Modern Art on the Farm, Runnymede and Unique Art Collection
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Runnymede Farm and Unique Modern Art Collection, California, Bay Area.
In the City of Woodside, California, atop gold hills - amongst oak groves — more than 100 acres of land create the magical Runnmede Farm. At first sight, the lot appears to be an open space, but, after entrance, one finds more than 140 modern sculptures. Runnymede owners and art collectors, John and Dodie Rosekrans, are committed to collecting modern sculptures. Privacy is essential to the owners, so the collection is usually open to the public only once or twice per year (typically for benefit events and occasionally for a public tour). John, who developed the collection with his wife, was part of the Spreckels family and heir to their fortune. He was the great-grandson of sugar company founder Claus Spreckels. John’s Grandmother, Mrs. Alma de Bretteville Spreckeles (1881-1968) was a wealthy socialite from San Francisco, known as a ‘Big Alma’ or ‘The Great Grandmother of San Francisco’. Amongst other philanthropy, she is known for having provided donations to San Francisco’s California Palace of the Legion of Honor.