Stanlee Gatti

Infobox Person
name = Stanlee R. Gatti


image_size =
caption =
birth_date = October 28, 1955
birth_place = Raton, New Mexico
death_date =
death_place =
education = Art and architecture, University of Oregon; MFA, SanFrancisco Art Institute
occupation = Event designer
spouse =
parents = Ann and Larry Gatti
children =

Stanley Ray Gatti (b. 1955), San Francisco's "residentcreative genius," is among the first Americans topractice event design as visual art.

Biography

Origins

Gatti is the second youngest of five children born to immigrant parents inthe small mining town of Raton, New Mexico. His mother Ann was bornin Montenegro, Serbia. His father Larry, a coal miner born in
Arpino, Italy (birthplace of Cicero), built the family househimself.

An inquisitive child, Gatti would often explore his father's
workshop. He roamed the grounds surrounding hishome, collecting soil to mix in mud pots for paint. He learned
piano, saxophone, and drums, and was interested in local
Native American music and culture.cite news|first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= On the Record:Stanlee Gatti|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/12/26/BUGUDACAOB58.DTL|format=
work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date=December 26, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] Hestudied dance in elementary school, and ran a flower shop by ageten.

Gatti studied music, physical education and art at the
University of Northern Colorado in the 1970s, then
architecture and art history at the University of Oregon. After college he briefly returned home to coordinate eventsat the local country club, and worked as a department store window dresser. He worked at a plant store in Aspen,Colorado for several months then, inspired by a dream and a chancemeeting with a group of drifters, he moved to San Francisco's
Tenderloin neighborhood.. He began as a florist at the St. Francis Hotelhotel in 1978, advancing quickly to HospitalityManager, a room service post created for him.

Politics and society in San Francisco

In 1985 Gatti's boss at the St.Francis asked him to set up a table for group of self-described ladies who lunch planning a 75th anniversary opening gala for the San Francisco Symphony. In a hurry, he bought a flower-patterned
bedsheet from Macy's across the street, borrowed a
tablecloth and napkins from housekeeping, and arranged some
sweet peas on top. One of the women, California Culinary Academyfounder Danielle Carlisle, reportedly exclaimed "Who did this?"Impressed, the women hired him to design the entire event.cite news |first=Cynthia|last=Robins |authorlink= |author=|coauthors= |title=Party Arty:the SF Arts Commission's Stanlee Gatti, making the move from high-end flower arrangements to conceptual art.|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1998/12/06/MAGAZINE6003.dtl|format=
work= |publisher=San Francisco Examiner|id= |pages= |page= |date=December 6, 1998|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] In hisfirst professional effort, he stirred up the traditionally staid Symphonycrowd with unusually bold colors and designs. By next morning he wasreceiving calls from San Francisco socialites who wanted to hire himfor themselves. cite news |first=Kevin|last=West
authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Gatti Trust|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb337/is_200511/ai_n18832061|format=
work= |publisher=W Magazine|id= |pages= |page= |date= November,2005|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] Within threemonths he left the hotel to start his own design firm, Stanlee R. GattiDesigns.

Success came quickly. A "great sniffer of power" and friend to "bothbeauty and bum, bastard and banker," he soon jointed the ranks of SanFrancisco's social elite, not only creating events but attending, hosting,throwing parties and having parties thrown for him. According to hismother, "He never meets a stranger." In 1998 a columnist deemed him oneof the three most powerful people in San Francisco..Others compare him to New York tastemaker Ward McAllister. A well-known blog ran an occasional "Stanlee Gatti count"to list mentions in San Francisco's gossip columns. [cite web
url= http://www.sfist.com/2007/02/25/swells_by_the_numbers.php|title=Swells by the numbers|accessdate= 2007-06-09|accessmonthday=
accessdaymonth = |accessyear= |author= |last= Hao |first= Rita
authorlink= |coauthors= |date= February 25, 2007 |year= |month= |format=
work= |publisher= sfist|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl=
archivedate= |quote= ]

In 1996 Mayor Willie Brown, by then apersonal friend, appointed Gatti President of the San Francisco Arts Commission, an important agency that manages a set aside of two percentof all city spending on public works. Gatti used the position to push theboundaries of San Francisco's famously conservative taste in public art.cite news |first=Jesse|last=Hamlin |authorlink=|author= |coauthors= |title=Arts czar Stanlee Gatti has left his mark on the city. Whether you like it is another matter.|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/07/14/DDG0N7KJJ522.DTL|format=|work= |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date= July 14, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] Hisbest-received initiatives were installations by Vito Acconci, Ned Kahn, Robert Arneson, and Bill Viola. Gatti brought ten Keith Haring sculptures to San Francisco, one of which remains at the
Moscone Center. However, Gatti generated as much controversy asadmiration. He jokingly proposed to mount a 30-foot Louise Bourgeoisspider atop San Francisco City Hall. A more serious proposal toinstall a giant peace symbol by Tony Labat in Golden Gate Parkran afoul of neighborhood activists and was subsequently rejected bythe Commission.cite news |first=Jesse|last=Hamlin|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Sculptured Vision of City|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1998/05/06/DD7295.DTL|format=|work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date= May 6, 1998|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] . In 1999 analready-approved commission for Buster Simpson to create a giant nakedfoot for the end of MarketStreet was criticized by an uncomprehending public, mocked by the head
San Francisco Chronicle art critic, and ultimately de-funded by the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors.. Gatti resignedfrom the Commission unexpectedly in 2004.

