de Young

8/7/2012

Outstanding views from the free observation/gift shopt area.  Excellent museum overall.  Cafe is nice too.

7/19/2012

Only reviewing the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit.  Amazing.  Being able to see, within inches and without glass, his amazing gowns and corsets and everything else was fantastic. What a great exhibit.  If you even like fashion a little, go see this.  I spent two hours just in this exhibit. Really well done.

1/4/2009

BofA bought my ticket to the De Young today.  It's always nicer when you get in cheap.

I have a copper fetish.  I have a tower fetish.  I already had a Gerhard Richter fetish, and as of my visit to the De Young this morning, I have acquired a Maya Lin fetish.

I love having a decent art museum within walking distance of my house.

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  As roofs go, it's a nice one.

  As roofs go, it's a nice one.
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  Tower of power

  Tower of power
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  Maya Lin and Gerhard Richter

  Maya Lin and Gerhard Richter
• See all photos from Joe C. for de Young

8/26/2011

i've only been here once & it was for the Picasso exhibit but i fell in love with this museum. since my mom is a member, it was free for me to go (which adds to why i love this place so much)

i am a huge fan of Picasso & have seen his works in Paris & the fact that they were brought to San Francisco and the de Young is fabulous.

the audio for this exhibit MADE the exhibit-i can't even explain what a difference it made...i felt like i was being walked through his life and the exhibit was organized and explained perfectly. i can't wait to return next time i'm in SF-my new fave museum there!

1/20/2011

Some jerk said I write terrible reviews so this one is for him.. (Eff Yoo)

This will not be the best review you ever read but I'm here to tell you about the de Young museum.

Its really cool. Saw the van Gough show months ago here and oh my god it was amazing. It was confusing that you have to buy extra tickets to see something your already paying for but they need money lol.

Buy the audio tour cause its worth it. Bring a date cause its not to awkward for a casual get to know you date. If she is lame then you can just listen to the tour. haha !!

Good food in the cafe and nice staff everywhere..

5 stars

6/9/2012 Updated review

Gaultier exhibit was amazing. I want a cone bra right now.

10/25/2012

Great space. Make sure that you make your way up to the tower for the stunning, sweeping views of San Francisco. The only reason I'm not rating this a 5 star is because when we visited the William Paley collection, I just realized that I have seen these art works previously at MoMa in NY. I wish they have more content.

4/15/2009

After a very pleasant morning at the Legion of Honor, in the company of friends we continued to the de Young museum; I remember going here once as a lad during a school field-trip however don't remember a thing else. I can now see it's changed so much that even had I remembered anything, it wouldn't be recognizable....  While I don't approve with the modern additions as seen from the exterior, once inside the place is just deceivingly gorgeous!!!

We still had on our sticker "passes" from the Legion of Honor and were instantly admitted to the de Young...  then I got lost quick!!! If I thought the LoH was huge, then I was mistaken ~ the de Young was so "BIG" that I was reminded of aircraft hangars at the airports! Big, airy, high ceilings and lots of open free space! Saw the Andy Warhol exhibit unknowingly and simply because the layout of the entrance-way on the "first floor" pushed visitors to this special exhibit after passing through the entrance.

Taking the ramped-stairs, one gets lost in a maze of long wide halls that lead to an opening exhibit and from there on, passing through doors/openings that lead to yet another. Keep your kids in firm hand because if not, it'll be days before you see them again! Lots of glass windows and reflective glass "walls" that further the idea of openness within the de Young!! In many cases, I found the mixture of glass enclosures of nature made a pleasant vision of what is and isn't...  in some cases, depending on how you stood facing these "enclosures", it could be very much as interesting as the displayed exhibits!!

I particularly enjoyed the Observation Tower - take the elevator to the top floor for a 360-degree view of San Francisco from Golden Gate Park!! It was great!! A small gift shop is available there also, but I loved the scenery - can't beat the view. Seems for a small fee, one can go here on Fridays till 8pm!!

