Last June, when most of the world remained closed, the Svane Family Foundation commissioned Bay Area artists with $ 10,000 each to create 100 new works, and paid out a total of $ 1 million. It was the foundation’s first program since its inception in 2019, and now the next phase is starting: an online auction and exhibition of the works resulting from the project entitled “Ark” at the San Francisco Art Institute from 7 to 27 May September. (Proceeds from the sale will benefit Bay Area ArtSpan, a nonprofit.)

We spoke to foundation founder Mikkel Svane, who is also CEO of software company Zendesk, about his move to collecting and how art philanthropy has made him rethink his own buying habits.

What was your first purchase (and how much did you pay for it)?

There are pieces in my collection that date back to a childhood portrait, so it’s almost impossible to remember when you first bought it. What really changed my approach to collecting was the Hospitality House Community Arts Program in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, next to our Zendesk office. I got drawn into it and ended up talking to people who lived in really difficult circumstances, but who had this opportunity to support themselves with their work. I was amazed how this studio and gallery could do such a good job of struggling with so much people, embracing the raw expression of life in this part of town, and that my art purchases were of immediate benefit to the life of the Artist would have. I think the first piece I bought there was by Charles Blackwell, and since then many, many works have been created. Eventually I started helping organize their annual fundraising auction, which resulted in my overall commitment to the local art scene here.

What was your last purchase?

Works by Camila Fernandez, Donna Personna, Lord Fredrick and Alicia Mccarthy, all on the Hospitality House auction. And a couple of random Danish nature paintings that remind me of home.

Woody De Othello, Face to Face (2021). Courtesy of the Svane Family Foundation.

Which works or artists would you like to add to your collection this year?

One of Woody De Othello’s ceramic pieces that has not yet come out of the gallery. There’s only so much space on the wall so you’ll have to collect media that don’t need it! There can be a lot of ceramics this year. I also recently bought Jackie Browns Cheetah camo and chiaozzas Bouquet sculpture No. 2 by Hashimoto Contemporary.

What is the most expensive work of art you own?

I have to insist that what you get out of a piece does not correlate with its price. I think my favorite piece I own is a Joe Turek painting. White collarwhich was not expensive, but really impressed me during the time I lived with it.

Where do you most often buy art?

Of course our local galleries, especially Jessica Silverman Gallery, Hashimoto Contemporary, Part 2 Gallery, Rebecca Camacho Presents, the Luggage Store and Gallery Wendi Norris. Artistic is a great pastime. And I follow these little auctions in Europe – there are so many jewels to discover there. I just found something special Robert Bechtle painting from an auction in Paris.

Is there a job that you regret buying?

My only regret is that I’m limited to how much I can collect. Wall space is limited, especially city life. We just moved to find more!

Emilio Villalba, Sixpack (2019). Courtesy of the Svane Family Foundation.

What work do you have hanging over your sofa? How does it look in your bathroom?

Now that we’re moving it’s up for discussion, but before packing we had a piece of Art Collaboration twfive, Venus and the swans, above a sofa. Above others were Emilio Villalbas Six pack, a painting of cigarettes (I always say collecting art is like smoking, it’s fun, and addicting), and Tammy Rae Carlands I’m dying here (Carole + Mitzi) –all “Ark” artists – and Peter Gronquists Ferns and roses. I hang my kids’ pictures in the bathroom and bedroom mixed with the professional artists so they are some of the first and last works I see today.

What’s the most impractical piece of art you own?

This huge painting by Casey Gray, The pursuit of happinessthat I wasn’t sure would even fit in the house. We had to test it out before buying it. Also a Jeppe Hein sculpture made of two balloons, Wishes for twothat you need to fix to the ceiling with magnets. But I never buy art for practical reasons other than to support local artists and keep the city creative and interesting.

Dashiell Manley, Black Rotation (2019). Courtesy of the Svane Family Foundation.

What work would you have liked to have bought when you had the opportunity?

That’s the thing, you almost always regret it if you don’t react faster. Dashiell Manley’s last show on Jessica Silverman is a huge regret. Got a little bit, but hesitated too long with my feet and missed what I really wanted.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I couldn’t buy anything. It just felt absurd. But then I realized how important it was to support local artists financially as all their options dried up, and to support them emotionally – to encourage them to keep working. So we made the Svane Family Foundation’s first program a commissioned composition of 100 pieces that will be featured on the Ark show in September. It was a bit of a revelation – why spend $ 1 million on a single work when that amount can support a whole community of artists?

If you could steal a piece of art without getting caught, which one would it be?

There is this very special piece at SFMOMA, Robert Bechtle Alameda Gran Torino (1974), a painting of a car with wood paneling. It reminds me of my father who grew up in the USA during the war and always told us these stories when I grew up in Denmark. It represents that kind of Americana that I associate with my childhood and my father.

