Achenbach Graphic Arts Council

It was great to meet the new assistant curator of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, Natalia Lauricella at the AGAC Annual Meeting on June 9th. Originally from San Francisco, Natalia is a scholar of 19th century French prints, with a doctorate from the University of Southern California, a Master at the Courtauld and teaching experience at Stanford University. Her curatorial experience includes position at the Guggenheim Museum and MoMA, New York.

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The AGAC held its annual meeting on Sunday June 9th at the Legion of Honor. Curator-in-charge of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, Furio Rinaldi, discussed this past year's exhibitions and recent acquisitions. He also introduced new assistant curator, Natalia Lauricella, who shared with the group detailed plans for upcoming exhibitions. AGAC Board Chair, Luanne Andreotti, provided an overview of the AGAC's activities this past year and on behalf of the Board she presented an AGAC Honorary Lifetime Membership to Karin Breuer the former Curator of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, and organizer of the current exhibition, 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. If you are interested in joining the Achenbach Graphic Arts Council, please visit https://www.famsf.org/membership/curatorial-support-groups -graphic-arts-council-agac

You’re looking at the newest member of the Board of Directors for the Achenbach Graphic Arts Council

I’m honored to be a bigger part of the council that helps support the department responsible for works on paper for the de Young and Legion of Honor!

This photo was taken two years ago when I first got the keys to my Mission St studio. I was standing in a big empty room with a lifelong dream, so many ideas and nothing else. I had no clients, no employees and no equipment yet. I never would have imagined these last two years would play out as amazing as they have.

To be celebrating the two year anniversary of the Mission shop the same exact day as the Grand Opening of the Polk St studio is mind blowing. These are both life goals that I didn’t know would ever actually happen. And then the AGAC Board on top of that; c’mon! This is a huge week for my small business and my family! I couldn’t be more grateful for all the support and love and trust. None of this would be happening without you and my team of passionate framers by my side making all this a reality. If you’re reading this then you’re a part of this. I appreciate you with my whole heart and will forever be indebted!

Please come celebrate with us this Saturday at Polk St and let me thank you in person! I love you!

What a treat! Preparatory drawings for Hopper’s Nighthawks diner painting, viewed by our AGAC Travel group on our visit to the Whitney Museum print study room.

Daily deep dives into exquisite works on paper during our AGAC trip to NYC with curator, Furio Rinaldi.

There is a great article about the upcoming exhibition of the work of Tamara de Lempicka. This 20th century painter, is famed for her Art Deco aesthetic and as a symbol of liberated womanhood. She is finally getting her first full museum retrospective in the United States. The exhibition opens October 9th at the de Young Museum.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/tamara-de-lempicka-de-young-19425041.php

Congratulations to Furio Rinaldi! He has been appointed Curator-in-charge of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, a position he has held in an acting capacity since May 2020. As you know, Furio was the curator of the Legion of Honor’s hugely successful 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, the first exhibition devoted to the drawings of Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli. Furio also is the principal author of the accompanying book, Botticelli Drawings, published by Yale University Press and named by the New York Times one of the best art books of 2023. He also curated the masterful 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘦: 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵.

Furio has a PhD in art history from the University of Rome and holds an MA and BA in Art History from the University of Milan.

This Saturday at the Legion of Honor at 1pm with master printmaker, Professor Keiji Shinohara of Wesleyan University; first come seating at the Gunn Theater. See you there!

The Achenbach Graphic Arts Council (AGAC) Board hosted a New Member Tour and Tea on Saturday May 4th at the Legion of Honor. Associate Curator Lauren Palmor gave a fascinating and insightful tour of Japanese Prints in Transition: from the Floating World to the Modern World. This was followed by tea and sweets in the Legion Café. It was a wonderful chance to enjoy art and each other's company.

If you are interested in joining the AGAC please visit https://www.famsf.org/membership/curatorial-support-groups -graphic-arts-council-agac

To enhance your enjoyment of the
𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 exhibition at the Legion of Honor, be sure to stop by the Logan Gallery to see the 𝘡𝘶𝘢𝘯-𝘤𝘩𝘰: 𝘒𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘰 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯 (1868 – 1912) exhibition.

In the Meiji era (1868–1912), kimono design books were revived and evolved into print albums known as zuan-cho (literally “design idea books”). These print albums circulated among artists, designers, kimono merchants, and wealthy patrons in Japan’s major cities.

Image: Unidentified artist, active Kyoto (Japan, 19th–20th centuries), Textile design pattern from the book Sono no kaori (“The Fragrant Garden”) (pp. 15–16) (detail), 1903

Blustery Fort Mason evening exploring the San Francisco Art Fair with board 2nd chair Xin Sun and new director Loren Rohr. It was also fun meeting paper sculptor Nancy Mintz who forges wings and objects of translucent Japanese gampi paper and brass armature. She’s a former FAMSF art preparator who relocated studio and home to Ferndale, Washington.