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  even the (men's) bathrooms are a work of art!!!!

  even the (men's) bathrooms are a work of art!!!!
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  fantastic arte!!

  fantastic arte!!
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  huge rooms for precious art

  huge rooms for precious art

7/31/2012

This museum has an awesome gift shop (if extremely pricey), a swoonable collection of Arts & Crafts pottery and furniture etc.. that the Fab Fawn and I like to visit, and AND AND they have an Andy Goldsworthy that stays put! That is not ephemeral! That is cheeky and quirky and outside so you can sit on it and have your picture taken and groove on it for a while as tourists stare at you. What?

6/12/2011 Updated review

The Balenciaga exhibit is fascinating for anyone who loves fashion. If you have ever sewed, you will appreciate it on a deeper level. It is well organized, not chronologically, but by themes of influences on his designs. The audio tour is excellent and highly recommended. The designs are strikingly structural and some absolutely breathtaking.

1/2/2011

Previously I went to the de Young museum to see the King Tut exhibit only to find out that the advertising posters were misleading.  There was no King Tut death mask as shown on the advertising posters and no King Tut body either. The lines were long and of course in the usual de Young fashion they were deceiving too.  You wait in a long line upstairs only to find out you have another long line downstairs.  The exhibit was overcrowded with rude ushers pushing you through the exhibit.  When you finally get to the end you find out that you have been ripped off.  There is no King Tut sarcophagus or death mask, the collection was small, and the lines were too long even with a scheduled time on the ticket.

Well, I am getting smarter now and I decided to read the Yelp reviews on the "Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musee D'Orsay" exhibit.  I can see from the reviews that the de Young is still up to their old tricks:

Overpriced
Long Lines
Rude Ushers
Small Collection

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me!

7/20/2013

The extended hours on Fridays rock. I was actually very impressed with the specimens they have on display. I got lost in there (in the art).

12/30/2010

Phenomenal. I cant believe it took me until this last weekend to visit. I was fortunate enough to see the Post Impressionist exhibit. (van gogh, Cezanne, Matisse) We arrived at 2, as suggested, to stand in line for the 2:30 showing. This didn't take too long, however, they could have done a better job at monitoring the crowds already and still viewing. When we made that final turn before entering the exhibit- my breath was literally taken away by the sight of a stunning golden piece titled "La Carmencita"...to the art director whom arranged the lighting for this event, bravo.... I tend to notice things other than the actual subject at times, and admired the frame work, and choice of wall colors in every room. Well, onto the Van Gogh...if you ever have the chance to see what "van gogh blue" is, in person, I suggest you do so...my heart flopped, and I literally struggled to fight back tears...it was incredibly moving.

They do offer an audio tour, which can be quite annoying to some, since a lot of folks (with the headsets) just stand around for a longer period of time (it must be very informative)- and you kinda have to nudge your way around, however, I'm sure its not like this while viewing the permanent collection.

If youre ever near, I highly suggest even just taking a peek off the tower deck...wow! (and free) I enjoyed this more than the view from Sears Tower... I cant wait to find an excuse to go again- especially since Ive been reading about the upcoming Picasso exhibit! Great place to find cool unique gifts (especially young budding artists)

12/7/2010

Non-free admission to the special exhibit on Free Tuesday. No clear indication on their website as to why they do not follow every other SF museum's lead with Free Tuesday. I can't imagine why?!

Harassed at every damned turn about my bag, which contains my medication and valuables. No, I will not coat check it; I recently had my bag stolen, so I'm fairly protective of my things.

Speaking of coat check: no signage indicating coat check upon entry. It's downstairs, by the way.

Haphazard placement of regular exhibits.

Overall, a terrible first impression to a supposedly world-class museum.

Fuck you, de Young. I'll arrange a trip to Paris to see the d'Orsay exhibits before I give you any money at all.

8/26/2012

Impressive collection of American art, but know that the permanent collection is relatively limited - this is the kind of museum that you go to when there is a special exhibit that you want to see and not a sprawling amalgam of art from many time periods that you can browse at your leisure.  The hubs and I drifted through the American paintings, only stopping on a couple trompe l'oeil pieces that I remember studying in college but had never seen in person.      We did catch some stunning Chihuly and Chuck Close works, along with some killer modern photography (and some Gursky's that I'd never seen before), but the trip felt abbreviated, as if the museum needed another floor or two to explore.  Still, a gorgeous building in an idyllic park means that if your interest wanes on the art, you can always drink in the scenery outside.  Would definitely visit this place again.

