a return to Matisse

 

Yesterday I met Sarah (left) and Andrea at SF Moma for another go-round with Mr. Matisse and his talented friends from those bygone days.  We had a long and lovely lunch ~ and talked of many things. Our pets were high on the important topic list, of course.

Matisse at SF Moma

 Thanks to Terri for scoring Opening Day tickets to the Matisse exhibit yesterday. She took the bottom photo of me taking photos of people taking pictures. First we had lunch at Cafe Jane next door and then we enjoyed wandering all over the 4th Floor. The curators did a fabulous job and I especially loved the recreation of Gertrude Stein's apartment in Paris. Well done, Moma!

KAWS ~ who? what?

 The best part of yesterday was lunch with Bev at the first floor cafe as I am not exactly a fan of KAWS (not his real name) who is a graffiti artist and a big deal with teen agers. And that's OK, all the museums need new blood. SF Moma is still my favorite museum, maybe because I never worked there? There were roaming and appreciative young people but I snapped these two bottom photos when the rooms were empty. All in all, despite the "art", it was a very good day.

non-stop creative artist

 Ruth Asawa lived and raised her six (!) children here in Noe Valley and this exhibit at SF Moma is well worth seeing, that's for sure. The middle photo recreates their living room where Ruth liked to work even though she had her own studio downstairs. Yesterday I met Beverly for lunch and then we both enjoyed this impressive collection of wire sculptures and memories of this amazing artist's life (1926-2013). I will return and I urge you to visit, if possible.

back to MOMA

 Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid were kind enough to include me on a trip to SF Moma yesterday and we had a splendid time revisiting Amy Sherald and Kara Walker (pictured here). A lovely lunch on the 5th floor and some smart shopping in the gift store. A lovely day indeed. I always see and learn something new when I visit an exhibit for the 2nd or even 3rd time. 

and today I exhale

 Yesterday I met Pamela and Joe at SF Moma for a l-o-n-g lunch with a lot of probably inappropriate laughter and just good old gossip and you-did-what? kind of friend catch-up. First we visited Amy Sherald's exhibit and I especially loved the two pieces featured above. And finally early to bed last night. What a week ~ thanks Sis and Blogmaid.

a study in green

 I was intrigued by this woman at SF Moma on Monday. Even her hair was green, as was her hair ornament. If I was a REAL photographer I bet this would be an outstanding image, but alas...

another happy museum day

 Chef Sarah drove down from Napa yesterday and we actually used the driverless taxi WAYMO and now I will be able to do this solo. Yay! We met Doug and Barb down at SF Moma because of the Kara Walker installation (top and bottom photos) which I urge you to see, if possible. Then we toured the museum and oohed and ahhhhed a lot. A really nice lunch on the 5th floor (middle photo, duh) and some more wandering around. Doug had to scoot off early to watch the Dodgers lose so Barb got to experience WAYMO on the trip back to my home. This was a terrific day and I am grateful to Sarah for instigating this adventure. 

The Art of Noise

 I didn't really expect much yesterday at this exhibit at SF Moma, mostly I just wanted to meet with Suzy for lunch outside on the 5th Floor. And that was lovely, but this was a terrific example of the superb graphic design history of San Francisco with the glorious album covers and posters from the past. A ton of young people wearing stunning fashion choices were enjoying this almost too colorful exhibition of more than 800 pieces. This amazing collection is available through August 18, and I encourage you to go. Begin on the 7th floor this trip, OK?

belated birthday celebrations

 Joe, Pamela and I met for lunch yesterday at SF Moma and good grief, that place was packed as it was Free Family Day. But we had a delightful time catching up and reminiscing about our days working at the deYoung and Legion of Honor. We were less than perfect employees, BTW.

living tapestry and so much more

 We all know that city life can be daunting, so I believe in seeking rewards. One such was a full day at SF Moma with Jen with 2 dogs yesterday. No dogs. The bottom two photos are works by Pacita Abad, a Filipina American artist who died way too young after creating thousands of colorful pieces of art including these two trapunto quilting masterpieces. The big, bold yellow and black sculpture in the top photo is by Yayoi Kusama and it is incredible. Her exhibit is currently sold out, but I will return.

LOVE on Valentine's Day

 Yesterday Pamela and I celebrated Joe's belated birthday at SF Moma and I devoured the Joan Brown exhibit again, and with pleasure. I have received quite a few lovely Valentines from friends and I am grateful indeed. Today is Tuesday with Ginger One and I hope for the Botanical Gardens.

duck soup and Ms. Brown

 Another very fine day! I so enjoyed lunch at King Thai Noodle House where I used to dine while working at the Big Box back in the day. I did drop into Macy's to check out Union Square before they remove the big tree and ice skating rink. The highlight, for sure, was SFMOMA for the Joan Brown retrospective on the 7th floor. This artist (who died waaaaay too young) has long been one of my favorites and yes, I will return to admire her work because she was so talented and colorful. 

three under glass

 Alas my photo of Joe and Pamela is not as wonderful as his of Pamela and me. I could fix it if I had world enough and time. (Bill always used to say that.) We met at SF Moma for laughs and chit chat and then back to Diego Rivera's exhibit and lunch outside on the patio (top photo). So it was a long and busy Monday for this city woman. Last night the Emmy's and worry about Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid arriving home safely after plane cancellations in some far off southern airport. But hooray, home now!

Diego was busy and talented

 And yes, irritating to feminists, but that's another story. Yesterday I went to SF Moma to check our Diego Rivera's exhibit and who did I run into? My friend Pat (top photo) was there with her grandson who rode the ferry over from Marin. This was my first Diego visit and I will return as I did not do him justice.

pleasure to meet you, Ms. Mitchell

 I didn't know Joan Mitchell, but Neti admires her work, so we met at SFMoma yesterday and now I too am a fan. Ms. Mitchell began in the abstract expressionist movement in New York in the 1950's, then moved to France and painted almost every single day of her life. Bold colors and feelings ~ this is a big exhibit with eighty or so masterpieces. Very well attended, I'm happy to say. Yes, I recommend this!

SF Moma open and busy

 What a treat to have lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen with Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid and Audrey, mother of the Blogmaid, yesterday. Then we toured SF Moma, starting at the top 7th floor and all the way down to see the glorious Diego Rivera mural on the main floor. This huge mural was transported from City College and that took months and a lot of work. Pan American Unity was painted in 1939 and one can see it for FREE at Moma. Do so. 

Mr. Mayhew

 My amateur iPhone photography does not do Richard Mayhew justice, but I especially loved these two from the SF Moma visit on Thursday. Mayhew is a Black artist, born in 1924, and still producing beautiful and dramatic landscapes today. I was so delighted to discover his work ~ intense, powerful. 

Andrea from Hailey, Idaho

 Andrea is a writing partner and was a huge help to me when Bill died. Her husband died about a year before mine and she guided me through the process and understood when I burst into tears over the persimmons in Whole Foods. We met for lunch yesterday at the California Pizza Kitchen and then spent a few happy hours at SF Moma. There is an artist on the 4th floor that I wanted to see and I will post about him in a few days. His name? Richard Mayhew. So that's a promise.

back to SF Moma

I've always appreciated David Park, a California Bay Area artist in the 60's, but I had no idea that he did all this work that is exhibited at Moma now. A fabulous show. I love how carefully the museums control the number of masked art lovers, so it is easier to see and enjoy each painting.