A few weeks ago I was feeling artsy and through my loyal friend – Google – I discovered the famous Fraenkel Gallery, about 3 blocks from my apartment in SOMA. The art gallery turned out to be one of many in a 5-story building that reminded me more of my alma mater than a creative space. It had long and narrow abandoned hallways that led to different offices with heavy wooden doors and small planks that named the residents. I found Fraenkel Gallery on the 4th floor. Most of the exhibition featured very large photographs of water bodies with one or two people swimming in them. The most interesting thing about them was the price tag that revolved somewhere around US$40k each. I would have paid maybe 20 bucks to have one of them, but who is asking me?
The artist is called Richard Misrach in case you want to find out more..
Despite the creepy emptiness of the building I decided to explore more floors where I saw some avant-garde gay art from Sausalito, strange music installations and more random junk that was pretending to be art. Of course, every single one of these galleries had a white desk with a giant Apple computer screen on it. I think it’s a pre-requisite for getting an operating license in the art industry.
Of course, as always with my expeditions, I ended up discovering the incredible McLoughlin Gallery, which had a NYC Soho vibe with an array of interesting art works, which reminded me of Rio’s colorfulness. Despite my anti-social self, I struck a conversation with the owner, Joan, who happened to share the same love for colorful esthetics (I felt super artsy because I could hold a conversation with a pro!!).
I told her about all the beautiful art I got to know in Brazil. She claimed that she knew the world-famous Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado because he wanted to exhibit in her gallery but his style didn’t fit in with her esthetic interests. I am not sure I buy this because right after she said this, she got completely engrossed in googling his photographs and talking to herself about each one. At first it was amusing but then I started to get bored and to invent an excuse in order to leave.
Joan and I parted on friendly terms with her asking me to find her Brazilian artists to present in her gallery. The random things that happen…
If you’re looking for tips on San Fran, you can read my other posts:
- Painted Ladies and Bubble Tea Cotton Candy – Alamo Square and Japantown
- 6 Miles of Surprises or Where is Chewbacca: Coit Tower, Little Italy, Greenwhich Steps, Marina District, Fort Mason
- Sausalito is Not a Name of a Mexican Spicy Sauce: Broad-walk and art galleries in Sausalito
- First Days in San Francisco: Fashion exhibition at Legion of Honor, Landsend and Golden Gate Park
Grobetrotter 
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