Willie L. Brown Jr., Malia Cohen, Kofi Bonner

Since its inception in 2005 the MoAD (Museum of African Diaspora) has become an important cultural institution in San Francisco, showcasing the art, culture and history of a segment of our city’s population that had been underserved until then.  The museum has found a most respected place amongst its neighbors, the SFMoMA, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Zeum, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

For the past six years the MoAD has been bringing together people of all ages and ethnicities through exceptional exhibitions and cultural programs, celebrating the talents of people of African descent within the United States and around the world.  Exhibitions, among others, have included a retrospective of the work of painter Richard Mayhew and a show of graphic works by iconic Harlem Renaissance artist and writer Romare Bearden.

Miguel Bustos, Francee Covington, Delroy Lindo

Deborah Santana, Christine Bronstein

Guest, Hyacynth Ahuruonye, Amanda Wright, Guest

Theresa Tyson and Allison Bankhead

Willie L. Brown Jr., Sonja Moledetskaya, William G. Rutland Jr.

I had the pleasure of attending their 6th annual black-tie Gala hosted by actor and director Delroy Lindo and Co-chairs Lloyd H. Dean and Deborah Santana.  Held at the historic Palace Hotel the event started with a cocktail reception in the elegant Garden Court, which was sponsored by the House of Hennessy and represented by Maurice-Richard Hennessy, who has done development work in Africa before becoming the famed cognac’s global ambassador.

In a live auction guests had the opportunity to bid on lunch with former mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., CPUC Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon, former San Francisco Forty-Niner Jaime Williams, and Lloyd H. Dean, as well as a stunning landscape by Richard Mayhew, which went to Kaiser’s COO and 2011 honoree Bernard J. Tyson and his wife Denise Bradley Tyson, Vice President of the San Francisco Film Commission.

Richard Mayhew and Nashormeh Lindo

Dr. Vicki Hugens, Pam Stevenson, Dr. Allison Metz

Jan Ford and Al Ford

Denise Bradley Tyson and Bernard Tyson

Tracey Lovely, Walter McCain, Dawn Reed

Guests included Willie L. Brown Jr. and Sonja Molodetskaya, CBS anchor Dana King, Supervisor Malia Cohen, Deborah Santana, founder of Band of Wives Christine Bronstein and media mogul husband Phil Bronstein, community leader Brenda Wright, philanthropist Deirdre Luddington, CEO of Sempra Energy Jesse Knight Jr. and wife Joye Blunt, and CHRO at Catholic Healtchare Ernest Urquhart and wife Michelle Urquhart, President of Williams Capital Dail St. Claire, former commissioner David Ellington, music industry veteran Kitsaun King, novelist Julianne Balmain, serial entrepeneur Altura Ewers, and the lovely Allison Bankhead who will be competing for Miss California in 2012.

Paula Collins and Chuck Collins

Brenda Wright and Amanda Wright

Lloyd Dean and Suzanne Dean

Robin McBride and Andrea McBride

During the Gala dinner the MoAD honored Target with the Corporate Leadership Award, Joyce Jackson Dixon with the Patron of Culture Award, Toni Rembe with the Legacy of Philanthropy Award and Bernard J. Tyson with the Visionary Leadership Award.  The elegant evening concluded with a special performance by the five-time Grammy nominee The John Santos Quintet, after which guests could shake their tail feathers to the music of The World Famous Rick and Russ Show.

Deborah Santana, Dana King, Michelle Urquhart

Bernard Boudreaux

Megan Simmons and Carl Simmons

Altura Ewers and Julianne Balmain

Delroy Lindo and Grace Stanislaus

Roger Allen, Anna Banks, Gregory Hunter

Jill Barnett, Gary Garrels, William Wiley and Valerie Corvin

The Modern Art Council of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) recently hosted the 2010 Bay Area Treasure Award Luncheon at the St. Regis, honoring esteemed artist William T. Wiley.

Organized by the Modern Art Council, SFMOMA’s premier fundraising auxiliary, this annual lifetime achievement award recognizes Bay Area artists who continually define and redefine contemporary art.

Judy Timken, Dolly Chammas, Janet Barnes

Wiley is the eleventh honoree; previous award recipients are painters Robert Bechtle, Manuel Neri, Nathan Oliveira, and Wayne Thiebaud; sculptor Richard Serra; sound artist Bill Fontana; industrial designer Sara Little Turnbull; architect Lawrence Halprin; and photographers Ruth Bernhard and Larry Sultan.

