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 NOVEMBER
2004
Building A
Holiday shopping moves into the art realm as two Building
A neighbors, the Museum of Craft & Folk Art (MOCFA) and
the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Artists Gallery,
both show uniquely saleable art this month.
Museum Of Craft & Folk Art
An opening reception on November 11 kicks off the highly
anticipated annual holiday craft exhibition and sale, Craft
Showcase 5. Once again new and unique artworks by the best
of California’s craft community fill the museum. Works
in clay, glass, fiber, metal, and wood, with prices ranging
from $50 to $15,000 are on display. More than 300 individual
works of art by more than 60 regional craft artists have been
chosen by guest curator, Kathleen Hanna, who describes the
participants as “the top emerging and established artists
of the Bay Area and Northern California.”
In addition to being an opportunity for artists to sell their
work, Craft Showcase 5 is also a fund-raiser for the museum
and a forum for MOCFA’s mission. As MOCFA’s curator
Rachel Osajima explained, “As a museum dedicated to the
exploration, interpretation, and presentation of contemporary
craft, folk art, and contemporary fine art, Craft Showcase
5 creates an important focal point for MOCFA’s ongoing
mission.”
For details about the sale, see the Visual
Arts listing and visit www.mocfa.org.
SFMOMA Artists Gallery
 In
a similar vein, the SFMOMA Artists Gallery is presenting “Furniture
as Art: Artists & Designers Find the Art in Furniture.”
Nearly 20 artists show pieces both functional and whimsical
in this exhibit that opens November 3. The show’s curator,
gallery director Marian Parmenter, explained that she received
the inspiration for the show while visiting artists’
studios. More and more she found herself noticing furniture
in the studios and realized that many artists help support
themselves by making furniture. She thought it would be a
good idea – at this “shopping for the holidays”
time of year – to help out the artists by having a show
of work that might be more “saleable” than the usual
gallery show.
The exhibit includes lamps, chandeliers, and furniture. Some
of the pieces were chosen because, as Parmenter explained,
they are “just plain beautiful.” Others she chose
because they are “witty.” Many of the pieces use
found and unusual materials. Over all, the exhibit destroys
some of our pre-conceived notions about the nature of furniture
and how it should look.
For details about the show, see the Visual
Arts listing and visit www.sfmoma.org/museumstore/artists_overview.html.
– Jovanne Reilly
Image: Museum of Craft & Folk Art, "Homage Vessel"
by Michael Sosin
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