Wonderful AGAC member visit to Catharine Clark Gallery for Bill Eddelman’s talk on his well curated Kabuki print collection. Bill and his woodcuts are treasures. We’ve awarded him with a lifetime courtesy AGAC membership.

It was wonderful joining Thomas Campbell, AFGA chief curator Furio Rinaldi and other FAMSF curators and guests for the spectacular annual FAMSF spring gala. Our SF mayor, London Breed, announced there will no budget cuts for the museums this year. Something to celebrate!

The exhibition: 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 is now open at the Legion of Honor until August 18, 2024.

This exhibition features permanent collection works from the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts that haven’t been displayed for a more than a decade.

For more information about tickets and docent tours please visit https://www.famsf.org/

For more information about the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts please visit https://www.famsf.org/collections/about-achenbach-foundation-graphic-arts


Image: Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave) (detail), from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, ca. 1830–1832

We love our partner galleries. They offer a wealth of timeless art legacies to connect with as a community.

Can’t wait to see this musical! It coincides with our own show on Tamara de Lempicka, curated by Furio Rinaldi, newly appointed Curator-in-Charge of the AFGA. Stay tuned for October 2024 member events.

The opening of the exhibition: 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 is only days away. April 6, 2024 at the Legion of Honor.

Don't miss the opening day excitement from 11am to 3pm. Through a lecture and live performances, Kirk Kanesaka, assistant professor of Asian studies at California State University, San Bernardino will explore Kabuki’s rich history, its legacy in Western performing arts, and its significance today.

For more details go to: https://www.famsf.org/events/japanese-prints-opening-day

Image: Kikukawa Eizan (1787–1867) Yosooi of the Matsubaya, from the series Three Wine Cups in the New Yoshiwara (detail), ca. 1815–1825

Irving Penn who innovated printing techniques using bleach and platinum/paladium, is drawing crowds to the the deYoung. Penn is widely recognized as one of the 20th century’s greatest celebrity photographers. Vogue’s longest-standing contributor, Penn revolutionized fashion photography in the postwar era. Using neutral backgrounds, he emphasized models’ personalities through their gestures and expressions. The exhibition includes approximately 175 photographs, spanning every period of Penn’s nearly 70-year career. The works range from early documentary scenes, celebrity portraits, and workers with the tools of their trades to abstract nudes and fashion studies. A special section of images from San Francisco’s Summer of Love features hippies, members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, and local rock bands the Grateful Dead and Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Image: : Irving Penn, Audrey Hepburn, Paris, 1951.

We are saying goodbye and safe travels today to AFGA curatorial assistant Christine Delia who has also served with great aplomb as our agac admin assistant. We all adore her beyond words, how she collaborated so professionally and effortlessly with our team on all projects, goals and objectives to grow and benefit our membership. She’s off to continue her doctorate work and we know she will land a brilliant curator position. Thanks Saint C for all you’ve done to help us thrive!

FAMSF

Art Deco Star Tamara de Lempicka Is Finally Getting Her First Major U.S. Retrospective.
This fall, San Francisco's de Young Museum will spotlight the creative life and legacy of the trailblazing artist.

Curator Furio Rinaldi shares some great insights about this exhibition in an article by Min Chen in artnet.

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/tamara-de-lempicka-us-retrospective-de-young-museum-2425747

This image: Tamara de Lempicka, Jeune fille en vert (Jeune fille aux gants) (Young Woman in Green, Young Woman with Gloves) (detail), 1930–1931.

Wonderful AGAC visit to the Berkeley studio of iconic landscape photographer Richard Misrach. We thank him for inviting us in to view his extraordinary recent large format images of dancers and seascapes and to share his process. What a treat! And thanks to Laura Nagle, our programs chair (standing behind the artist) for arranging the memorable visit.

On January 13, 2024 Furio Rinaldi, the curator of drawings and prints in the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gave a presentation on the "Botticelli Drawings" exhibition (which is now closed). The demand was double the seating; thus, we are so pleased that the video of this compelling talk is now available. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q70Q0VuCr3w

In the Logan Gallery at the Legion of Honor you can see a fascinating exhibition "Benoit Éditeur" . This exhibition focuses most closely on Benoit’s editions with Pablo Picasso, showcasing the pair’s spontaneous approach to art making.

This exhibition is on view through March 10, 2024

Image: Pablo Picasso, Les Transparents, by Image: René Char (Alès: PAB, 1967). Gift of the Reva and David Logan Foundation, 2000.200.43.1–9. © 2022 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Randy Dodson, courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Did you know that Japanese woodcuts are produced using cherry wood and mulberry paper? Wonderful visit to the paper conservation lab for a talk led by Sarah Mackay and conservators on their preparation for the upcoming Japanese Prints in Transition exhibition. Tools and pigments we viewed will be on display along with the remarkable prints in the show opening April 6.