Fall Celebration
Tuesday, September 22, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Bancroft Lobby

BAM/PFA members: Help us fete an exciting new exhibition season at our Fall Celebration. You’ll be the first to see two major exhibitions opening in the BAM galleries: Ari Marcopoulos: Within Arm’s Reach, a mid-career survey of photographs, moving images, and zines; and a timely exhibition of paintings and drawings, Fernando Botero: The Abu Ghraib Series. Plus, don’t miss our full slate of fall exhibitions including Deborah Grant’s MATRIX project Bacon, Egg, Toast in Lard. Enjoy our new signature snack, a complimentary glass of wine, great conversation—and great art.

Botero Reception
Tuesday, September 22, 5–6 p.m., Gallery C

Friends’ and Collectors’ Circle members: Join us for a special preview reception with internationally acclaimed artist Fernando Botero to honor his recent donation of The Abu Ghraib Series to the Berkeley Art Museum. Stay for the Fall Celebration featuring photographer Ari Marcopoulos. Reservation required. For more information, please contact Sarah Gibbons at sgibbons@berkeley.edu.

10@10
Saturday, October 10, 5–8 p.m., Gallery 16, San Francisco

Collectors’ Circle members: Director Lawrence Rinder, Chief Curator Lucinda Barnes, and MATRIX Curator Elizabeth Thomas share the work of ten dynamic Bay Area artists—in ten minutes each! Collectors’ Circle members will choose three for studio visits and potential acquisition. Enrich your knowledge of art and collecting with fun fare and drink!

Robert Beavers Screening and Conversation
Monday, October 12, 7–10 p.m., PFA Theater and Alphonse Berber Gallery, Berkeley

Friends’ Circle—Cineastes: Join fellow film lovers for a special screening and conversation with filmmaker Robert Beavers, followed by a dessert and cocktail reception at Alphonse Berber gallery.

Omer Fast Preview and Cocktail Party
Saturday, October 24, MATRIX Gallery and Bancroft Lobby

Collectors’ Circle members: Preview the upcoming MATRIX exhibition featuring the work of Omer Fast and enjoy a conversation with the artist over cocktails. Omer Fast is the winner of the 2008 Bucksbaum Award. The prize, which goes to an emerging artist included in the Whitney Biennial, comes with a stipend and a solo show at the Whitney. See him first at BAM/PFA!

Gray Area Foundation for the Arts
Tuesday, November 10, 6–9 p.m.

Friends’ Circle—DMAX: Join us for a visit to Gray Area Foundation for the Arts, a new media gallery with the mission to engage underprivileged youth. View art by new media artist/UCLA professor Casey Reas and Bay Area pioneer Camille Utterback, and participate in a discussion led by Richard Rinehart and gallerist Catharine Clark about the economies of new media and art collecting. Afterwards, we’ll gather for drinks, light food, and more conversation.

UCSF Collection and Wattis Institute Visits
Saturday, November 14, 11 a.m– 4 p.m.

Friends’ Circle—Explorers: Tour the UCSF Mission Bay Art Projects with Mathieu Gregoire who will join the group for lunch. Next stop is a tour of Wattis Institute’s Moby-Dick with Director Jens Hoffman.

Spring Benefit Gala
Saturday, April 24, 2010

This spectacular event will honor American artist William T. Wiley, the subject of a major retrospective opening at BAM next spring. Wiley’s work has appeared in the Venice Biennale and is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and SFMOMA, as well as BAM/PFA. Wiley himself will be participating in this unforgettable evening. Tickets will go on sale in February 2010. For more information, please contact Sarah Gibbons at sgibbons@berkeley.edu or (510) 642-7496.