The strong connection existing between Rome and San Francisco is timeless, so is the quote used for the exhibition that opened at San Francisco Airport’s International Terminal a few weeks ago.
With its grand opening on March 11, “All Roads lead to Rome” showcases magnificent old master paintings as well as the world’s largest collection of architectural models of the Grand Tour, a total of seventy-eight objects that have never been seen together on such a scale.
During a conversation with the exhibition curator, Timothy O’Brien, we learned the importance of the partnership between SFO and the knowledgeable, passionate collectors involved. “Architects and designers and their innate understanding of visual space and perspective make collaboration easy and enjoyable”, he stated. “Their desire to share their passion through their collection inspires everybody when they produce the best possible presentation in the available space.” And this was also true in a space like the San Francisco International Airport.
“All the roads lead to Rome”, that had its grand opening on March 11, showcases magnificent old master paintings as well as the world’s largest collection of architectural models of the Grand Tour, a total of seventy-eight objects that have never been seen together on such a scale
Tim, what’s your connection with Italy?
I don’t have a personal connection with Italy aside from my love of Western history and art. Our exhibition partners, David Weingarten and Lucia Howard, have a deep connection to Italy and a great familiarity with the architectural history of Ancient Rome.
Can you explain more about your job?
Our job at SFO Museum is to present rotating exhibitions on a range of subjects for the 55 million visitors who use the airport each year. Our program humanizes the airport and reflects San Francisco’s commitment to art, culture, and education. By celebrating creativity as it exists in all corners of the world, we try to remind our visitors what connects us to one another. We consider this job an awesome privilege and responsibility: hopefully our visitors will make their own connections to the respective subjects and will be inspired to learn more.
When did you have the opportunity for the exhibit?
With more than twenty sites throughout the airport and the creation of at least forty exhibitions each year, we are planning exhibitions at all times. The origins of this one date to March 2012, when David Weingarten and Lucia Howard first reached out to propose this subject. But one could argue the origins actually date to 1998, when we first had the pleasure of exhibiting objects from their collection.
The whole planning of the exhibit took almost five years. After David Weingarten reached out with the proposal, curators at SFO began a dialogue about potential objects and material, the scope of the subject, and how it could be best presented within the proposed gallery spaces at SFO. “With the confidence from having worked with our partners on numerous occasions, and a firm belief that this proposal was an excellent fit for us, we tentatively scheduled the exhibition for 2015”, Timothy revealed. As they drew closer to that date and ambitions for presentation grew, they rescheduled for January to August 2017 to provide the necessary time to produce the best possible exhibition.
What can you tell more about these objects?
Our exhibitions are only as good as our subject and its objects, and the objects are just extraordinary. David and Lucia’s collection of architectural souvenirs features hundreds of miniature monuments and buildings, many of which we exhibited in a 2010 exhibition titled Grand Miniatures that presented architectural models of recognizable monuments from all the destinations of the Grand Tour, that educational rite of passage for many European and American elites from the 17 through the 19th centuries. The miniature monuments are largely crafted in bronze and antique marbles. Many were made for the well-heeled tourist, while more singular examples include prototype models and presentation pieces. With David and Lucia’s proposal to focus on Rome exclusively, they suggested we include etchings, drawings, and several fine examples from a genre of painting with which we were completely unfamiliar, the capriccio, or the architectural fantasy. We were excited to program this exhibition for our larger galleries to accommodate their framed artwork. Seen together, the objects and the artwork demonstrate how artists in Rome viewed their city, and how they wished convey its extraordinary architectural heritage to those who visited.
“Tutte le strade portano a Roma”, a very meaningful title…
It certainly appears more beautiful when rendered—and spoken—in Italian. David first proposed that title in 2013 when discussing the exhibition but, while we always push several title ideas around during development, we never found one that worked better. We like the instant familiarity with the phrase. It communicates the centrality of Rome as a historically important political, cultural, and artistic center, while also referencing the city’s centrality to what can arguably be called the original tourist itinerary—the Grand Tour.
“All Roads Lead to Rome” is promoted by the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco together with the ICAA-Northern California Chapter, thanks to loans from Piraneseum gallery, and is sponsored by CoorItalia. The exhibition can be visited at the International Terminal (Departures – Level 3 – Pre-Security) until August 13, 2017. More information at http:// www.flysfo.com/museum/exhibitions/all-roads-lead-rome
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