Connecting With People

The Portico of Portals 

Photos by Zoart Photography, Angelica Irreno and Fabula Tea

Today at the Gregangelo Museum, something quietly extraordinary happened. As I was closing for the day, I stepped out to the front, and a family from Ukraine was standing on the portico. They had not purchased tickets but they were simply taking in the beauty of the space. We began talking.

They shared with me their story. They had managed to bring their in-laws, now well into their 80s, safely out of Ukraine. They left behind their home, their garden, and every belonging they once cherished. I could feel the weight of that loss in their voices.

The elder woman did not speak a word of English, yet she radiated light. There was something luminous in her presence as if she carried a beam of resilience and grace despite all she had endured. Her beauty was not just in her face but in the way she seemed to belong to the earth and cosmos itself.

I invited them back and suggested the museum shows I thought would be best for their family. Then, without warning, the elder woman rose and approached me, placed her hands on my shoulders speaking in Ukrainian. I could not understand the words. One of the younger women translated. She said, She wants to water your garden. Of course, I said yes.

In that moment, I felt the connection. This woman had lost her own garden in Ukraine, yet here she was, thousands of miles away, recognizing the same life and beauty in mine and wanting to care for it. It was not just an act of kindness, it was an act of memory and of hope.

 We were so warmed by our conversation that they asked if they could linger to take photos, a rare allowance on my part, but one that felt right. I felt an immediate comfort with them, so I welcomed them to remain in the portico. That space, in particular, resonates deeply with who they are and with anyone who enters. The Portico of Portals, the Museum’s first interior immersive art installation, weaves creation myths from every continent into its walls, inviting visitors to step through a threshold of global stories.

Here at the Gregangelo Museum, we welcome people from all over the world, visitors from Ukraine, families seeking beauty in San Francisco, travelers searching for uplifting cultural experiences, and those looking for moments that restore the spirit. Our gardens, our art, and our immersive theatrical tours are not just entertainment. They are invitations to feel joy, to reconnect with beauty, and to remember that even after the deepest loss, something new can bloom.

Our experiences are only guided in the English language, however, when you visit, whether you speak Ukrainian, or any other language, you are welcome here. Beauty transcends words. And sometimes, the most powerful conversations happen in the language of the heart. However we highly recommend that you bring a translator so that your stories can be shared and inspire others of different languages.

Connecting with people is the first step to building lasting experiences and meaningful relationships