“Bay Area Made: Small Batch & Made to Order” Exhibit Recap

Thanks to everyone that attended our in-person exhibit “Bay Area Made: Small Batch & Made to Order” hosted by member company Arion Press for San Francisco Design Week. It was a beautiful and inspiring exhibit showcasing the high quality and innovative work of 50 of the finest local makers – and what a treat it was! For those of you who weren’t able to visit in person we have the next best thing – a recap with stunning images by photographer Patrick Brennan. And be sure to check out the excellent short video of the exhibit by videographer Martin Risberg.

The setting was the gallery at Arion Press, located in a 14,000 square foot industrial building in The Presidio of San Francisco that was formerly the laundry facility for the adjacent military hospital.

As the last printing press in the United States where books are handmade from start to finish, Arion Press pairs great artists with great literature to create beautiful fine artist books. They publish several limited editions every year, each conceptually unique and printed from metal types cast on site. Their production facility includes a letterpress shop with a one-of-a-kind collection of historic metal typefaces, a type foundry now in continuous operation for over 100 years, and a complete hand book bindery.

Arion Press has created museum-quality books by authors including Margaret Atwood, Nikolai Gogol, John Steinbeck, Philip Roth, Jane Austin, Emily Dickinson, Lawrence Ferlingretti, Virginia Woolf, Arthur Miller, Herman Melville and Sam Shepard, with original artwork by artists including William Kentridge, Tim Hawkinson, R.B. Kitaj, John Baldessari, Kara Walker, Raymond Pettibon, Kiki Smith, Alex Katz, Bruce Conner and Jim Dine.

“From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, to the products we use daily, what WE MAKE locally and HOW WE MAKE IT really does matter.”

The purpose of the exhibit was to educate and inspire the audience about the benefits of small-batch and made-to-order production, and the conscious choices the participating companies have made from concept to finished product that result in products that are better for the user, the community, and the planet. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, to the products we use daily, what WE MAKE locally and HOW WE MAKE IT really does matter.

The exhibit showcased the products and practices of local makers from a wide range of industries, and across the Bay Area, that utilize new innovative technologies, traditional craft, and a blend of the two. A common thread is an emphasis on quality and values – making better products in a more sustainable way. The Slow Design/Fashion/Food movement and the concept of Circular Design (creating products that last longer and are designed with the end in mind) were frequently cited as influences and guides.

Exhibiting companies were asked to describe their making practices: Who makes your products? What type of production space are they made in? What is your making process? What is your production model? What materials or ingredients do you use? Their responses were displayed on signage next to their products.

Examples of materials and ingredients used include renewable and sustainably harvested wood, natural and non-toxic finishes and dyes, organic cotton and ingredients, ethically mined metal and stones, locally grown and wild-harvested ingredients, up-cycled/recycled/dead stock/cut-offs/vintage textiles, reusable/recycled/bio-degradable packaging, and technically innovative materials such as UV resistant fabric and plant polymers for 3-D printing.

Making practices include creating products built to last, innovative digital manufacturing technology, zero-waste principles, lean manufacturing, replaceable parts, flat pack shipping, utilizing local supply chains, custom/made-to-order and on demand manufacturing.

You can see the exhibitors complete responses and learn more about them and their making practices here in the virtual edition of the exhibit.

“The benefits of locally made small-batch and made-to-order products are clear: they are better for the user, the community, and the planet.”

In addition to the in-person exhibit at Arion Press, as part of San Francisco Design Week’s virtual festival we held an illuminating panel discussion with five of the Bay Area’s leading makers in their industries about the benefits of small-batch and made-to-order production. Moderated by Lauryn Menard of Manos by Concreteworks, the panel included Ian Yang of Gantri, Lance Winters of St. George Spirits, Shujan Bertrand of Aplat, and John McConnico of Bespoke Watch Projects.

In these times of rapidly accelerating climate change and pandemic, it’s imperative that we devise and implement smarter ways of making products. The benefits of locally made small-batch and made-to-order products are clear: they are better for the user, the community, and the planet.

Photography by Patrick Brennan Photography

Patrick Brennan is a photographer based in San Francisco who specializes in interiors, architecture, and all things design. Living in the Bay Area for the past 15 years, he has been honored to work with many local business owners since starting his photography business in 2019. He photographs projects for designers, builders, architects, and other creative professionals. He loves working in the world of design and enjoys photographing natural landscapes on the side.

Video by Martin Risberg

Martin Risberg is a Swedish-born videographer and producer based in San Francisco. With his extensive experience in the field, his work spans the globe and companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 to small mom-and-pop shops. Whether it’s a national TV campaign or a grass-roots movement for a local bakery, he prides himself on telling the most compelling and true narrative. When Martin is not working you can find him exploring the hills of San Francisco or sipping on a craft cocktail at one of his favorite local watering holes.

Exhibiting Companies