Approaching the SFC&G-sponsored Art Market at Fort Mason a couple of weeks ago, I caught my breath at the sight of thousands of people lining up around the building for opening night. Art Market, the Bay Area’s premier contemporary and modern art fair, was clearly the place to be.

In the midst of all the fabulousness, a Judd-like installation rose in the middle of the pavilion: the SFC&G Collectors Lounge designed by Arkitektura and curator Philip Wood. Over the next four days, we were delighted to host many of the 20,000 art enthusiasts in the lounge, who recharged there in high style amidst contemporary furnishings (and nibbled on Ghirardelli chocolate. Yum!).

The preview reception benefitted the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, raising more than $52,000 for the museums’ New Acquisitions Fund. And the evening’s capacity attendance also resulted in swift sales for many dealers, some reporting sales above the $100,000 mark (and that was just on opening night).

Championing the finest in visual art has long been part of our culture at Cottages & Gardens, and we’re proud to have the opportunity to now expand that tradition to the West Coast.