12/4/2012

Good if you can go for free. Clean, in Golden Park, in the avenues, and is spacious.

3/13/2009 Updated review

Had the pleasure of experiencing the DeYoung again, but this time, on a Bank of America sponsored day (promotions.bankofamerica…). If you hold a BoA card, the general admission is waived and you would only have to pay $10 for both of the exhibits that were going on, which were YSL and Warhol, which I thought was well worth the price.

The YSL exhibit was great, featuring works worn by many royal and famous figures, as well as outrageously fun costumes. Some might wonder who would ever wear some of the attire, but it is in an art museum afterall, so you would probably not think of it as wearable, but as an art piece. Though, there were a few pieces that I can see be worn today and be fashionably in, but the outfit was constructed in the 1980s. One of my favorite line was the one dedicated to artists--there were some amazing beading work there. There's also a screen that played footage from live runway shows, and someone who was watching said "its interesting to see the outfits in motion," which i couldnt agree more.

The Warhol exhibit was AMAZING. It was much bigger than YSL's featuring at least 7 galleries or so. The galleries highlighted different moments and interests in his life--art and music. There were some Polaroids of people like Aretha Franklin and Liza Minelli that Warhol worked with for his screen printed arts. Dont miss out on the polaroid of him in drag as well--I would've missed it if I didnt chose to take a second pass at the last 3 galleries. The ambiance was awesome too--featuring music in certain sections (studio 54) and plenty of amazing art and quotes from him. There's a room of photos of famous celebraties, which triggered a lot of memories and "wow, did they really look like that??" Oh, and who doesnt love the banana?

Quickly strolled through the American art gallery. I've already been through this one, and loved the realism of one of the sections (the one with the bird). Also noticed there were a few new additions. The tower's as great as ever and we also revisited the Turrell piece, though I wish we went in there when the sun was higher.

I would definitely recommend going for the Warhol exhibit and if you can appreciate fashion, then hit up the YSL exhibit as well. Both are very inspiring exhibits.

8/21/2012

I've been an annual member for some time now. I love the Friday events.

4/22/2012

Damn this place is cool. I practically had to drag my wife here because she hates museums, but I bragged about the tower and how cool the view would be and she obliged. The tower is FREE to access, so you don't necessarily have to visit the art exhibits if you want a stellar view. The view from up here is panoramic bliss: perfect for photos. You can see the hills, the city, the gardens below, it's just fantastic. We got some amazing shots up here and you can't beat the "price" of free. You can get student discounts here if you bring an ID, so bust out those old college IDs! Definitely want to come back if there's a cool exhibit, but they are rather pricey. I believe you pay per exhibit. Definitely come for the tower and come for the view.

6/5/2011

I've visited the de Young a few times, but it is just vanilla to me. It has some really interesting pieces. I feel like there is a lot of wasted space though. Some of the rooms are poorly themed and/or lack interest. The featured presentations are really well displayed though and their free nights with live music are really fun.

I think my favorite piece has to be Cornelia Parker's "Anti-Mass." This piece features suspended pieces of a burned church. It is on the ground floor. It has so much gravity to it. It really speaks to me. It says so much with just rubble from a fire.

I went to the Balenciaga exhibit this morning, it was truly breathtaking. It was interesting to see dresses placed into an artistic setting and compared to art. There is a rain coat that he did 50+ years ago that looks like a monk's cloak. I want one of those for myself.

10/26/2011

Weird.. I swear I wrote a review on de Young museum..
But somehow my review has vanished?
I tried looking for it on the filtered/removed reviews too but it is nowhere to be found..

My past review was a negative one on 'Van Gough, Gauguin, Cezanne and Beyond' exhibit. I think I stated that I would never go back here after the awful experience.

However, I did go back with a few of my friends for Picasso exhibit in June, and we had a very pleasant experience then (especially compared to my past experience xp)

We got our tickets ahead of time online and went for the first show.
There was no hassle such as parking problems, transaction problems and going through 5 different lines like last time,
and unlike last time, all the staff was friendly and helpful.

