Jules Maeght Gallery

I was the second in line while waiting for Rich Table to open, an older gentleman and I struck a conversation, as I often do whenever I am at Rich Table (it’s one of those places that attract friendly patrons), and he said, «Have you been to the gallery next door?» I said, «no.» reluctantly and suspiciously, because I was worried about losing my space. He said, «I’ll hold the space for you, you should check it out.» Did he know that I have a thing for galleries? Or did I dress like I’m ready for some gallery action before dinner? No matter what, he was right, I did enjoy art galleries. I am a gallery enthusiast, on par with my obsession with food, but I do so mostly on instinct and not by craft. Jules Maeght had been open for exactly one day when I went inside. It had the airiness one would expect in Chelsea, Manhattan. Turns out that it has two original galleries in France, and that this was its first U.S. outpost. I have long suspected that French people love Hayes Valley, this was just further proving my point. The art in motion exhibit was on and it had a film and still objects on display.
I did enjoy chatting with the gallery manager, specifically when I asked him about the restaurant scene in the area, considering there are not one, not two, but three or four restaurants billing themselves as French food. My suspicion is none of that are really French, considering that I have eaten enough of French meals as I summered in France often. He had validated my assumption, but not before he said, «Rich Table, Rich Table has really good food.»
What stood out in this exhibit were Marshall Elliott’s Intimate Boundaries, as well as Kal Spelleteche’s wooden machines.
One of the things that I think the gallery scene that has been lacking in San Francisco, is modern aesthetics. Many galleries seemed to be a bit haphazard and a little lost in its displays. I suspect it has some to do with its provincialism, something that you don’t see when you are in New York, Paris, London or Stockholm. This was one of those moments that literately made me say, «this looks like something I’d see in New York.» I was impressed. Wanted to spend more time here, the time was up at Rich Table. I must return. And next time I’ll be sure to stay to watch the film.