Personal life

Gatti has cultivated close friendships with people from all walks of life,but especially the women of San Francisco's moneyed social circle. Hewas best man at the wedding of current mayor Gavin Newsom to
Kimberly Guilfoyle. Other high-profile friends,living and deceased, include David Blaine, Robin Williams, Elton John, Jason Lewis, Danielle Steel, Peter Magowan, Grace Slick (who introduced him to psychic CarolSimone), Jo Schuman and Steve Silver, Ann and Gordon Getty, and
Herb Caen.

An often anonymous philanthropist, Gatti quietly funded the Rigo 23mural "Sky/Ground" on San Francisco's St. Regis Museum Tower,contributed $50,000 towards the Haring installations, and intended tosecretly pay for the Golden Gate Park peace symbol. Gatti is reportedlyan insomniac and workaholic, who stays awake long into the nightand drinks five espressos every morning. A chain smoker, hecarries his ashes away because he dislikes dirty ash trays. Although heworks events that serve meat, he himself is a vegetarian. He currently lives in San Francisco's Twin Peaks.

Art

Friends and colleagues praise Gatti's "genius" for creative design. He is among few American designers who approach eventplanning as a visual art form as much as a business service. Along with New York's Robert Isabell he is "one ofthe most venerated event designers in the country."cite news |first=Chloe |last= Harris|authorlink= |author=
coauthors= |title= The Creative Genius|url=http://www.7x7sf.com/fashion_beauty/fashion_style/4226841.html|format=
work= |publisher= 7X7 Magazine|id= |pages= |page= |date= September 1, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] The creativeprocess is spontaneous and focuses heavily on color. He follows colortrends in fashion (his favorite is green), but in eventdesign, he explains, "I do not know what the trends are because I set thetrends." [cite web |url= http://yumsugar.com/225538|title= Stanlee's Secret|accessdate= 2007-06-09|accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth =|accessyear= |author= partysugar|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=|date= April 25, 2007 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=yumsugar|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=] A florist by background, he usually designs elaborate floraldisplays for events, yet sometimes excludes them entirely. "Everyone expects flowers, especially from me", heexplains. "I don’t ever really want to be pegged into acorner." [cite news
url=http://www.examiner.com/a-406866~Foregoing_flowers.html
publisher=San Francisco Examiner | accessdate=2007-07-25 | author=TiffaniMartini | date=November 18, 2006 | title=Foregoing Flowers] .

Stanlee R. Gatti design

Gatti's company "Stanlee R. Gatti Designs" produces high profile
weddings, parties, fundraisers, and other events in SanFrancisco and throughout the world. Leaving to others details suchas transportation, security, and catering, he concentrates on theaesthetic experience. His work involves fabrication and installation ofdecorations, interior design, tents and other temporary structures,lighting, flowers, costumes, table settings and dressing. Some are mis-en-scene installations, such as simulatinga forest inside a tent (including a black night sky, floor mulch, live firtrees, and cold temperature) to celebrate the turn-over of San Francisco's
Presidio to the National Park Service, or a cubist theme tohonor a biographer of Pablo Picasso.

Working without project proposals or detailed budgets, Gatti and his staffof 55 employees produce ten events per week.citenews |first=Natasha|last=Garber |authorlink= |author= |coauthors=|title=Stanlee Gatti Has the Last Word|url=http://specialevents.com/mag/meetings_stanlee_gatti_last/|format= |work=|publisher=Special Events Magazine|id= |pages= |page= |date= September 1, 2001|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] Half are weddings. Projects range from single-table floral designs to large charity events for thousands of guests. Gatti has been known to run large charity eventsat a loss, personally funding shortfalls, changes and fixes when importantto an event's success.

