In a time when life poses a multitude of questions to which we struggle to find answers, nothing seems more fitting than an exhibition of a very personal art collection that carries with it a history of memories brimming with joy, humor, passion and honesty. Sylvia and Garry Bennett have succeeded in dovetailing their lives with an abundance of artwork steeped with meaning and value that nudges each of us toward the basic belief that art soothes and heals the soul. Dovetailing Art and Life: The Bennett Collection is about a deliberate path of collecting that looks toward commitment to instinct and the courage to select objects of art that communicate a kind of esoteric relationship available to those willing to take the risk. With a significant emphasis on craft, the collection suggests a reverence towards age-old craftsmanship but also an extreme sensitivity to design and creativity. Purposefully included in this exhibition is a selection of fine art that convincingly presents the visual harmony between art and craft. The Bennett’s have deliberately surrounded themselves with a home full of many art forms that cohabit, all originating from similar creative seeds, all with a certain consistency and passion that inspired them. And for all those gladiators of this day and age who are forging our futures with hard work and brilliant technology, I hope this exhibition offers a strong sense that you can achieve some well-deserved solace by offering the creative souls in the world a place to plant their creations.

This exhibition has been an honor to present and I offer my most sincere thank you to Sylvia and Garry Bennett for making it the perfect inaugural opening for the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design. M. Lee Fatherree, Mark Ong and Maria Porges also deserve special thanks for contributing to the excellence of Dovetailing Art and Life: The Bennett Collection.