One recent morning I woke up dreaming of art. Of my upcoming visit to the Frick Museum in Manhattan. Of recent exhibitions at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Of a whole world of art and discovery to enjoy.
Visits to museums have always been a part of my life. I have had the good fortune to visit some of the best in the world, including those close to home. But the benefits of both age and more leisure time has given me a more profound appreciation for what I am seeing.
When San Francisco reopened its Main Library in a new building in 1996, the artwork for promotional pieces was donated by a popular and well-known California artist, the late Wayne Thiebaud. It was a classic piece, a stack of books, that was featured on street banners throughout the city. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which first opened its new building shortly before the Main Library, holds over 50 works of art created by Thiebaud.
Although my tastes generally veer to the classical – landscapes, still life, portraits – I am enchanted by the works of Wayne Thiebaud. Once considered pop art, Thiebaud depicts common objects – cakes, pies, and gumball machines, as well as portraits, steep city streets and other urban landscapes.
Dreaming of art and how it reflects and enhances our experiences, the San Francisco International Airport (T-3) features a dizzying streetscape by Thiebaud titled 18th Street Downgrade. This image captures both the reality and the imagination of San Francisco’s steepest streets, which also have been the subject of recurring dreams.
Currently, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, at the Legion of Honor, is featuring an exhibition of 65 works of Thiebaud, a stunning display of his talent. Many of his paintings fascinate me with their thickly applied swirls of paint.
It reminded me of my great aunt’s 7-minute frosting, a childhood memory of sweet pink lemonade cake, covered with mounds of light, fluffy frosting. I had to check an urge to reach out and scoop a dollop of that luscious paint into my mouth.
Prints, posters, and postcards featuring many of Wayne Thiebaud’s works can be purchased or ordered through the of the Fine Arts Museum, Legion of Honor, or through the online store. These include San Francisco streetscapes, confections, Stack of Books, and more. Near the sweeping views of the Golden Gate, the exhibition at the Legion of Honor runs through August 17 and is well worth a visit.
While visiting San Francisco, a visit to the Fine Arts de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park is a must. Photographs by Paul McCartney, 1963-1964, are currently on view. The photos are good quality candid shots that reflect an extraordinary time in musical history. This quartet of talented young men aroused near frenzy in the crowds, depicted through clips from the Ed Sullivan show, newspaper clippings, and photos of the crowds of fans gathered on the streets.
Paul McCartney also captured shots of the Beatles on vacation, relaxing, swimming, and playing. The exhibition brings back refreshing memories of a more innocent time, with love expressed in such lyrics as “I want to hold your hand.”
The Frick Madison museum, works initially collected by Henry Clay Frick (1849 -1919), opened in 1935. Since then, the museum’s collections have expanded significantly. Located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, The Frick, closed for two years for a $160 million renovation and expansion, has recently reopened to great acclaim and long lines of visitors. Advance ticket reservations are recommended.
Hundreds of artists are on display at the Frick, including drawings, sketches, paintings, and period furniture. Among the classical artists represented are Jean-Honore Fragonard, Thomas Gainsborough, J.M.W. Turner, Peter Paul Rubens, Edgar Degas, Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt, Diego Velazquez, and James McNeill Whistler. Throughout the museum, one can view the beautiful porcelain flowers created by Ukrainian sculptor Vladimir Kanevsky.
The Frick also features an art research library, located in a separate building nearby. The Museum is conveniently located at 1 East 70th Street at Fifth Avenue, across the street from Central Park.
If you also are dreaming of art, the choices are nearly unlimited, depending on where you are. I like to take my time to view the collections, perhaps not taking in everything, but enjoying every moment.
