From Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave
While everyone eagerly awaits the March 26, 2011 opening of Balenciaga and Spain at the de Young, over at the Legion of Honor, museum goers are being treated to another fashion feast with Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave.
OJ and Gary Shansby
Working in collaboration with leading costume historians and young fashion designers, de Borchgrave is an artist who crafts a world of splendor from the simplest rag paper. Painting and manipulating the paper, she forms trompe l’oeil masterpieces of elaborate dresses inspired by rich depictions in early European painting or by iconic costumes in museum collections around the world.
Allison Speer, John Capizzi, Glenn Weisel, and Barbara Brown
The Legion of Honor is the first American museum to dedicate an entire exhibition to the work of Isabelle de Borchgrave, although her creations have been widely displayed in Europe. The opening preview party on February 3, 2011, brought out some of the Museum’s most passionate supporters of the arts and high fashion — and no, none of them were wearing paper dresses.
Vera Carpeneti, Dame Rita Bral, Consul General of Belgium, and Geert Criel, Consul General of Belgium
Visit the Legion from now until June 5, 2011 to enjoy the intricate beauty of the creations, which feature inspirations from Renaissance finery of the Medici family and gowns worn by Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to the creations of the grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel!
Isabelle de Borchgrave and John Buchanan
John Buchanan, Director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco called de Borchgrave’s work “pure poetry,” and remarked that “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen… Her work is about painting, it’s about sculpture, it’s about excellence.”
Serge Sorokko and Tatiana Sorokko
Isabelle de Borchgrave’s work is represented exclusively by the Serge Sorokko Gallery in San Francisco, now in a new location at 55 Geary Street. Serge said, “In my 30 years in the art world, there was nothing more difficult and exquisite than discovering an artist so glaringly original that when you see the work, it stops you dead in your tracks. This is how I felt when I first saw Isabelle de Borchgrave’s art at the Museo Fortuny in Venice. To have her exhibition at my gallery is a dream come true.”
Gladyne K. Mitchell and Dr. Noureddine Azouau
Patsy Pope
Barbara Brookins-Schneider
Tula Mouroufas
Lana Wais
Tags: Allison Speer, Babara Brown, Barbara Brookins Schneider, christian dior, Coco Chanel, Frederick Worth, John Capizzi, Patsy Pope, Paul Poiret, Tula Mouroufas

Michael S. Smith was recently honored at Hedge Gallery in San Francisco at a party hosted by Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty and Allison Speer. His design work for a Palladian Villa in Malibu is being put up for auction at Christie’s in New York. Nicolas Berggruen, Princess Tatiana Galitzine, Dede Wilsey, and Sabrina Buell were among the guests.

Deepa Pakianathan and Phil Pemberton recently hosted a reception for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in anticipation of its upcoming Gala on April 20, 2013, which pays tribute to legendary opera baritone and Conservatory Advisory Board member Thomas Hampson.
Conservatory mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook directs and stars in a program featuring special performances by Hampson with Conservatory students, faculty and guest artists. Teresa Medearis and Barbara Walkowski co-chair the event, with catering by McCall’s Catering and Events and decor by Blueprint Studios.
Tickets for this very special occasion can be purchased at www.sfcm.edu

UCSF Partners in Care recently held its 2013 kick-off membership event at Reed & Greenough. Membership co-Chairs Schuyler Hudak and Libby Leffler hosted the launch party and kicked off the well-attended evening with brief remarks, followed by UCSF Partners in Care President Katie Budge, who spoke about the services that the auxiliary organization provides to the hospital.
UCSF Partners in Care works with UCSF hospital staff to fund programs that provide comfort and well-being to patients and their families while visiting the UCSF medical center.
Guests enjoyed spirited greyhounds nicknamed “Doctor’s Orders,” and a “Members Only” wine special while noshing on sweet treats from Kara’s Cupakes, and savory sliders and arancini from Cedar Hill Kitchen and Smokehouse.
Please visit www.ucsfpartnersincare.org for more information about this important organization.

Renowned European designer Ms. Madeline Pauw recently made an appearance at a delightful luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco, where her Spring 2013 collection was presented.
The Pauw collection is designed by Madeleine Pauw, daughter of the original founders. Pauw is known for its luxurious fabrics and soft touches of femininity while integrating just a splash of masculine undertones, but always keeping the fit and style in mind for the female physique. The company has been in business for over 50 years, and originally was created in the Netherlands where it currently has 29 stores.
You can purchase pieces from Pauw at Saks Fifth Avenue at 384 Post Street, San Francisco, or online at Saks Fifth Avenue

The Mid Winter Gala for 2013 honored the exhibit, “Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” with a chic winter wonderland that raised over $400k. Marissa Mayer, Jonathan Ive, Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty, Dick Costolo, Stephan Jenkins, Connie Nielsen, Lori Levine, Evgenia Peretz, Jeremy Stoppelman, Trevor Traina, Allison Speer and Kathryn Lasater were among the 380 who attended.

The Italian artist, Paolo Troilo, recently debuted his first U.S. exhibit at Coup d’Etat, the most exceptional designer space in San Francisco.
Sponsored by Testa Vineyards, the event brought together San Francisco tastemakers such as Jack Calhoun, Stephen Brady, Gary Friedman, Joy Bianchi, Anna Weinberg, Ken Fulk, and Jamie Finegold, among others.
The exhibit will run at Coup d’Etat until May 2013.
Visit Coup d’Etat at 111 Rhode Island, or online at coupdetatsf.com

The International Museum of Women (IMOW) hosted its annual Celebrating Change Benefit on March 6th, 2013, and the associated Vanguard Group hosted its Art Live Lounge benefit.
This year’s benefit featured IMOW’s second annual Innovator Award for Women in Technology, presented to Padmasree Warrior, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer of Cisco Systems.
The International Museum of Women is an innovative online museum that showcases art, stories and ideas to celebrate, inspire and advance the lives of women around the world. With the support of over 500 guests, IMOW raised over $200,000 to benefit its mission and exhibitions. Guests enjoyed a night of art and inspiration from the museum’s virtual collection, music, networking and dancing, while watching notable female artists create original artwork.
Learn more about the International Museum of Women at www.imow.org

















