About Us

Greetings, my name is Amron. Some people also call me by my middle name, Paul. I am originally from Indonesia, but I have had the opportunity to experience other cultures all over the world. At the age of seventeen, I left my home country to explore the world and lived in Singapore and Australia. I then spent my college years studying in the United States with a double major in Fine Arts and Telecommunications with an emphasis in Drama-TV-Film.

In 1989/90 I returned to my home in Indonesia and began a small hotel business which I named Vagabond International Youth Hostel. Located in the city of Yogyakarta in the central region of the island of Java, Vagabond became a famous “home away from home” for young travelers from around the globe.

A few years later in 1995, my family and I created a boutique hotel called Jogja Village (Dusun) Inn, also located in Yogyakarta, Java (www.jvidusun.co.id). By working closely with renowned Indonesian artists in dance, theater and culture to sponsor workshops and performances at that hotel, I was able to help bring the East and West one step closer together. Many of our guests discovered aspects of Indonesian culture that other tourists could not find on their own.

Once again venturing outside Indonesia in 1998, I decided to settle back in the US and reside in San Francisco. For several years I worked in the hotel business and at a private art college while finishing up my degree in hotel management. When not working, I volunteered my time and abilities as a dancer and performer for Bay Area non-profit organizations.

This year, 2004, has proven to be a great year for me. Thanks to my partner in crime, Bill, I have seen one of my dreams come true in Hayes Valley neighborhood: owning a studio that features the finest quality work of Indonesian artists. The culture and spirit of each region of the country as well as the artists’ hearts and emotions are expressed through a variety of mediums, including woodcarvings, paintings, woven tapestries, batik prints, stone carvings, and masks. Bill and I regularly travel throughout Indonesia and Asia to meet with each artist personally so that we work with each individual fairly. We would like to share our finds and collections with you! Those of you who love to hunt for that special something will certainly appreciate and enjoy the unique vibrant works of art we have in our studio.

To celebrate our accomplishments, we would like to invite you to a celebration in our small studio and store, called Gecko Gecko, in Castro neighborhood. For your enjoyment, we will have a small library with literature and videos on Asian art, culture, and home design.

We would like to provide a space for local Bay Area artists to perform and/or exhibit their work each month. If you are an artist, please do not hesitate to contact me so that we can talk! Let's make Gecko Gecko a happening place and a cultural hang out in the neighborhood. Let it be a tight community and let’s support each others!!!

Peace and Light,
Amron & Bill