Chocolate is a pretty typical Valentine’s gift. But how about a little art?
Right now the 323 Gallery on Potrero near 16th is having a show, “Love, Art and Chocolate,” featuring the work of 12 artists who work in the neighborhood at places like Project Artaud and Developing Environments.
Judy West, the owner of 323 Gallery, has had the space for a couple of years. But it was her sister, Audrey Vaggione ridiculously delicious chocolates, Dolce Bella, that convinced her to keep more regular hours in the afternoons.
“She’s always excelled at everything she’s done,” West says about her sister. “She went to culinary academy here in San Francisco and in the pastry program, she discovered making chocolates. Now she has a substantial garden in Saratoga and grows her own raspberries and lemons and herbs and things that go into chocolate, so they’re absolutely fresh and with locally grown ingredients, and not a lot of sugar.”
Fresh! Locally grown! Not a lot of sugar! They’re good for you! And, seriously, crazy delicious.
But it’s not only about the chocolate. Suzanne Couture, who runs the gallery with West, is an artist and an art teacher at the de Young Museum. West says there is pretty much something for everyone now, with sculptures as well as paintings, Valentine’s cards, and spiral notebooks from Spiral Binding on 16th made of recycled books.
Usually the gallery is open from 3-7 pm Wednesday – Friday and by appointment, but this week they are open Saturday as well. On Friday evening, there will be some refreshments, so come by. You can get your Valentine’s needs met, and maybe you’ll be super lucky and get to taste some mint, lemon verbena or fleur de sel caramel chocolate. Really, I'm not kidding about these chocolates. This is the only place in San Francisco to buy them, and Saratoga is a long way away.
Comments