SFMOMA’S eclectic new photography show.
The photographic breadth at SFMOMA’s private opening March 22 of the exhibition “Selves and Others” was matched only by the eclectic playlist created by the collectors and art patrons Carla Emil and her husband, Rich
Silverstein, that pulsated off gallery walls. Family and friends turned out in force for this “wow” show curated by Erin O’Toole that features portraits by 47 artists (including Diane Arbus, Man
Ray, Cindy Sherman) spanning the history of photography from 1854-2017. And lucky SFMOMA — more than 100 of these works are also gifts from the couple’s walls to the museum’s nowvaunted photography collection.
Emil’s passion for film was sparked in 1992 when the longtime SFMOMA trustee experienced the museum’s Helen
Levitt exhibition. She acquired her first photograph from Fraenkel Gallery soon after. And like all well-balanced relationships, Emil is the “eye” for choosing art and Silverstein the (mostly) appreciative audience.
“We used to live with these pictures in our home and some are kind of strange. Yet it was so normal for us. But when people visited, they’d cautiously ask, ‘Did you take all of these?’ ” Emil said with a laugh. “I can’t imagine having a better partner than Rich in this endeavor. He supported something that wouldn’t be his choice of art.”
Gathered around long, family-style tables, guests shared a delightful feast of McCalls pizza and pasta set in the museum’s Cafe 5, where SFMOMA Director Neal Benezra sang the show’s praises.
“These different works express a shared psychological insight. And what holds them together is the collector’s vision. Carla really thinks, and sees and feels like an artist,” said Benezra. “In a wonderful way, ‘Selves and Others’ feels like the retrospective of an artist, not just of a collector. What’s on view is what not many exhibition’s achieve: Carla’s very specific vision of what is important to her and what art can express.”
Vision quest: Internet educator Sal Khan was in good company March 27 at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center’s Green Room, where he was honored as 2018 Visionary of the Year at the fourth awards gala hosted by The Chronicle.
Of course, in the Bay Area identifying innovators and influencers is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel. But as we spotted three august medical men (S.F. General Trauma surgeon Dr. Andre Campbell, UCSF Chancellor Dr. Sam Hawgood, CMPC CEO Dr. Warren Browner) in a huddle during cocktails, we realized this gala guest list was just as golden as the nominees.
“This isn’t an event you can buy your way into,” joked Chronicle Editor in Chief
Audrey Cooper. “We know, because people have tried.”
Over a seated McCalls dinner, Chronicle Editorial Page Editor John Diaz paid tribute to Khan’s fellow nominees: the Rt. Rev. William Swing, founder of the United Religions Initiative and retired Episcopal bishop of California, Maven Project founder Dr. Laurie Green, Kiva co-founder Premal Shah, Santa Rosa Community Health Centers CEO Naomi
Fuchs, and DREAMers founder-CEO Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca. “We gather here tonight for one of the most important of all our so-called ‘San Francisco values’ to recognize the next generation of men and women who will change the world,” toasted Cooper. “The dreamers and believers who know that the status quo is never good enough and there is always a better way.”
Home run: The count looked good, so far, for the San Francisco Giants as the team kicked off the season March 26 at the Fairmont Hotel with its annual Play Ball lunch. After 800 super fans scored autographs from our three-time World Series champs, they raised a whopping $550K for the Giants Community Fund and its free Junior Giants Baseball Program.
Since 1994, the fund has raised $28 million for Glove drives; youth programs on education, health and anti-bullying efforts and the Junior Giants baseball program serving 25,000 low-income kids in 417 California cities, as well as parts of Nevada and Oregon.
And Giants CEO Larry Baer led a big shout to Fund Director Sue Petersen on her 25th anniversary season at the helm of the team’s philanthropic arm. Emceed by Giants announcer Renel
Brooks-Moon, this fete also honored the devotion of Junior Giants commissioners-coaches by inducting retired San Jose Police Department police Officer Juan Reyes and Kendee Vance into the Junior Giants Hall of Fame.
“Junior Giants is the most amazing program I’ve ever been a part of. But what this program provides for these kids, their families and communities is the opportunity to be together in the incredible game of baseball,” enthused Vance.
“It does not matter where you’re from, how much money you have or what your education level is,” Vance continued. “Everyone is accepted and included on that baseball diamond. We’re all one. The only thing that separates us is the different color of our jerseys. Together, we are all Giants.”