks the group’s 35th year showing in the Bay Area and to celebrate, they’re shaking things up. In addition to showcasing 250 of the best artisans in the country, the ACC is offering AltCraft – 14 local and visiting artists who create one-of-a-kind objects often made from recycled materials and including jewelry, clothing, hats, shoes, lamps, and greeting cards. Among the chosen is Oakland artist Susan Eastman.

Susan is right on trend with her colorful silk scarves. In the SF Bay Area, scarves are a year round accessory and we ladies can never have too many. Susan hand sews and dyes her richly-colored scarves and she sometimes incorporates pieces of vintage fabric. She finds inspiration everywhere. “I am constantly intrigued by the possibilities of color, texture and form,” says Susan. “I’m usually thrilled by peeling paint or old walls or billboards, rust, grease, graffiti – it all interests me.”

Levi's Offers Printmaking Workshops in San Francisco

 
Photo Provided by Levi's

As part of their Go Forth marketing campaign, Levi's invites you to get to work with their series of print workshops happening now through August 28th. Located in a pop-up storefront in San Francisco's Mission district, the workshops offer opportunities for visitors to use old-school printing presses, create zines, design t-shirts, and talk with local print artists. 

Book artist and printer Taylor Reid works at Center for the Book and was hired by Levi's to demonstrate one of the on-site presses.  She thinks these workshops are a great opportunity for the community. "I've noticed a growing appreciation for hand letter press," she comments. "It's not often people get to see printing in progress and do it themselves."

 

San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design: FourSite Installation Exhibit

WHO: San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design

WHAT: FourSite: 4 Artists, 4 Materials, 4 Sites.

Installations by four top California artists - Tanya Aguiniga, Paul Hayes, Thomas Hill, and Christine Lee. Using paper, fiber, metal, and wood these artists have created unique visual experiences that prompt viewers to rethink the uses of everyday materials.  

WHEN: Now through September 18, 2010

WHERE: San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design, 550 Sutter St., SF, Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm. Admission $5.

Click here to see more images of the exhibit.

SF Ballet Presents Exclusive Michael Kors Fashion Show Next Week

A handful of fashion shows in the Bay Area make the list of the best every year. Sitting at the top of the list is the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show. Partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue, they always showcase a fall designer collection fresh from the New York runway. This year, Michael Kors was selected.

Wednesday the 28th, the fashion show, previously a luncheon event, will move to cocktail hour at the Westin St. Francis on Union Square. Beginning at 5:30pm, cocktails, live auction and the fashion show (featuring professional models) will show items in the Michael Kors collection that are available for purchase for fall/winter 2010.

In terms of philanthropic bang for your fashion show buck, this is one of the best deals around. Tickets start at $175 and $100 of that is deductible, going straight to the SF Ballet. Limited seats are still available.

Take A Dive Under The Sea

When I stepped foot into the War Memorial Opera House to watch the San Francisco Ballet perform John Neumeier's The Little Mermaid, I knew I wasn't going to be seeing a Disney version of the story with Ariel's bright red flowing mane and waves triumphantly crashing around her. While I had an inkling it would be closer to the original story by Hans Christian Andersen, I was not prepared for the dark subject matter about unrequited love.

While enjoying a glass of pre-show champagne, the question arose: How are they going to make a mermaid dance? The answer was revealed soon enough. During the opening moments of silence, I thought I was at the theater watching actors on stage. Throughout the course of the ballet, it became more apparent The Little Mermaid is a dance-theater performance. Exactly how did the little mermaid and her underwater friends dance? Through imaginative costumes and fluid abstract choreography.

The set design transported the audience from the darkest depths of water to sunny ship decks and shoreline. The performance has moments of levity. One being when an ensemble of men comprised of the poet, the prince, naval officers and sailors take to the stage and dance. The scene is a nice break from the norm of an all-female corps de ballet. Principal dancer Yuan Yuan Tan is always delightful to watch but her performance in The Little Mermaid is mesmerizing. Her emotive portrayal of the Mermaid has you feeling her pain when her love is rebuffed by the Prince.

I thoroughly enjoyed the San Francisco Ballet's interpretation of The Little Mermaid and I suggest snatching up tickets to view this beautiful show as soon as possible or else you will be a fish out of water.

The Little Mermaid runs through March 28th, 2010 at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.  For more information visit SFBallet.org.  (Image via the San Francisco Ballet website by Erik Tomasson.)

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Avelinda Garcia also writes at Superstylin*

Santana Row Presents: Dinner on the Row & A Show

 

For those of you who always enjoy the atmosphere of Santana Row in the Bay Area, you might be interested in attending “Dinner on the Row & A Show.”  Brought to you by Santana Row and the San Jose Repertory Theatre from March 21^st through April 18^th.  You can enjoy a prix fixe two-course dinner for two which includes a soup, salad, or appetizer and choice of entrée.