Jill Barnett, Karen Akin, Claire Slaymaker, Randee Vinscott

William T. Wiley has challenged precepts of mainstream art for the last fifty years with works in media ranging from drawing, painting, and sculpture to film and performance. Difficult to classify as part of any movement or style, his is an art of engagement and confrontation, challenging our views on any number of universal topics, including art, love, war, and the natural environment. His multivalent pieces use both familiar imagery and a personal vocabulary of symbols to communicate his ideas. Complex and elusive, Wiley’s remarkable works consistently encourage us to consider human nature and contemporary society in a new light.

Proceeds from the 2010 Bay Area Treasure Award Luncheon, which was chaired by Valerie Corvin, benefit the museum’s exhibitions and public programs.

Michelle Larson, Andrew Barnett

Karen Block, Megan Little

Denise Day, Kari McInktosh

Deborah Larson, Fran Bates

Laura Brugger, Alka Agrawal

Andrea Fono, Richard Lang

Paula Child, Steve Child

On May 21, 2010, the first international SF Fine Art Fair in nearly a decade opened its doors to the public for three days of art, lectures, and events. It featured 75+ worldwide galleries, and displayed over 6000 modern and contemporary artworks by more than 500 artists.

Gwen, Erin Amber

Attendees to the SF Fine Art Fair viewed and purchased works from collections held by galleries from across the globe, in a 50,000 sq. ft. setting designed to highlight a spectacular selection of modern and contemporary paintings, works on paper, drawings, printed editions, photography, and sculpture (both indoors and outdoors) by the world’s leading artists.

Tracy Boche, Kelly Purcell, Morgan Carey

Notes SF Fine Art Fair Executive Director Rick Friedman, “We’re excited to launch the new SF Fine Art Fair and to create an annual event that brings together hundreds of modern and contemporary artworks from an international array of galleries.  In celebration of the launch of the 2010 SF Fine Art Fair and the fantastic local support we’ve been receiving, we decided to direct a portion of the Fair’s funds towards highlighting the rich culture of arts in the Bay Area.  To that end, we’re hosting a fundraising event to help an internationally renowned San Francisco arts institution; honoring a local long time dedicated supporter of the arts; and providing financial support to an important local arts and technology organization for the installation of a truly magnificent entrance sculpture.”

Kevin Moore, John Wentz

Patricia Araujo, Kimberly Johansson

Susan Collins, Jeremy Stone

Doug Nester, Kirsten Stolle, Marshall Crossman, Julie Nester

Karen Caldwell, Jacques Pantazes, Dana Ziegler

Katherine Clarke, Earl Niendorf

Michael Meier, Laura Hespe

Carlos Saura, Briana Tarantino

Monica Duque, William Rohdes

Ruth Braunstein, Roselyne Swig

SF Fine Art Fair Nikki Brown, Rob Shooter, Christina Gerber

Cassandria Blackmore, Jon Dombrowski

In celebration of her return to the Bay Area, guests were invited to visit her storefront studio at 1906 Fillmore Street, where Blackmore hopes to engage the public in her work. Attendees entered the studio, where lifeless white walls were brought to life by the inspirational creations that have made Cassandria Blackmore so relevant, and enjoyed cocktails as well as the opportunity to converse with the artist herself.

Larry Hitchon, Craig Williams

Tasneem Karimbhai, Zahid Sardar

Katie Kovacich, Susan Howell

David Hansen, Brian Dittmar, Chris Franci

Cassandria Blackmore, Danny Perkins

Jay Singh, Robert Betes, Steve Gordon

Joan Kruckewitt, Danny Perkins, Jay Musler

The ten special guest curators included Apsara DiQuinzio, Assistant Curator of Painting and Sculpture, SFMOMA; Rudolf Frieling, Curator of Media Arts, SFMOMA; Gary Garrels, Elise S. Haas Senior Curator of Painting and Sculpture, SFMOMA; Betti-Sue Hertz, Director of Visual Arts, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Hou Hanru, Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, SFAI; Robert Flynn Johnson, Curator Emeritus, Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Corey Keller, Associate Curator of Photography, SFMOMA; Jeannene Przyblyski, Dean of Academic Affairs, SFAI; Lisa Sutcliffe, Assistant Curator of Photography, SFMOMA; and John Zarobell, Assistant Curator of Collections, Exhibitions, and Commissions, SFMOMA.

The Preview Party was sponsored by Hangar One, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, McCalls Catering, and Trumer Brauerei Berkeley.

