The Event
The debut of FOG Design + Art at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason demonstrated that San Francisco, despite its size, is a great art city.
Founded by event designer Stanlee Gatti, interior designer Douglas Durkin, and the late Elaine McKeon, the four-day show celebrating 20th and 21st century “design in all its forms” featured prominent dealers from around the country, exhibiting progressive design and art that set an entirely new standard for the Bay Area, with over 4,000 visitors attending.
The overall look of the fair felt fresh, modern and exclusive. Collections were displayed in a minimal and highly curated fashion. A number of participating gallerists compared FOG Design + Art to some of the best international shows they have exhibited in!
The opening night gala, benefitting the education programs of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and co-chaired by Katie Schwab Paige and Allison Speer, supported by honorary co-chairs Eileen and Peter Michael and Cathy and Ned Topham, drew society, collectors, art and design enthusiasts from varied generations.
Among the guests were Maria Manetti Farrow, Dede Wilsey, Jennifer and Joe Montana, Norah and Norman Stone, Nancy and Joachim Bechtle, Nina and Scott Stanford, Joey Cannata and Liza Helfond Cannata, Lex and Michael Downing, Alka and Ravin Agrawal, Ariane and Marc Trimuschat, Cori and Tony Bates, Camille and Shahan Soghikian, Lindsay Bolton, Victoire Brown, Penny Coulter, Jennifer and Doug Biederbeck, Carolyn and Preston Butcher, Susie Tompkins Buell, Maryam Muduroglu, and Lana and John Adair.
Pieces available at the fair ranged from modernist vintage furnishings and art to cutting edge contemporary art and limited edition furniture by some of the most innovative designers working around the world today.
Christophe Côme
L.A. based Haas Brothers at R & Company caught my eye with avant garde furry seating fitted with delicate textured children’s bronze feet, as did Parisian sculptor Christophe Côme at Cristina Grajales Gallery with handsome metal and glass cabinets, screens and lamps.
Photo: Brice Stanek
Christopher Anthony
Gallery Seomi
Gallery Seomi exhibited works from Korean designers including Bae Se Hwa and Lee Hun Chung who are working in walnut and ceramics, respectively. The gallery also presented wonderful multi media animal sculptures by the Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos.
Photo: Brice Stanek
Hostler Burrows
Todd Merrill
Todd Merrill Studio, which is based in New York, displayed some whimsical and delicate white ceramic sculptures created by Japanese artist Katsuyo Aoki, as well as an absolutely amazing olive ash dining table with a black pigment finish by the Irish designer Joseph Walsh.
Photo: Brice Stanek
Converso
Stanlee Gatti
Stanlee Gatti brought back his”21POP” from the previous SF20/21 fair, and took this year’s inspiration from one of San Francisco’s favorite past times: eating. “21POP: In the Kitchen” celebrated the marriage of culinary arts and design with the ingenuity of local artisans.
Photo: Drew Altizer
Gray Gallery
Highlights
Here are some unique items that especially caught my eye.
Photo: Brice Stanek
Photo: Brice Stanek
Photo: Brice Stanek
Photo: Brice Stanek
Photo: Brice Stanek
Photo: Drew Altizer
Photo: Brice Stanek
Photo: Drew Altizer
It was also exciting that Michael and Lindsay Tusk of Quince and Cotogna introduced their handmade pasta line, June Taylor displayed her unique fruit, herb and spice syrups, furniture designer Joshua Duthie showed off his one of a kind cooking spoons made from wood scraps, and Eric Stevenson exhibited his glass, wood and concrete kitchen accoutrements.
Clearly, San Francisco was ready for an art and design show of this caliber. The turn-out and accolades prove it! Congratulation to the entire committee for their vision and perseverance.
I am told that FOG Design + Art will return to the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion next year, from January 16 to 18, 2015 with a special Preview Gala on January 15. I’m already looking forward to it!
About Claudia Juestel
Claudia Juestel is the founder and principal of Adeeni Design Group, one of the Bay Area’s leading design firms.
As the Design & Architecture Editor for SFLuxe, her writing, including the interview series “Tea With Claudia,” is gaining international recognition. Guests have included Lord Wedgwood, John Saladino, Geoffrey Bradfield and Bunny Williams, among others.
Visit adeenidesigngroup.com for more information