One thing I wished was that they would have had explanations in texts like they did at the 'Van Gough, Gauguin,,.'
I thought they probably will have them posted on the wall this time too, so none of us got the audio tour.
Being an art major, I have learned and read about Picasso many times, but my friends only had a little knowledge of him so they seemed to have gotten bored through out the exhibit.
Well, at least I now know to get the audio tour next time!

Like I have said on my past review..
GO FOR THE FIRST SHOW IN THE MORNING!
that way it won't be so crowded and you'll be able to enjoy the exhibit fully.

Thank you for the great experience de Young!
Looking forward for your next exhibition!

2/20/2011

This was my first time viewing a special art exhibit here at the de Young, although I had been inside once before.  The exterior design is bluntly modern, but I liked the finish and color of it.  Once you make your way through the entrance, you notice the large lobby area and somewhat unorthodox location of the ticketing desks. The rooms throughout the first level are not designed to be overly complicated or modern; the open art displayed here seems to bring life and character into every nook of the de Young.

I was lucky enough to have caught the Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay last month here with a friend who suggested it.  This is a very rare occasion where these priceless pieces were brought from the permanent collection @ Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France.  I believe that a section of that museum was going to be renovated which is why they were temporarily moved and exhibited here.  The lines for this exhibit piled up every half hour with mostly middle-aged couples and retirees, not too many patrons under 40 in this one.  You wait on the level above the actual exhibit and then again on the lower-level, and you begin to notice how the members wait for a lesser time.

After getting in, I realized it was pretty damn jam-packed even with the 30-minute levy they instated.  But you immediately see some pretty interesting Impressionist paintings, and soon enough you see Van Gough's work.   Additionally Signac, Gauguin, Renoir, and Cezanne all in the same area... which happens to be so crowded you have trouble navigating.  I was affected by seeing the few works of Van Gough for the first time, especially Starry Night over the Rhone.  There was also Bedroom at Arles which was nice and a Portrait of the Artist.  My favorite artist in this section happened to be Cézanne which used bright color and used still life technique in many of the oil on canvas.  

The sequence of the art is carefully thought out; as you can tell they presented some mildly interesting art in the beginning then climbed to Van Gogh and Cezanne shortly after the beginning then smoothly slowed to more drab and less colorful pieces in the very middle.  And at the end, they had a few mildly evocative pieces depicting war or sex to close the exhibit.  Altogether it was pretty impressive, I was glad to see these priceless paintings and more of the museum itself.

10/8/2012

Was here for a wedding. Really nice venue and the secluded yard on the side was pretty unique. Staff there was a bit pushy, but probably they just wanted everything to go according to schedule and to prevent any damage to the museum or artwork. Can't wait to come here during regular exhibit hours! Banquet hall was nice too and they set up this dance area outside. Good thing they had heat lamps set up!

12/4/2010

Am I the only one that didn't know that King Tut wasn't actually going to be at the King Tut Exhibit?! What a disappointment. There were some really cool things in this exhibit, but the lack of the King and the crowds made this for a really difficult exhibit to enjoy. The crowds were just insane. They really need to not oversell things like this. I felt like I was being shuffled and rushed through the entire experience. This was my first time and de Young and was shocked when I suddenly turned a corner and was out of the exhibit! It was so small!

I also saw the Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne exhibit a few months ago. Again, the crowds were out of control. Being a staggering 5'3", I couldn't see over most of the people crowded around the paintings. When I actually managed to get close to one of the paintings, I had a snooty person tell me to step back and she wasn't someone that worked there. At least I knew that the exhibit was going to be short, but the people I was with were shocked like I was the first time, when they were suddenly shuffled into the gift shop.

Exit through the gift shop and see all the junk they have for sale.

The best part of my afternoon there was buying a belgian waffle from the food cart in the park.

12/9/2009

I just returned from viewing the King Tut exhibit at the NEW De Young Museum. I have to give it three stars for the presentation and metering the visitors through the exhibit and the quality of the total presentation was first class.

The funny part is I have seen a lot of the artifacts in the Cairo Antiquities Museum and they have much much more ancient Egyptian artifacts, but when I was there displayed in old store glass displays and not labeled very well.

