Renegade Craft Fair

Craft fairs can be quite “marmish” and “kitschy” events, but even so, I usually can’t resist.  There’s a part of me that loves decoupage coasters and crotchet numbers in bright-pink synthetic yarn. But, even though I did not see a SINGLE tea-cosy or coaster at the Renegade Craft Fair at Fort Mason, there were plenty of other novelties to delight in. 

The craftsmen and women at Festival Pavilion are artists incorporating eclectic and modern elements into their wares.  The found, the salvaged, the industrial, the recycled, and the reused, were all on display.  Prices were boutique-high as you might expect from an urban reinvention of “artsy crafty”; Festival Pavilion felt more trade-show than fair.  Not a face painter in sight.   

Here were a couple of artists who stood out:  

Nina Dinoff uses molds to turn vintage martini paraphernalia (swizzle sticks, cocktail picks, etc) into metal bracelets and pins. 

Jamila Starwater Tazewell brought her bright LA based collection of wallets, cardholders, notebooks, condom cases and passport covers.

Amy Cools, designer of AC Clothing and Bags created a great resource called: Afterglow’s Guide to Independent California Shopping.  Amy compiled information about independent designers in California as well as the stores, online shops, and fairs (more crafts!) that carry independent designs. 

I fell in love with local talent, Hilary Williams’, screen prints and paintings.  You can visit her work at her studio on San Jose and Ocean during open studio hours, every Wednesday from 4-7pm. She also makes dolls that are creepily adorable.

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo

One of the films being screened at the SFMOMA exhibition is the PBS documentary, The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo.  Because I didn’t get the opportunity to view this documentary during my visit, I queued the film up on my Netflix account.  

For anyone with an interest in Srt. Kahlo’s life beyond what was depicted in the 2002 dramatization, Frida, I recommend either catching a screening of the documentary while visiting the museum, or renting the film.  

The documentary includes live, silent footage of Frida and Diego taken at the Casa Azul in Coyoacan. It also provides some insight into her legendary affairs with both women and men– most notably, the Russian Communist leader, Leon Trotsky. 

Frida Kahlo at the SF MOMA

I lucked out with an invitation to the press preview of the Frida Kahlo exhibition. My good friend is an editor at a magazine and I was her tag-along “+1.”  After comped admission and a delicious luncheon (complete with margaritas), I feel compelled to give back a little and spread the word about this enchanting show. 

To observe a Frida Kahlo self-portrait with her singularly poised gaze, is one way of understanding this complex woman, but the MOMA exhibition goes beyond that and offers an opportunity to journey through the years of her life and the progression of her pain, both emotional and physical. 

Another notable feature of the exhibit is the inclusion of photographs from Frida’s own collection.  These portraits of Frida, her husband Diego Rivera, her family and friends complement and contextualize Frida’s self-portraiture. 

The exhibit runs through September 28th but be sure to plan ahead, especially during weekends and peak hours.  The museum is implementing timed-ticketing for this exhibit in order to better accommodate the expected high-volume of visitors without compromising the experience.  Many of the exhibit’s paintings are small and controlled flow of traffic will allow visitors a more intimate experience with Kahlo’s work.