San Francisco - Museums - Something for everyone.

                             

                     

A few days in San Francisco. With the diversity of population, culture, wonderful history and water views - how could it be bad? Oh, but it's the laid back, un-pretentious  vibe that always begs the question, why don't we come here more often? 

      

Let's start with Golden Gate Park - for the New Yorkers, envision Central Park sprinkled with museums, botanical gardens and a Japanese tea garden. The de Young Museum's art and photography collection's airy metal tower reminds you of contemporary chain mail. Take a ride to the top while your there. 

         

The de Young Museum's tower offers a true 360 view of the city, including both Bay and Golden Gate Bridges. 

                       

Just a quick stroll brings you to the California Academy of Sciences. Although the rainforest and butterfly section, with its massive tropical blue and yellow butterflies was enticing, the aquarium was truly mesmerizing. Lacy long tentacled, highly chromatic jellyfish danced with corals and fish of all shapes, sizes and colors. If you don't already have PADI diving certificate, you'll be inspired to get one.

                       

In a more central part of town, the recently opened San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF-MOMA) is a delight. The earlier building always reminded me of a Picasso sculpture and had wonderful exhibits. However the  airy feeling reflected in the lobby's Calder and the building's expansive galleries let you breathe, relax enjoy and simply take in all that museum has to offer. (Open until 9PM on Thursday!)

                       

From contporary art's usual suspects of Warhol and Close to the substantial sculpture of Ursula Von Ridingscard on the third floor cafe, there's something for everyone. 

          

Innovative downloadable aps or museum headsets know where you are and offer options to inform or guide you through exhibits in an entirely new manner. These photo paintings by Richard Ricter (b.1932) evoke a reflection of a time not so different from where we find ourselves today. "You can see many more things in a [blurry canvas] than in a sharply focused image." The digital guide continues on to other German painters who, based on 20th century events, reflect a fear of ascribing to either blind dogma or paranoia. 

                   

The  Asian Art Museum is a short walk from Union Square. Pictured  here is a Japanese painting with pen work, Indonesian puppets, tanka from Bhutan and a sensitive bronze of the Budha in meditation prior to enlightenment. Ancient - contemporary, it is all here.  We hear that the cafe alone is worth a visit.