Lokelani Devone, Jeanene Przyblyski, Joyce Newstat

Cherie Turner, Cara Storm, Alisa Carroll

Nicole Buffett (SFAI Trustee and Host Committee), Jim Ludwig

Lee Gregory (SFAI Trustee, Host Committee) and Marianna Stark (Host Committee)

Sandy Gerner, Sue Moldaw, Jenny Emerson

Rudolf Frieling (Curator of Media Arts, SFMOMA), Penelope Finnie (SFAI Trustee, Host Committee), and Michael Costuros (SFAI Trustee)

Jack Schafer & Betty Schafer (Honorary Committee)

Dalida Maria Benfield, Chris Bratton (SFAI President), and Karen Kubin (SFAI supporter)

Robert Bechtle (artist), Whitney Chadwick (sFAI Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Host Committee)

Tim Berry (SFAI, Chair of Printmaking Department), Roselyn Swig (SFAI Trustee Emeritus and Honorary Committee), William Wiley (Artist, SFAI Alumnus), Robert Bechtle (Artist)

Kirby Sack, Paul Sack (SFAI Trustee Emeritus, Honorary Committee)

Cara Storm, Roselyne Swig (SFAI Trustee Emeritus and Honorary Committee), and Rudolf Frieling (Curator of Media Arts, SFMOMA)

Kate Sanger, John Sanger (SFAI Chair of Board of Trustees), and Nicole Buffett (SFAI Trustee, Host Committee)

Andrew Brown (SFAI Supporter), Adriane Iann (SFAI Supporter), Diane Frankel (SFAI Trustee, Host Committee)

Hou Hanru (SFAI, Director of Exhibitions and Galleries) and Huang Yong Ping (Artist and 2010 SFAI Honorary Doctorate recipient)

In anticipation of the de Young’s “Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay,” which debuts on May 22, 2010, ABC 7 News has produced a fantastic, 46 minute program about the exhibition and the artists who will be featured. ABC’s Spencer Christian went to Paris to interview key players, and did a really first-rate job. It’s rare that such in-depth art coverage makes it to mainstream television. Bravo to ABC, Spencer Christian and of course the Fine Arts Museum for making this all happen!

The de Young is proud to be the only museum in the world to present two consecutive special exhibitions from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. The first exhibition, Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay, debuts at the de Young on May 22 and runs through September 6, 2010.

Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay presents nearly 100 magnificent works by the famous masters who called France their home during the mid- to late-19th century and from whose midst arose one of the most original and recognizable of all artistic styles, Impressionism. The exhibition begins with paintings by the great academic artist Bouguereau and the arch-Realist Courbet, and includes American expatriate Whistler’s Arrangement in Gray and Black, known to many as “Whistler’s Mother.” Manet, Monet, Renoir, and Sisley are showcased with works dating from the 1860s through 1880s, along with a selection of Degas’ paintings that depict images of the ballet, the racetrack, and life in the Belle Époque.

Notable works in this exhibition include:

The Fife Player by Edouard Manet (1866)
Racehorses Before the Stands by Edgar Degas (1866–1868)
Family Reunion by Frédéric Bazille (1867)
The Magpie by Claude Monet (1868)
The Cradle by Berthe Morisot (1872)
The Dancing Lesson by Edgar Degas (1873–1876)
The Floor Scrapers by Gustave Caillebotte (1875)
The Swing by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1876)
Red Roofs, Corner of the Village, Winter Effect by Camille Pissarro (1877)
Saint-Lazare Station by Claude Monet (1877)
Rue Montorgueil, Paris. Festival of June 30, 1878 by Claude Monet (1878)
Snow at Louveciennes by Alfred Sisley (1878)
L’Estaque by Paul Cézanne (1878–1879)
Portraits at the Stock Exchange by Edgar Degas (1878–1879)
The Birth of Venus by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1879)

During this time also visit the Legion of Honor to see a special exhibition that provides context and heightens the understanding of Birth of Impressionism. Impressionist Paris: City of Light, on view from June 5 to September 26, 2010, transports museum visitors to Paris circa 1874 as represented in over 150 prints, drawings, photographs, paintings, and illustrated books from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and several private collectors.

The true identity of the compelling artist remains a mystery to this day, with reports from British and New York media claiming he was born in Bristol in 1974, and that his real name is either Robin Banks, Roberto Banksion, or Robin Gunningham.

The owners of the Chinatown building at Commercial and Grant, on whose wall Banksy stenciled this image of a doctor, didn’t care who the guy was as they accepted his $50 offer for use of the wall.

Other Banksy’s were spotted at Howard and 9th, Mission and Sycamore, Haight and Belvedere, near a Freeway, and above 849 Valencia.

Banksy’s signature rat at Howard and 9th.

Above 849 Valencia Street

Sycamore Street and Mission

This image takes up the full corner of Haight and Belvedere

Empty Parking Lot, Erie and Mission

Photos: Violet Blue [via flickr.com]
Further Information: Baxter and Cook Art Advisors [baxterandcook.com]
Further information: Eddie [eddiecolla.wordpress.com]

Willie Brown Jr. & Sonya Molodetskaya

We were delighted to attend the The Museum of African Diaspora’s (MoAD) recent celebration of its 4th birthday in San Francisco. Committed to connecting all people through the celebration and exploration of art, culture and history of the African Diaspora, the museum recently appointed veteran arts administrator Grace C. Stanislaus as its new Executive Director.