This offer is from any Sunday- Wednesday evening for $24.95/ person as well as two complimentary tickets to the production Ain’t Misbehavin’.  After your meal save your receipt to show your purchase of two dinners to the Santana Row Concierge where you will receive a voucher for two show tickets to Ain’t Misbehavin’.  Will supplies last.

To reserve your table: Attend one of the 11 participating Santana Row restaurants: LB Steak, Roux Louisiana Kitchen, Sino, Thea Mediterranean, Village California Bistro, Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Consuelo Mexican Bistro, Left Bank Brasserie, Amber India, Yankee Pier and The Counter.

For more information, call 408-551-4611

Frank Lobdell Drawings at The Cantor Art Center

Fans of Bay Area Figurative artists should be sure not to miss the current exhibition of some of Frank Lobdell's drawings at The Cantor Art Center.  The sixty drawings from the 1960s' and 1970's are from Lobdell's evening drawing sessions with Dibenkorn, Bischoff and Park. The artists would get together in their studios and draw . There are also drawings from Oliveira.  The exhibit provides a glimpse into the lives, and studios of these Bay Area artists, and runs until Feb 21st at The Cantor Art Center. 

Top Holiday Gifts from the San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design

For those on your holiday list who desire something unique, consider a shopping trip to the fabulous museum store in the San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design. Filled to the brim with hand crafted jewelry and accessories, the museum store has something to please everyone’s particular palate.

Manager Ray McKenzie hand selects each item in the store keeping his customers’ high standards in mind. He says he finds artisans from art shows, craft fairs, and word of mouth. I asked Mr. McKenzie to share some his top Hot and Hip accessory picks for this holiday season:

Oakland Asian Cultural Center Chinatown Oral History Project

San Francisco Chinatown is known around the world, but hey, Oakland Chinatown is pretty fab too. Located downtown, Oakland Chinatown has a fascinating history going back to the 1850s making it one of the oldest Chinatowns in North America. This Saturday afternoon, September 19, The Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) is having an exhibit opening and website launch party celebrating the rich history of Oakland Chinatown.

In 1984 the OACC was founded to preserve the history and culture of Oakland Chinatown. Since then the all volunteer organization has sponsored many cultural and artistic events. Their latest endeavor is The Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project, which is a series of taped interviews with Oakland Chinatown residents discussing their lives, families, and community.

David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow in Walnut Creek

 

 

Richard Aiello, Stephen Rexrode, and Sylvia Boboeck star in Speed-the-Plow

What's better than a good story? A good story told well and that's what Role Players Ensemble offers with their Black Box production of David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow, opening Friday September 18 at Diablo Actors Ensemble in Walnut Creek and featuring local actors Richard Aiello as Bobby Gould, Sylvia Boboeck as Karen and Stephen Rexrode as Charles Fox.

Set in Hollywood's ruthless entertainment industry, Speed-the-Plow centers on the dealings of two successful movie producers and a mysterious temporary secretary who unwittingly (or not?) upsets the balance of power. The original production of Mamet's play opened on Broadway in 1988 and starred Madonna as the secretary, Karen. A recent Broadway revival featured Mad Men's, Elisabeth Moss.

Speed-the-Plow, Diablo Actors Ensemble Theatre, 1345 Locust Street, Walnut Creek, September 18, 19, 25, 26, 8PM. Tickets will be sold only at the door and are a steal at $12. They'll go quickly, so call 925-820-1278 for reservations. NOTE: this show is not suitable for young children.

More Photos from SF Symphony Gala

We're not the only ones showcasing some of the great looking ensembles from events, but that doesn't mean we don't know our readers like to see the photos too. Here are some of our favorites from this year's San Francisco Symphony Gala, to complement our full article. All photos provided by Drew Altizer Photography.

Pamela Joyner pictured left.

SF Symphony Opening Night Gala Sizzled with Style

Wednesday night's San Francisco Symphony Opening Gala introduced the new arts season with thoughtful music, fine delectables, and throngs of fetching gowns. As the sun set on the warm Bay Area, the event kept buzzing. Turning up the heat, the concert featured one of People magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive," Lang Lang, the 27 year-old piano virtuoso and a trio of dizzying waltzes conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

The evening began with cocktails and parallel dinner events organized by the San Francisco Symphony League and Symphonix, the young professional league. McCall's catered, and everything looked grand, beginning in the tent pavilion, City Hall, and of course Davies Symphony Hall where patrons flocked for the main event.

Treasures from The Mexican Museum at the Palo Alto Art Center

For those who think it's too far, time-consuming or expensive to get to Mexico, fear not - there are ways to bring Mexico to us. The Palo Alto Art Center will present Treasures from The Mexican Museum: A Spirited Legacy from September 26, 2009 through April 18, 2010. If you've ever heard of The Mexican Museum, maybe you know it's the first and the oldest-operating museum outside of Mexico and the world to exhibit Mexican and Mexican-American art and culture. The collection at The Mexican Museum represents a treasury with a collection of over 12,000 objects spanning thousands of years of art and culture in the Americas. 