The audio tour was pretty good with Omar Sharif narrating some of the facts that were also included on the placards which I might add were very well marked at eye level and above so those who could not get close could understand what they were looking at. I found some of the hype surrounding Tut mysterious early death a bit too much as it was documented the did have a broken leg bone when a CT scan was done of the mummy. Oh, Tut is not allowed to leave Egypt so all you see are the beautiful implements and one of the many sarcophagus's that entombed the boy king.

I felt like I was at Disneyland as they dump you right into a gift shop at the end of the Tut exhibit.

With the swine flu but going around I wondered if they even thought of cleaning the audio wands after people had held them to their face and ears and put their fingers all over it.

Afterward we did view the Amish Quit and a few of the other exhibits. I wanted to go up in the tower, but was overruled by the nice group that invited me and supplied me a free ticket.

Parking is nicely done and is right under the Museum and priced accordingly.

The overall layout of the Museum is very angular so navigating around is a bit of a challenge for the first time. This makes it difficult to explore.

We were going to eat at the cafe, but after reviewing their menu posted for the day it was quickly vetoed by the whole group.

Overall a very nice improvement over the old Museum.

5/8/2011

I am not a huge fan of going to museums because I'd rather be outside on the weekend days, but my parents are members and since it was mother's day, I really had no choice but to go today.  I was happily surprised by the Balenciaga exhibit today.  The dresses are really stunning and they're all on blank white mannequins which allows to imagine the women wearing the clothing.  There is one raincoat with an amazing hood that comes to a sharp point.  I wanted it.  Definitely worth seeing!  The observation tower is free and it's one of the best views of the city.

5/15/2011

I am a big fan of art and art museums, and so, on my last day in SFO, when I was planning a visit to the Botanical Garden anyhow, decided to go check out the nearby de Young, where I'd never before been.

I found the layout and overall vibe of the museum to be a bit odd.

-- I walked in the front door where a guard did a quick bag check.  That was fine.  Looked up and saw this huge desk that I assumed was the admissions desk.  Walked over and saw that every window was labeled "Member."  Another, equally confused, customer, asked someone, "where do you buy tickets if you're not a member?"  He was directed to another desk on the other side of the lobby -- that is not visible from the front door.  A little signage letting people know where to go would be nice.

-- The women selling the tickets did not smile, say hello, or do anything to indicate they were not completely miserable.  Not really the most inviting introduction to the museum.

-- Rather than have one entry point where you show your ticket and then are done, there are several "ticket check points" throughout the museum.  I just found this added to my overall sense of not being quite welcome.  I felt like I was under suspicion and had to keep validating my right to be there.

-- Everybody is given a little sticker to wear to show their "level" of visitorship. "Member." "Special Exhibits." "General Admission Only. No Special Exhibits. WITH a MUNI Discount."  This is primarily for the benefit of the guards at the aforementioned "ticket check points," but also served to literally place a label on every museum guest.

The art itself was fine, but did not blow me away.  Maybe I was just not feeling the art thing that day, but, after a cursory walk through, I was ready to head out.  (I should add, in contrast to the doleful front desk people, the floor guards were all very friendly and helpful.)  I'd go back if there were a special exhibit I was interested to see, but would not go back just to see the permanent collection again.

Overall, I would say I had a three star experience, but I am adding a star because the views from the Observation Tower totally kick ass!

12/30/2010

We thought a Wednesday would not be crowded, but it was during Xmas break, and we were not able to buy tix on site for the Post Impressionist exhibit.  The woman at the desk asked if we wanted to see it, handed us a brochure of the exhibit and said we could not see it.  (why bother with the brochure?)

So we meandered through the excellent American 20th Century and other rooms.  Got to see a few Chihuly pieces.  We enjoyed paintings by Remington, Hopper and O'Keefe.

Getting into the parking lot was easy, but it is expensive to park there.  The cafe had good food, but it took about 30 minutes for us to be served.  We lucked out with the observation deck, because it was one of those few clear SF days.

The staff everywhere were kind and helpful.  I understand that gift shops are a way to help fund art, but little gift shops seem to pop up all over, including in the observation deck and the textile exhibit.

It is a little pricey:  $10 general is ok, the $15 added for the special exhibit, $15 for lunch, $12+ for parking, and you spend over $100 for a couple.

