Private Collections: Art for Empowerment’s Sake

Private Collections, held this September 14th, is a special one-night event that provides an exclusive look at the art-filled homes of some of San Francisco’s most respected art collectors. Attendees will enjoy art in all mediums and the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of what motivates these enthusiasts to buy and collect art. This year offers contemporary collections from Dr. Seth L. Matarasso, The Clammer family, The Felson Family, Lisa Dolby Chadwick, Jessica Silverman and Sarah Thornton, and Alison Pincus.

In 2018, Private Collections raised over $60,000 for Enterprise for Youth, a nonprofit empowering young people through career development and opportunities since 1969. They focus on educating, training, mentoring, and connecting young people with the right individuals. Their unique Job Bank provides high school students with work experience. Old Navy Headquarters, First Republic Bank, University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco Rec & Park are all leading sources for their internships and entry-level jobs. Enterprise strongly emphasizes green jobs, placing 250 youth in paid internships this summer as part of their new Climate Career Corps program.

Private Collections 2018: William T. Wiley, No Bell Prys for Peace with Predator Drone, 2010. Michele Pred, Power of the Purse, 2018

This year’s Private Collections' 4:30 pm Masterpiece Tour will showcase dermatologist Dr. Seth L. Matarasso's contemporary art collection in Pacific Heights. Given his profession, it is unsurprising that there is an array of facial portraiture among his trove. These include a 1940 drawing by Lucien Freud and works by Willem de Kooning, George Condo, Diane Arbus, Barbara Kruger, Henri Matisse, Rashid Johnson, and an apt word painting, "About Face" by Ed Ruscha. The Premier Tours follow at 6:00 pm with a 7:00 pm Post Party and Silent Auction at Simon Breitbard Fine Arts. The gallery is a sponsor of Private Collections along with Jay Jeffers and COUPAR.

Private Collections 2018: Nínive Calegari, Enterprise for Youth's Chief Executive Officer. Photography: Andy Freeberg