The New San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Part 1
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art or SF MOMA for short reopened today after having been closed for three years for renovation and expansion. After having accumulated quite a number of artwork over the years, it had no choice but to expand. Given the limited space around their current site, the museum's officials had no choice but to build upwards. It now has seven floors with which to display their burgeoning collection.
Last week, I had the good fortune of being invited to a special viewing specifically for educators from the city and the East Bay. When such a distinguished institution came calling, off I went as fast as my two feet could carry me. To be quite frank, I am not really fond of modern art, but SF MOMA left me feeling quite impressed. The building alone made my jaw drop. It was spectacular then, but it is even more so now.
The newly renovated and expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Here's a partial view of the museum from the Yerba Buena Gardens.
The hustle and bustle inside the museum's lobby
Having been a member of SF MOMA for years, my mission on this special visit was to see what was new to the museum. The wall filled with plants native to California was so dramatic!
Geoffrey Hendricks and Brian, a San Francisco couple circa 1978, was the subject of Alice Neel's painting. This was the very first artwork I saw inside the museum as soon as I began exploring. I just loved it. It is so San Francisco!
Geoffrey Hendricks and Brian by Alice Neel
South America Square by Bruce Nauman
South America by Bruce Nauman
Atheism by Jim Dine
Atheism by Jim Dine
Who else can this be?
Andy Warhol
Dolly Parton by Andy Warhol
Chairman Mao by Andy Warhol
Elvis Presley by Andy Warhol
National Velvet Elizabeth Taylor by Andy Warhol
Fellow educators admiring an artwork and making sense of it all
Scrutinizing Morris Lewis's work very up close
Untitled work by Morris Lewis
Untitled by Morris Lewis
My favorite of all the new artwork at the SF MOMA to date, this suave policeman
I intially thought there was a problem given the presence of police inside the museum. Turns out this was a very, very life like statue of a San Francisco policeman. One of the museum's hits, if I may say so myself. The line to have pics taken with this guy was LOOOONG!