7/6/2011

Came here last Saturday to see the Picasso exhibit and the Balenciaga exhibit.  I didn't really care for the massive amount of people in the Picasso exhibit, but I guess that's to be expected on a holiday weekend and not to mention gorgeous weather in the city.  The exhibit itself was well done with a good amount of artwork from Picasso.  However, I was definitely more impressed with the Balenciaga exhibit.  I am becoming more and more a fan of fashion exhibits and think it's so interesting to see how a designer evolves over time and the influences they take from every day life and culture.  Unfortunately I think this exhibit closed as of July 4th.  I appreciated the de Young for always having such a wide range of exhibits and look forward to going back again in the future.

7/27/2011

I never knew the De Young existed till I got a job as a de young student  ambassador when I was 15. I learned a lot about the mayan culture and the papua new guinea culture. A partner and I would act as docents for elementary school students and explained a lot of the artifacts.

Now, I'm 20 and exhibits really haven't moved or changed, but every time I come I always learn something new or view something differently than the last time I visited.

Don't forget to visit the top of the tower! Its a beautiful view of the city and the store books are super interesting too!

10/15/2008

We've all been to museums even though we know nothing about art-- so how can we really say if a museum is "Good" or not?

Honestly, i don't know the answer to that question. I don't even know why i brought the question up, i guess it just sounded cool in my head. However, what i DO know is after about 5 minutes i was ready to leave this place.

I'll tell you what WAS cool... The building itself is cool. The black and white photos were cool. The burnt wood hanging from the ceiling was cool. The George Washington made out of dollar bills was cool. The $10 admission price to get in was fair. And lastly, the tower was alright.

Everything else stunk.

9/30/2010

I left the De Young today even more confused than I went in. I walked halfway around it before finding the entrance. This whole museum has really poor signage. I snuck in by accident because I walked right past both the ticket booth and the ticket checkpoint. Which was for the better, because I left very grateful that I didn't pay anything to get in.
The layout is confusing and doesn't benefit the art. The next time I visit (if I do) I will have to swallow my pride and go for a tour because I was totally lost.
The art itself is sparse and strange. Not a solid collection by any means. They had a few Sargents that were really beautiful and a fabulous Edwin Dickinson painting. Everything else was unimpressive, unfortunately.

I'd rather stare at the bison and try to mentally draw them out of their pen...

7/10/2009

The King Tut Exhibit is a MUST-SEE.  I'm usually not a big "museum go-er," or if I do go, I walk through the exhibit quickly.  I saw the exact same exhibit 1.5 years ago in London and when I heard it was coming to SF I HAD to go see it again.

The $25 (or $35 if you go fri-sun) is TOTALLY worth it.  Also spend the $7 or what not for the audio tour.

The whole thing is well done and very interesting.  I think I spent 2 hours slowly walking through the exhibit seeing everything the first time and another 1.5 hours the second (w/o the audio tour).

It's awesome, period.

8/8/2012

Went on a first Tuesday of a month, which means it was free! :) General admission is usually $10 for adults, so not too bad either. Many great exhibits, paintings, and artworks to check out! Plan to spend around 3ish (?) hours here and be sure to check out the observation deck on L9! You get views of GGP and of SF. Afterwards, you can take a stroll at GGP and grab lunch on Irving!

3/14/2012 Updated review

I was here again back in February, and it was *totally* boring.  And the security so tight (because we didn't look 'normal', so we were totally followed the whole time) that it was stifling.  Meh.

5/7/2009

A lot of cool stuff. Specially impress with some of the pieces that they had. There was this little tea cup from hundreds of years ago, it was so beautifully made with painting from both side of the cup.

The museum layout is kind of strange.... the visitors end up loop around quite a bit....

I do look forward to the Tuk exhibition coming soon :)

OH, forgot to mentioned, it's free entrance this sunday 5/10 for Mother's day.. Enjoy!

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  E. pluribus unum

  E. pluribus unum

8/2/2012

Really quality fine art museum - expansive and has some great collections. I love being a member of this museum because of the diversity of the collections and the special exhibits that are often offered. The surroundings are in beautiful Golden Gate Park, and on a clear day there's a great view of San Francisco from the top. There's paid parking underneath the museum or free street parking if you're lucky.

