You can add the de Young Museum in San Francisco to the list of my favourite art museums. (I know, the list is getting longer, and longer.) Here are some of the reasons why you should visit it…
Location: Golden Gate Park. Home to other museums, speciality gardens, an historical carousel and much more, Golden Gate Park‘s western border is the Pacific Ocean. Need I say more? One could spend days enjoying the park.
Japanese Garden, Golden Gate Park image by Terry Vatrt
image by Terry Vatrt
Architecture The museum is gorgeous, covered in varying textured metal sheathing. The current building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron (Switzerland) and Fong & Chan (San Francisco) Architects was opened on October 15, 2005.
de Young Museum (Terry Vatrt image)
exterior: de Young Museum image by Terry Vatrt
exterior: de Young Museum image by Terry Vatrt
exterior: de Young Museum image by Terry Vatrt
Sculpture Garden It’s always a bonus to have a sculpture garden as part of an art museum. To discover a permanent Turell installation as part of the sculpture garden is, for me, a gift.
Tunnel to Three Gems, James Turrell (image by Terry Vatrt)
Three Gems, James Turrell (image by Terry Vatrt)
Three Gems, James Turrell (image by Terry Vatrt)
Three Gems, James Turrell (image by Terry Vatrt)
View The Hamon Tower Observation Deck offers a 360 degree view of San Francisco in all its splendour.
de Young Museum (SF Chronicle image)
de Young Museum (LA Magazine image)
Gift Shop/Book Store There are two floors of great shopping; I ran out of time.
Cafeteria Lots of food choices, but best of all: indoor and outdoor seating looking onto the Sculpture Garden.
de Young Museum (Terry Vatrt image)
The Art! The museum was founded in 1895, and has a vast collection. I saw some great work, which will provide abundant material for future postings.
Ruth Asawa hanging (Terry Vatrt image)
Wow…this looks thrilling Teri! Thank you for writing about it.
You are welcome. My pleasure to write about it. Thanks for reading.
What beautiful images and a good prodding to try to get the San Francisco someday.
Thank you. Lots to see there!
Your wonderful photographs brought back memories of my one and only visit to this very fine museum.
However, I can’t help but add that perhaps the most memorable thing I saw that day was an amazingly dull retrospective of work by my favorite photographer— something I wouldn’t have thought possible! Several hundred linear feet of pictures by Ralph Eugene Meatyard were lined up at eye level around a vast room, all the same size, framed similarly, completely uninterpreted. I’m not really complaining— it was so underwhelming that it made me think and think some more about presentation and installation and curation of art.
(And then we went and had a lovely lunch in the sun-filled courtyard…)
It really is stunning. Thanks for this. Where can I find your list of favourite museums. I just saw the Peggy Guggenheim Museum of Contemporary Art and wonder if it made the cut? If I were to make a list this one be there.
Diane
Good idea…..I could do a blog posting on my list of favourite museums. The Guggenheim in Venice DEFINITELY is on the list. Imagine that she lived there, and Miro designed her headboard. (It’s enough to make me swoon 🙂
I like how you used the disappointing show to reflect on the practical aspects of a show. It’s true: so much goes into our appreciation of all the arts. Now I have to go and check out Meatyard!
Just catching up on my mail…nice way to take time Sunday morning. This post is a reminder for me to keep San Fran on my travel list. You have such a creative eye..I always enjoy looking at your strong images.
Sent from my iPad
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Thanks, JA.
Terry I think you are a brilliant photographer as well as a exquisite print maker. Holly
Holly McNally Sent from my iPad
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Holly, you are too kind. Thank you.
Isn’t that James Turrel piece amazing. It’s different every time you go in it, and it’s transporting. Your pictures are excellent, the really catch the sense of the piece.
The DeYoung always has something for everyone, from the regular collections, not just art but also archaelogical and anthropological materials, but also the changing exhibits across the gamut of the art world.
And it does have a wonderful cafe where when the SF weather allows (Sept/Oct the best bets) having lunch outside with the sculpture garden , or as I usually do when I’m there is to have a beer and take a break before plunging back into the art,
Isn’t that James Turrel piece amazing. It’s different every time you go in it, and it’s transporting. Your pictures are excellent, they really catch the sense of the piece.
The DeYoung always has something for everyone, from the regular collections, not just art but also archaelogical and anthropological materials, but also the changing exhibits across the gamut of the art world.
And I agree about the wonderful cafe where when the SF weather allows (Sept/Oct the best bets) having lunch outside with the sculpture garden , or as I usually do when I’m there is to have a beer and take a break before plunging back into the art,
I had the funniest experience in the Turrell structure. When I entered, a man was already there. After settling myself on a side bench, I realized the sounds I heard were coming from him….he was humming. The good news is that he was at least in tune! He didn’t stop the whole time I was there. sigh At first I was a bit annoyed; people tend to treat Turrell’s pieces with something like reverance. They are, after all, spaces for contemplation. I eventually decided it was just an elitist reaction on my part, and everyone is entitled to experience art in their own way.
I meant to go back to the piece later in the day, but was distracted by all the other great art, and I forgot. Next time……
What wonderful photographs. Thanks for reminding me of this aspect of SF.
Thanks, Trish.
Rediscovered your blog, Terry. So glad. I really enjoy it. Thanks!
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