“Love Bush,” by Richard Mayhew

This year’s gala not only served as Ms. Stanislaus’ coming-out-party, it also brought together some of the movers and shakers of San Francisco’s business and financial world in support of the institution. It started with a VIP reception at the MoAD where guests were treated to a private tour of the retrospective of Richard Mayhew’s work, on display at the museum through January 10th, 2010. It then moved to the ballroom at the St. Regis for dinner and the awards presentations, followed by dancing to the sounds of Motown provided by Top Shelf.

Leonard Berry, Richard Mayhew, Grace Stanislaus

The honorees for 2009 were Frankie Jacobs Gilette, founding MoAD board member, Frederick E. Jordan, CEO of F.E. Jordan & Associates, Kenneth P. McNeely, president of AT&T California, and Lloyd Dean, President & CEO of Catholic Healthcare West. Pam Moore and of KRON 4 and Dave Clark of KTVU Channel 2 served as Master and Mistress of Ceremonies, and the awards were presented by MoAD’s president Ernest H. Urquhart and Willie Brown Jr.

Frankie Jacobs-Gillette, Maxwell Gillette

Maija Frisble, Ernie Bates, Marlene Bates

Anna Banks, Gregory Hunter, Christina Anderson, Tarrell Gamble

Martha Gonzales & Manuel Diaz

Frederick E. Jordan

Claudia Juestel & Holly Baxter

Ernest Urquhart

Pam Moore & Harold Jones

Stefano Cassolato, Patty-Jo Rutland, Steve Ike

Nancy Hollis, Les Hollis, Sabrina Brutus, Jacques Brutus

Michele Davis & Gladys Moore

Tarrell Gamble, Kimberly Freeman, Harold Lowe, Tamera Raspberry

Nathan Dean, Nicole Dean, Suzanne Dean, Lloyd Dean

Sophie Maxwell & Brenda Winstead

Dave Clark & Rosalynn Smith-Clark

Kenneth P. McNeely & Fran Streets

Brenda Wright & Steve Bowdr

Photos: Drew Altizer [drewaltizer.com]

1. Raphael’s chalk drawing “Head of a Muse” sold for 29.2 million pounds ($47.6 million at the time) at Christie’s London on Dec. 8, setting an auction record for a work of art on paper. It was bought on the telephone, dealers said, by the U.S.-based collector Leon Black, chief executive of Apollo Global Management LLC and a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

2. Henri Matisse’s 1911 still life of cowslips, “Les coucous, tapis bleu et rose” from the collection of late couturier Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge fetched 35.9 million euros ($45.6 million), an artist record, at a Christie’s Paris auction on Feb. 23. The buyer was New York- based dealer Franck Giraud.

3. Andy Warhol’s 1962 silkscreen painting of 200 one-dollar bills sold for $43.8 million at Sotheby’s New York on Nov. 11.

4. Constantin Brancusi’s wooden sculpture “Madame L.R. (Portrait de Mme L.R.),” dated 1914-17, raised 29.2 million euros ($37.1 million) at Christie’s Feb. 23 auction in Paris from the collection of Saint Laurent and Berge.

5. Rembrandt’s 1658 “Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo” sold for 20.2 million pounds ($32.9 million) to a telephone bidder, later identified as Las Vegas casino developer Steve Wynn. The painting was sold by Johnson & Johnson heiress Barbara Piasecka Johnson at Christie’s London on Dec. 8.

6. An Art Deco armchair with lacquered wood arms shaped as dragons, by designer Eileen Gray, raised 21.9 million euros ($28.1 million), more than 10 times its low estimate at Christie’s Paris. The work from the collection of Saint Laurent and Berge established an auction record for 20th-century design.

7. Piet Mondrian’s 1922 abstract “Composition avec bleu, rouge, jaune et noir” fetched 21.6 million euros ($27.4 million) at Christie’s Paris sale from the collection of Saint Laurent and Berge.

8. The Eighteen Arhats, A Ming-dynasty scroll by Wu Bin made 170 million yuan ($25 million) at Poly International Auction Co. in Beijing in November. Shanghai-based collector and stock-investor Liu Yiqian bought the work.

9. Alberto Giacometti’s figure of a falling man, “L’Homme Qui Chavire,” sold by Conde Nast chairman S. I. Newhouse Jr., fetched $19.4 million at Sotheby’s New York on Nov. 4.

10. Edgar Degas’s bronze sculpture, “Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans” (1922) sold for 13.3 million pounds ($19.2 million) at Sotheby’s London on Feb. 3.

Further Reading: Bloomberg