I recently had the opportunity?to visit the brand new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I also spent time in Palo Alto, CA, where I got to see the almost new (2014)?Anderson Collection at Stanford University. If you plan to be near either of these modern museums in the future, I recommend them.
The Anderson Collection is housed in an airy, bright building next to the Cantor Arts Center, on the campus of Stanford University. Over 50 years, the Anderson family acquired outstanding examples of American modern and contemporary art. Now they?generously share their collection with all of us. Admission to both the Anderson Collection and the Cantor Arts Center is free.
This brochure from the Anderson Collection shows some of Nick Cave's wonderful "Sound Suits", on display through August 14, 2017. If you enjoy fiber arts, modern sculpture, dance, and theater, you will want to see these.
?In this?detail of the piece on the far left of the brochure, you can see how Nick Cave has transformed?ordinary buttons and sequins into something spectacular.
Suit up: Step into the Vibrant, Colorful and Furry World of Artist Nick Cave?in 7x7, an online Bay Area events magazine.
Art21, an article on Nick Cave to accompany?the PBS program Art in the 21st Century, which showcased Nick Cage recently. Go to the page to find links to a number of videos of the Sound Suits in?action.
Another video from YouTube on Nick Cave's work:
The modern museum's new building, which opened in 2016,?has both intimate and monumental spaces, to house a wide variety of work.?The permanent collection is strong, though I agree with other writers that women artists are underrepresented. To see a photo of the building and read all the details about the museum's mission and upcoming exhibitions, try this link to a recent press release. For a shorter visit, just go to the main website.
You can see some of my favorite works by following these links:
Kiki Smith,?Lilith?A sculpture that literally jumps off the wall, very powerful. Magnify the photo to see her startling eyes!
Daisy Youngblood, Anubis and the First Chakra?An elegant sculpture. It incorporates a variety of natural materials in a graceful figure.
Anselm Keifer, ?Melancholia?An earth-bound war plane,?made as heavy as possible. He has constructed it?almost entirely from sheets of lead. This sculpture's impact cannot be denied. I also like some of his other pieces that are not pictured in the online catalog. If you go, look for his?large, unframed paper pieces made from composite woodcut plates.
Mark?Rothko, No. 14, 1960?A painting from the most vibrant, colorful phase of his career. The photo is good, but no photo can represent the subtle variations of hue and value you will?see if you get to spend time this?painting.
Here is an entry in my series How it Looks in A Frame. A Tiny Armadillo Guards My Keys,?11"h x 14"w, colored pencil on paper. Click here to see it without the frame.