Eden Stein and Secession Art and Design

(an excerpt of an article by Nicole Markoff)

Where the outer banks of the Mission District meet the foot of Bernal Hill in San Francisco, California, sits a small gallery, boutique, and workspace called Secession Art and Design. Named after the Viennese Secession Art movement of the early twentieth century, Secession echoes in practice what is declared over the hall of the Austrian artists’ building: "to every age its art and to art its freedom". Since formally opening in 2007, owner/director Eden Stein has been engaging in a performance of entrepreneurship that promotes an aesthetic of refined art and design, reflecting the inter-relational nature of art works, social involvement, and community responsibility that inspires this current time and locality. Her orchestration of commerce, design and fine art, and social influence defines art entrepreneurship as a social practice.

Stein’s impact goes beyond her support of the artists that she shows and the designers she represents. She has made a commitment from the gate to support local organizations that promote education and social equality. While many companies commit 1% for art in an effort of good will, Stein has committed more. She asks the same of her artisans. Through artist donations of $25 per month matched by Secession, Stein has donated over $3,000 to local nonprofits over the last two years. Beneficiaries of this effort include Streetside - a local youth literacy organization that also features programs in the digital arts, Girlsource - an organization that supports girls to find their career potential, get jobs, and go to college, and the San Francisco chapter of Women Against Rape.