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The post Software program Exec Mikkel Svane on Shifting to Get Extra Wall House, and Commissioning 100 Works Throughout Lockdown appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

San Francisco’s top health official announced an update on the city’s COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, saying the increase in new cases has slowed slightly since the day immediately after Thanksgiving, showing that the city’s new stay-at-home policy , is working.

Dr. Grant Colfax said two weeks ago the number of new daily cases increased by an average of 8% per day, while starting Tuesday they increased by 2% per day.

“This is because of the changes we’ve made to our behavior,” Colfax said, referring to the new December 7th health ordinance that closed everything from outdoor restaurants to museums. “This is a hopeful sign. It is an improvement. But I must stress that we still have a long way to go. Remember, this rate will continue to fall. Even if we continue at this current rate would increase, our situation would continue to increase. ” That was going to be bad for the next few months. Let’s go ahead and slow down this virus. Let’s not have a situation that happened right after Thanksgiving. “

As noted in previous press conferences, Colfax keeps a close eye on the city’s reproduction rate (Rt). This is the average number of people infected by a sick person. If it is above 1.0, a virus is spreading quickly. A virus can die if the RT is below 1.0.

The city’s reproduction rate was estimated at 1.45 before the order was imposed on December 5, and at the time Colfax said the city was forecasting there could be up to 544 additional deaths. Due to the new restrictions, the rate has dropped to 1.24 as of December 20, and Colfax said if the Rt persists at those levels, the city could see up to 214 additional deaths.

“I know these differences, 1.45 versus 1.24, don’t sound like much, but as a result of this change, the projected median hospital stays have decreased from 1,490 to 590,” said Colfax. “The additional estimated mean deaths are down by 330, which is 330 people projected to die from COVID-19 in San Francisco who may not die. And we did, and we must continue to do it together When we move forward, by limiting our mobility, wearing a mask, social distancing, and not even gathering in small groups, we have saved lives.

SFDEM and Mayor of London N. Breed – Virtual Press Conference – COVID-19 Update – December 22, 2020 https://t.co/6GJjbwLDiz

– City of San Francisco (@sfgov) December 22, 2020

California Governor Gavin Newsom introduced the stay-at-home order last month to keep local health systems from collapsing under the weight of skyrocketing COVID-19 case numbers.

It divides the state into five major regions and limits those with ICU bed capacity below 15%. After it comes into force, the order comes into effect for three weeks, but it can be extended.

San Francisco and several Bay Area counties issued the state mandate order even though the area’s intensive care units didn’t drop below 15%. The region has since hit the threshold, and the state ordinance went into effect on December 17 and can repeal it on January 8 if the ICU capacity is 15% or more.

Colfax said he currently doesn’t know if the date will be extended.

“That depends on regional capacity,” said Colfax. “We will continue to monitor our local prosecutors in San Francisco and determine if further action is required.”

The post San Francisco’s high well being official estimates new lockdown has already saved 330 lives appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Dark humor, street art, grainy beauty and misery in an ugly time.

By Wolf Richter for WOLF STREET.

When the order “Shelter in Place” was announced in San Francisco on March 16, 2020 and should last three weeks until April 7, 2020, two local business people, entrepreneurs and photographers, Basul Parik and Corky Engel, set off Photographing their haunted city from the streets when they encountered it. Three weeks became a year and thousands of photos.

Basul and Corky – both with long histories in photography, video, and book publishing – have now published a book of haunting, purposeful black and white photos of San Francisco during this ugly time called Flatten the Curve.

They gave me color versions of the photos, exclusive to WOLF STREET, and here are some of them, a wild, equally haunting drive through San Francisco during the lockdown, along with some black and white photos from the book.

Mission Street.

It’s getting serious: March 18th, 2020. Local markets.

Fisherman’s Wharf with no tourists.

Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, dead.

Fisherman’s Wharf, restaurants and shrimp shops.

Barbershop on 18th Street.

Market street with no traffic.

Pan handle.

Homeless camp on fire.

Mission Street.

Union Street.

The great highway.

Castro theater.

Hayes Street between Octavia and Laguna Streets, May 3, 2020. Painted on boards covering a storefront.

Waller Street. Dodge the hell do?

Kirchenstrasse.

Montgomery Street.

Montgomery Street.

Dolores Park.

Grant Avenue.

Bruno’s nightclub, Mission Street.

Broadway and Kearny Street.

Polk Street.

Four bedroom home for sale, $ 14.2 million. Photo of the ad on Polk Street between Clay and Sacramento, taken February 15, 2021. Originally listed at that price in October 2020. As of May 1, it’s still for sale, according to Zillow.

Grant Avenue, China Town, February 2021.

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The post Haunting Photographs of San Francisco Throughout Lockdown appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.