The Mexican Museum is located in the Mission District for visits any time, and the Palo Alto Center will highlight this particular collection, featuring five focal areas of acquisition: Pre-Conquest (Pre-Hispanic or Pre-Columbian) Art; Art of Colonial Mexico (1521-1821); Modern and Contemporary Mexican and Latino Art; Arte Popular (Folk or Popular Art,) and Chicano Art over the next six months.

So if you're looking to get inspired, see historical art, or just want to get out of the house, check out the exhibit at the Palo Alto Art Center. It's free -- that's also nice.

Black & White Photo Retrospective from Oscar de la Renta Show in Tahoe

Included here are some exquisite photographs from last weekend's Oscar de la Renta fashion show in Lake Tahoe.

The credit for this entirely belongs to Drew Altizer who took all of these amazing photos and thought to put them into black and white for posterity.  We just thought it would be nice to do one article with all images in black-and-white. Enjoy!

First image, left, is of Brenda Zarate and Jonathan Lazar.

Symphonix Gala Preview Event - Educational and Entertaining

It's hard to believe another exciting season of galas and events is just around the corner. The challenge of introducing each new generation to classical music can be daunting, but as one of the premiere arts organizations in the country, the San Francisco Symphony has been working tirelessly to make this happen. Through the symphony's Volunteer Council, they have several Leagues that support the efforts of the symphony organization by helping with concerts, planning events, providing education and raising awareness. Symphonix, the "young professional" (ages 21-45) League plans their own event series leading up to the Opening Night Gala each year. The first of these events happened last week in San Francisco.

John Baldessari Exhibition at the Legion of Honor

An exhibition of the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his family foundation's John Baldessari prints is now open at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.

The exhibition consists of a retrospective of over 100 prints by John Baldessari, an American conceptual artist famous for his influential collage-like prints. Baldessari has been creating and teaching art for over 50 years and has won many awards, including the recent 2009 Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd International Venice Biennale.

The exhibition runs through November 8th.

Renegade Craft Fair

 

Renegade crafts? Ah, yeah, we're there! It's the second annual Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, July 18-19, 11am to 7pm, at Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion in San Francisco.  

Over 200 artists from around the country are settin' up and selling their handcrafted wares. One-of-a-kind goodies like clothing, jewelry, stationary, bath products, ceramics, oh my! Think holiday gifts. Think birthdays. Think unique looks pour vous. Also, for crafty types, there will be DIY workshops -learn how to make stylin' bangles, brooches, and earrings out of old toys. 

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs

    

The de Young Museum entrance in 1979

In 1979 the hippie look was nearing its end, Disco was in, gas cost 86 cents a gallon, and the San Francisco de Young Museum hosted the King Tutankamun exhibit to great fanfare. Mayor Gavin Newsom was 11 years old at the time and recalls the crowds and the spectacle. Lindy Sherwood-Combs, Senior Vice-President Northern Trust, says she was slightly older than Mayor Newsom in '79, "I was a kid in Fresno and I came with my parents all dressed up, including white gloves."

Now through March 28, 2010 at the de Young Museum, new generations will have their chance to create lasting memories and get inspired by the wonders of King Tutankhamun.

King Tut Returns - June 27, 2009

  

Our favorite boy king Tutankhamun returns to the San Francisco de Young Museum after 30 years. Here's a cheat sheet before you go.

• Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt's 18th Dynasty.
• He was nine years old when he became pharaoh in 1333 BC.
• He died mysteriously at age 19.
• The tomb of King Tut, as we affectionately call him, was discovered intact in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter.
• Discovery of the tomb created an international buzz that influenced art, architecture, and fashions throughout the 1920s. 
• Fifty of the artifacts made their first international tour in 1979.
• Eight million people attended.
• The current exhibit includes 130 artifacts - 50 from King Tut's tomb and 80 from the tombs of other pharaohs and royalty.
• A portion of the proceeds from this world tour will go to help preserve Egypt's treasures and construction of a new museum in Cairo.
• Sponsors include National Geographic and Northern Trust.
• The museum has set up a (not-to-be-missed)Tut webpage full of information and e-cards and a podcast interview with designer of the exhibit, Mark Lach.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, SF, 415-750-3600, June 27, 2009 through March 28, 2010. Just like in '79, you must purchase tickets in advance.

http://tutsanfrancisco.org/content/tickets

Composer Philanthropist Gordon Getty Honored by Lavish Gala Performance

"The older I get, the less I know, but I am certain that what we do matters." - from Master Class, music by Jake Heggie, lyrics by Terrence McNally

Gordon Getty is one of those names one automatically associates with San Francisco and the arts, but not everyone knows that he was a student of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Bay Area equivalent to Julliard.  Years later, Getty donated funds to help build the new Recital Hall, named after Getty's principal teacher there, Sol Joseph.  Among his many talents, Getty is also a composer, so it's fitting that for their gala this year, the Conservatory honored Gordon Getty with a performance for him including pieces written by him, to thank him for his passion and generosity over the years.