8/29/2010

Though I am not an artist I am a writer so I have a soft spot for all great artistic masters.  The de Young is a beautiful museum on the outside, as well as the inside.  I've read quite a few reviews on Yelp about this place and I must admit I am surprised by the negativity.  A lot of people said it is an "eye sore" and they "don't get why it's so ugly" and it's "seems really stupid."  That is pretty ignorant, way to live up to the "dumb American" stereotype!  Why not read WHY they decided to build it this way? :)

Every inch of this museum was especially crafted to mean something.  The rich copper will oxide over time, turning into a beautiful green and blending more into the landscape.  The inside is expertly laid out for easy navigation -- rooms are open, the light is directed towards certain objects and pieces.  Just take a step back and learn to breathe.  Ask yourself WHY someone chose this particular angle, reflection, color, or window?  Here is some more useful information: arcspace.com/architects/…

The de Young is lucky enough to be the only museum IN THE WORLD to be showing the "Birth of Impressionism" exhibit from the Musée d'Orsay in France.  We are very lucky that France/USA have a special relationship which includes their national art treasures being transported here.  That being said, part one which includes: Degas, Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Pissarro, Manet will be ending September 6th.  Then make way for part DEUX which includes: Van Gogh, Cezzane, Gauguin, etc. :)  

The exhibit does cost extra as they have to make their money somehow.  The rooms will be crowded so please, be patient.  The same thing would happen at any museum -- like crowds gathered around Mona Lisa at the Louvre.  This is not a child-friendly exhibit, don't bother bringing your bulky strollers and toddlers.  I'm a bit confused why any parent would bring their kids to a museum that has only art, when the Academy of Science is much more kid-friendly and right across the street.  This is suppose to be a place of quiet to reflect, admire and study great works of art.

I made it through the exhibit in an hour, some have taken longer.  I didn't have an audio guide but I should have liked a docent tour.  I think for the second part I will try to have that arranged.  Remember, once you leave that's it!  Lots of people want to get in and see the paintings.

Lastly, purchase tickets in advance.  Tickets sold out!  I saved money with my student ID which was nice.  

All in all, what a wonderful experience!  I thoroughly enjoyed roaming around the different sections, seeing priceless works of art from France, and going to the observatory tower on a beautiful, sunny San Francisco day.  Total bliss!

9/22/2012

The de  Young is a beautiful, well maintained and extensive museum with a fantastic range of art, knowledgable staff and always attracts exhibits that are simply amazing! Since I have lived in SF (less than a year) I have seen a Picasso and a JPG fashion exhibit. Every time I go, I never want to leave. If you are in SF then you need to go, take a few hours to stroll the beautiful rooms, wonder the courtyard and head up to the top of the de young tower for views of the city and the bay. MUST go!

7/4/2011

Countless field trips here as a child could not have prepared me for my latest de Young museum experience. Came here with my mom for the Balenciaga exhibit. They were also showing a Picasso exhibit, but you had to pay additionally to see that, and it only showed at 2 times per day.

So, we got there, parked in the very convenient parking garage (they didn't have that before the reconstruction) and walked right into the museum. It was a little confusing as far as where to go for what exhibit as there didn't appear to be much signage. However, the staff helped out at every turn and directed us to the right place. Kind a strange guy at the info desk who, after we asked him a question, tried to engage us in more conversation...like he didn't want to dispense info about the museum, just wanted someone to talk to. My mom's 'gift of gab' also wasn't helping.

She wanted to become a museum member so she could go to more exhibits at a discount price. Worth it if you live in or near SF and want to go to more than 4 per year. She got me in with her new membership for free. Cool!

The musuem itself has been redone in such a modern feel. The exhibit spaces still exude the feeling of whatever it is being shown, however. One hall displayed treasures from 18th century America and you could really see all those items in the aristocratic homes of the era.

Also, I don't care what anyone says. The Balenciaga showing was amazing. He is one of the very first designers to recognize the marriage of art and textile/clothing design. What woman wouldn't feel like royalty wearing some of those designs?! amazing for what they are and when they were made.

All I can say is that if you live near the de Young, you should go. It is a treasure and you're lucky to have so many worldly exhibits come through the building. Those who don't live near big cities do not have the luxury of seeing so many unique pieces of history at our fingertips.