Vera Claeys, rental events coordinator for the SFMOMA, surrounded by her zine "Cool, Calm, and Rejected."

John Casey, visitor experience staffer and visual artist, sharing a work-in-progress.

Isabella Roncaglio, visitor experience staffer, dancing with operations coordinator Robin Birdd’s sculpture "Robert Gonzales." Conny Bleul, special tours guide, sitting with her collection of hand-painted footwear inspired by the museum and its exhibits.

We created a stage set for them to share these practices with the museum-going public while being photographed in one of Ryan Schude’s Tableaux Vivant images. (Above portraits also by Ryan.)

We also invited museumgoers to join in the creativity by documenting the fun with disposable cameras.

I also designed some golden tickets (printed beautifully by JR Press) to give to some lucky museum visitors join in the fun on set.

Why? Why dig in to hidden talents and creativity?

To celebrate the sometimes invisible contributions of the community of people around famous artists. To celebrate the importance of the creativity in all of us. To celebrate “scenius” over genius. Brian Eno described “scenius” like this:

[There were] sometimes very fertile scenes involving lots and lots of people – some of them artists, some of them collectors, some of them curators, thinkers, theorists, people who were fashionable and knew what the hip things were – all sorts of people who created a kind of ecology of talent. And out of that ecology arose some wonderful work.

A huge thank you to our new friends at the SFMOMA for helping us showcase that ecology of talent through this unconventional live art event. See more about the process in this behind-the-scenes video.

Speaking of an ecology of talent — I’d like to thank many people for their contributions to this project.

First and foremost, the SFMOMA staffers who shared their creative practices! (Full list with links below.)

Also Ryan Schude for being a talent-storm, a long time friend and collaborator, and my main creative partner on this project. This all began in fall of 2018 when Ryan and I started scheming on an event centered around one of his cinematic, large scale photo shoots.

Our wildest dream was to work on something like this with the SFMOMA, so I contacted my friend Sonya Yu, a dynamic and visionary member of the SFMOMA board. This project wouldn’t have happened without Sonya advocating for it, contributing fantastic ideas (such as disposable cameras as an interactive component!), and providing fundraising support.

Three weeks before the event, our other key collaborator Dylan Hosey faced an enormous setback. His entire studio and wood shop burned to the ground. While he wasn’t able to built the set of his dreams for this project, we recognize him as a valued creative partner on this event due to his contribution of months of phone calls, brainstorms, sketches, major good vibes, and day-of support.

In the wake of that Dylan’s loss, we hustled to assemble a set made of rental items that could provide the right kind of backdrop. We’re grateful that Claire Xue volunteered as a set stylist for us at the last minute, bringing talent, props, and a great attitude.

Another long-time friend and collaborator, Robert Bingaman of Summerhouse, worked from pre-dawn to late night capturing the behind-the-scenes footage of the day with his crew (listed below).

Brittany Sterling and I had years of attending art parties together before working together on this one. So appreciative of her help with production, day-of coordination, and just fun.

Other day-of support came from Adam Cohen, Corey Marsau, Ken Nagahara, Raymond Rudolph, Teague Wasserman and Travis Kerkela — good natured badasses, all.

We loved planning this with Nan Keeton, Sara Murphy (pictured below), Maggie Azary, and Heather Sanchez at the SFMOMA. We always felt a little starstruck when we got to go up to the SFMOMA offices and collaborate with these brilliant and kind folks. (We joked that we felt like design contestants on Project Runway when they get to meet meeting Diane Von Furstenberg or something.) Thanks for taking a chance on this unusual project!

We’re grateful for financial support from Sonya Yu and Zack Lara (pictured below), Kaitlyn and Mikey Krieger, Wild Child Play, and Dropbox, for making this project possible. And to Lomography for donating the amazing film cameras.

Lastly, huge thanks to the SFMOMA staffers who shared their creative practices:

Robin Birdd, Community Enterprise Operations Senior Coordinator, for sharing her sculpture practice.

Heather Sanchez, Marketing Assistant, (and family) for sharing her practice of teaching art to kids.

Sienna Freeman, Operations Project Manager, for sharing her large scale collages.

Erika Kathrein, Buyer’s Assistant, for sharing her knitting.

Conny Bleul, Special Tours Guide, for sharing her hand-painted art shoes.

Isabella Roncaglio, Visitor Experience, for sharing her ballet practice.

Stephanie Silk, Visitor Experience, for sharing her watercolor painting.

John Casey, Visitor Experience, for sharing his drawing and visual art.

Vera Claeys, Rental Events Coordinator, for sharing her zine.

Ryn Medeiros, Enterprise Events Operations Manager, for sharing her exquisitely crafted desserts.

Misty Youmans, Manager of Foundation and Government Support, for sharing her knitting and embroidery.

And the other SFMOMA staff who supported the success of this event.

It felt a bit like being life models for a multi-figure History painting inside Pee-Wee's playhouse, with your coworkers.  There was a slowed-down-ness to the process that allowed space to notice nuanced details about the people and the objects nearby.  Observations and conversations seemed to be had with a different type of close, kind, and somewhat awkward attention. It felt at once organic, but staged, and meaningful.

—Sienna Freeman