Spotlight: FOG Design + Art
Image Courtesy of Friedman Benda gallery
Image courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, © Hiroshi Sugimoto
Image Courtesy of Edward Cella Art + Architecture
Image courtesy of Christina Grajeles Gallery, New York
Image courtesy of The Future Perfect
Image courtesy of Christina Grajeles Gallery, New York
Image courtesy of Christina Grajeles Gallery, New York
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
With the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s doors shuttered during its extensive renovation, where are the local aesthetes to go? This month, the center of design in the city is shifting to Fort Mason where the new FOG Design + Art fair will harness the Bay Area’s creative impulses for five days. “Fairs bring something to life in a way that a picture or jpeg can’t do,” says interior designer Douglas Durkin who serves as Designers Forum Chair for the event. Dealers as diverse as Hedge in San Francisco, Los Angeles’ Reform Gallery, and Hostler Burrows in New York will join a roster of modern and contemporary furniture, design, and art exhibitors who will assemble their wares in the cavernous waterfront space. And expect eye-catching booths built from both found and technologically-advanced materials. After all, the new fair that kicks off with a preview gala honoring Elaine McKeon and benefiting SFMOMA on Thursday, January 16, is the brainchild of Stanlee Gatti and was dreamed up by co-chairs Gatti, Durkin, Roth Martin, Katie Paige, and Allison Speer.
“In this world of online commerce where people are looking at pictures, I have to see things in person,” says Durkin. “I can get inspired by an image, but I’m not a point and click and purchase guy except for books and theater tickets.” Durkin notes that it can be difficult to get a sense of scale, actual color, and detail from an image of an artwork or piece of furniture. Gatti has championed San Francisco as a design epicenter for years though he notes that the area often isn’t recognized as such. “We’re kind of a hub of industrial design,” he says, adding that the region is also home to a large coterie of talented graphic designers, culinary artists, fashion creatives, and furniture crafters.
This year, Gatti’s 21Pop installation inside FOG will highlight handcrafted culinary designs for use in the kitchen. “I’ve been stewing over this for over a year trying to figure out what to do,” says Gatti. “Besides technology, the Bay Area is known for food. I’m going to build a little kitchen art installation entirely out of plywood.” Everything inside the space will be created by artisans who make specialty items for the kitchen. “I found a guy, Eric Stevenson, who is here in town and he makes these incredible mortar and pestal sets.” The inspiration for this addition to the fair came from memories of the tools crafted by Gatti’s father. “He was a master craftsman. He made a rolling pin, a Christmas tree stand, a ravioli cutter. But when I was explaining this to a 13-year-old, he didn’t understand why you would make it, why you wouldn’t just buy it.” The intricate designs Gatti is planning to display will be eye-opening, and he hopes they’ll inspire the next generation of craftspeople.
Gatti, who is known for the extraordinary event designs he’s created—from orange groves built inside banquet halls to huge geometric balls of roses inside gala tents—throughout his career, is looking forward to seeing the sets exhibitors will create. “So many people are going all out,” he says. “Hedge, Jeffrey Fraenkel, and Japonesque are all doing amazing booths.” Another highlight will be a conversation between Jennifer Fletcher, SFMOMA’s curator of architecture and design, and London-based designer and architect Ron Arad held on Saturday, January 18. Arad, who is known for his sinuous Voido chairs, Lolita chandelier, and undulating buildings, is sure to hold the audience’s attention. In addition to exposing San Franciscans to art galleries and design dealers from across the country, Gatti and Durkin both hope the combination of exhibitors will also draw attention to local treasures. “San Franciscans buy from Jeffrey Fraenkel in Miami, at Art Basel, but he’s just a cab ride away,” says Gatti. “Truly, we have everything here.”
By Elizabeth Varnell
Pictured: FOG Design + Art steering committee members Roth Martin, Katie Paige, Douglas Durkin & Allison Speer.
Photo by Drew Altizer Photography