Solo installations

* Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, "Stanlee's Brain", 2006cite news |first= Catherine|last=Bigelow|authorlink=|author= |coauthors= |title= Swells|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/22/LVG5KLRPF11.DTL|format=|work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date=October 22, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ]
* Conservatory of Flowers, "One: An Earth Installation", 2007.cite news |first= Joel|last=Selvin|authorlink= |author=
coauthors= |title= Gatti's love of nature blooms sans flowers|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/18/DDGLAN0IM71.DTL|format=
work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date=
December 18, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] cite news |first= Catherine|last=Bigelow|authorlink=
author= |coauthors= |title= Swells|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/15/LVGEUP6TPI1.DTL|format=
work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date= April 15, 2007|accessdate=2007-07-25 |language= |quote= ]

Commissioned projects

* City of San Francisco, approximately 100 events including inauguration of Mayors Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom
* San Francisco Symphony, various projects including 75th anniversary gala (1987), season openings, and Black and White Ball
* Fairmont Hotel, luncheon for Mikhail Gorbachev, 1990
* Giorgio Armani, fashion show, 1997
* Martix Fillmore nightclub, San Francisco, designer and partner, 2002. [cite news |first=Zahid|last=Sardar|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Matrix for Fun: A Stanlee Gatti-designed bar reclaims a bastion of San Francisco nightlife|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/04/28/CM86952.DTL|format=|work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date=December 18, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ]
* InStyle Magazine, Sir Elton John's Oscar party, 2003 and 2004 [cite news |first= Rhonda|last=Richford|authorlink=
author= |coauthors= |title= It's Ladies Night|url=|format= |work=
publisher= Instyle Magazine|id= |pages= |page= |date= April,2005|accessdate=|language= |quote= ]
* Fleur de Lys Restaurant, Las Vegas, Nevada, interior design, 2004
* Jack Falstaff Restaurant, San Francisco, California, interior design, 2004 [cite news |first= Catherine|last=Bigelow|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Swells|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/07/03/LVG91DES2M1.DTL|format=
work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date= July 3, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ]
* Lucasarts, Letterman Digital Arts Center grand opening, 2005. [cite news |first= Catherine|last=Bigelow|authorlink= |author=
coauthors= |title= Swells|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/12/05/LVG75A4O9I1.DTL|format=
work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date=
December 5, 2004|accessdate=2007-07-25 |language= |quote=]
* People magazine, Screen Actors Guild awards and post-award party, 2004 through 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.bizbash.com/losangeles/content/editorial/e7254.php|title=Coffee—and Pelosi—Inspire SAG Fete|accessdate= 2007-06-09|accessmonthday=|accessdaymonth = |accessyear= |author= |last= Lacher |first= Irene |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= January 30, 2007 |year= |month= |format=|work= |publisher= BizBash|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl=|archivedate= |quote=] [cite web|url=http://www.bizbash.com/losangeles/content/editorial/e5735.php|title=SAG Awards Turn Flowers Upside Down|accessdate= 2007-06-09|accessmonthday=|accessdaymonth = |accessyear= |author= |last= Lacher |first= Irene |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= February 23, 2006 |year= |month= |format=|work= |publisher= BizBash|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl=|archivedate= |quote]
* Charles Koch, birthday dinner, 2005
* Gordon Getty, birthday party, 2006 [cite news |first=Catherine|last=Bigelow|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Swells|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/24/LVGNGN484U1.DTL|format=
work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date=
December 24, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ]
* American Conservatory Theater, 40th Anniversary event, 2007 [cite news | publisher=Palo Alto Daily News|title=Ruby Jubilee marks 40 years for ACT|author=Janet Duca Norton|title=http://www.paloaltodailynews.com/article/2007-5-6-ruby-jubilee|author=|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/24/DDG4PPCOAN1.DTL|title=Celebrating its 40th anniversary, ACT stages a party for the ages|date=|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=April 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-07-25|author=Bigelow, Catherine]
* SFMOMA, Modern Ball, 2007cite news |first=Catherine|last=Bigelow|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Surreal fete for prince of Pop art at SFMOMA's Modern Ball|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/04/DDGBMPJU421.DTL|format=|work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date= May 4, 2007|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ] and other projects
* California College of the Arts, Threads Gala, 2007 [cite news |title= Swells |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 6, 2007|accessdate=2007-07-25 |author=Bigelow,Catherine|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/05/06/LVGI8PL0AS1.DTL&type=printable]

Weddings

* Danielle Steele and Tom Perkins, 1996
* Susie Russell and Mark Buell, 1996
* Summer Tompkins and Brooks Walker, 1997
* George P. Shultz and Charlotte Mailliard, 1997
* Arista Records, 25th Anniversary gala, 1999
* Lara Hedberg and Christopher Deam, 2001cite news |first= Zahid|last=Sardar|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Spaceship Xanadu|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/01/21/CM1763612.DTL|format=
work= |publisher= San Francisco Chronicle|id= |pages= |page= |date=January 21, 2001|accessdate=2007-06-09 |language= |quote= ]
* Christy Turlington and Edward Burns, 2003

Other clients

Gatti has undertaken significant projects for San Francisco Opera,
San Francisco Ballet, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, de Young Museum, San Francisco Art Institute, the San Francisco Zoo, Diane Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi, Charles Schwab, Peter Magowan, and Dede Wilsey.

External links

* [http://www.stanleegatti.com/ Stanlee R. Gatti Designs]

References

Persondata
NAME = Stanlee R. Gatti
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Stanlee Gatti
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Event designer
DATE OF BIRTH =
PLACE OF BIRTH = Raton, New Mexico
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =