de Young

7/15/2011

This place is acceptable for SF. But compared to the museums in NYC it's a sad sad scene. And more expensive than the NYC museums at that.

I've been here for the YSL, Andy Warhol and Balenciaga exhibits so they've gotten quite a bit for my money. Yes their architecture is nice, but it's not really conducive to the flow of their exhibits. Especially those upstairs. I hate having to backtrack through things so I can see other things.

Still I must say I did enjoy the Warhol and Balenciaga exhibits greatly so I am glad I went. Balenciaga kicks YSL's ass!  :)

And I must say, love the guy at the front who let me get a student discount even though I forgot my student id. Thanks guy at the counter!

2/13/2012

You see, my baby boo has the surveilance abilities of a California Condor; whenever there is a bargain, clearance, free day or twofer in the museum-going world, she's on it. It was the twofer 'twas brought us here a week and a half ago, and it got us access to the entire museum. Just a note; for a limited time, anybody with a Bank of America card can get in here completely free, although I believe the Venetian exhibit might be over and on its way back to Austria.

Two words: Soup Urb. SUPERB. While the Venetian Masters exhibit was overpopulated, it was still a treasure to behold. However, what most grabbed my attention here was the exhibits showcasing Papua New Guinean historical and cultural artifacts, connected to the African arts area. When you step in, you almost feel like you're in a museum that was erected at the site of the "Lord of the Flies" plane crash. Old regalia and a historical narrative on that area of the world was really eye-opening, especially since most of the Western World never has any exposure to that part of the world. The next department over, a gallery devoted to American art, was also really beautiful. This is probably the part of the museum, that, if thus far you've been a little rattled out of your cage by the unconventionality of modern art, then you'd be treated to something that is conventionally easy to understand and easy on the eyes.

So much to see here. A huge plus was the Chinese ceramics area. San Francisco does it again with world class museums. A must go.

8/15/2011

There's a lot of great work under this roof, but there's so much of it that it's overwhelming. If I lived here, I'd probably visit it a little at a time.

I wasn't impressed with the Picasso exhibit at all. Most of the work was rubbish.

11/25/2010

Reviewing the Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond exhibit only.

Very much a amateur of art interpretation, I wish to draw from history and create a story for each piece when possible. I was a bit wary that the de Young would be like other fancy spancy art museums, huge exhibits, tons of pieces, but short of any substantial history within arms reach. Surprisingly the Van Gogh, Guaguin, Cezanne and beyond had panels on display that not only provided background on the iconoclasts of the time, but they brushed on some technique. This really helped shorten the gap between the viewer and the artist. Art alone can be pretty esoteric.

Postcards and pictures don't do the paintings here any justice. One of my favorites was Renoir's "dance in the country". I loved his vibrant use of primary colors and his ability to make some of his paintings appear to illuminate from beneath the canvas; something lost in the prints of postcards. I also discovered his "Luncheon of the boating party"(not present at this exhibit) was referenced in one of my favorite french films. Renoir you are my new love.

One other painting also left a strong mark on me. Van Gogh's self portrait, Autumn 1887. Characterized by thick brush strokes, harsh lines, and an austere visage, it drew an uneasiness from me, almost bone chilling. That painting epitomized his fractured being at the time so well, it made me wonder if some of his paintings were a cry for help, help that might have prevented his demise. Seeing his stuff was an eye opener, though his famous "starry night" wasn't exactly life changing.

All in all, the exhibit is worth seeing if I haven't expressed that enough. A few rules: You can't re-enter once you leave so make sure you use the bathroom beforehand and it can get crowded, REALLY crowded. Try not wear backpacks, the security guards will be on your ass about it, old man/woman or not. And photography is not allowed. *sad face*

10/13/2010

This is a review about De Young's traveling exhibit ONLY (not the regular museum).

Needing a culture fix, I went to the "Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay."

What a logistical nightmare. Whoever organized this show--EPIC FAIL in terms of design.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Unlike the Met or the MOMA where you can walk right in and see an exhibit, at the De Young you have to buy tickets ahead of time. Then you are assigned a time to show up that day.

2. Once you show up at your predetermined time, you have to wait an additional 40 minutes in line to get into the actual exhibit, after shuffling through multiple checkpoints in line with...screaming children, groups of tourists, etc who are being herded like cattle through a series of roped-off walkways as if you're getting on Space Mountain at Disney World.

3. If you decide to go during a popular time, like on the weekend, expect it to be so crowded that you won't be able to get close to any of the art you want to see.

4. They offer headphones and audio tours (just like Alcatraz...no seriously...) so many people head to the same paintings in the same order at the same time, creating huge bottlenecks. The woman yelling in the gallery leading the audio tour does not care, that perhaps you'd like to enjoy the art "quietly."

5. The space is way too small for all of the art and can take away from the beauty of the paintings. Additionally, the bad layout (rooms were too small--impossible to get by groups of people) creates frustration as people literally have to shuffle in chain gang like formation from one painting to the next.

9/29/2008 Updated review

The Chihuly exhibit was beautiful.  It was interesting to have an emotional reaction to pretty pieces of glass.  On the one hand, of course it's going to be lovely, bright colors, different shapes, arranged in such a way so that each piece complements the others somehow.  What's not to like?

But how they were arranged and the sheer size of each piece made me progressively happier.  I was here for the last weekend of the exhibit, which coincided with a free day at the California Academy of Sciences so it was a zoo and kind of hot.  I wish I had made time to go on a weekday so I could enjoy it more.

My favorites were the Persian, Maccia and the Chandelier collections but it was all worth seeing.  Looks like I'm going to be making a trip to Washington sometime soon.

4/13/2011

The de Young museum is a work of art in itself and the collection is a must-see for any art-lover. I probably wouldn't make it my first stop (that would be SFMOMA), but I thoroughly enjoy the museum's collection. It's not a huge museum, but there is a little bit of something for everyone.

The de Young has fantastic exhibits come through and if there's one that strikes your fancy it's worth the extra $$$ to see it.

Do NOT miss the observation tower. It's okay for visitors because the view is awesome, but for someone who lives in SF it's AMAZING.

1/6/2009

1. Don't wear heels/pumps/boots to the museum. I wore boots and I swear it's dead silent in several of the rooms. I tried to walk quietly but every once in a while I get some serious hipster giving me the death eye because I was ruining his meditation. I'm sorry!!!

2. Work the system and bring your old college ID, even though you graduated a year ago. Discounts, discounts, discounts...again, it's the Filipino in me.

3. make sure and go to the observation tower so you can see the view of the city. Breathtaking!

4. check out the YSL exhibit, it's $7 more but it's worth it. I believe it will be there until early March, not sure.

+5 because I have a new appreciation to art and museums now that I'm older. I used to hate going to museums when I was in school because they made me write long essays and BS self reflection papers 5 pages long. Now that I no longer have an agenda going there, it's a much more fulfilling experience.

7/22/2010

This was a mediocre and tiny exhibition ("Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay"), to go with the gallery's mediocre and weird permanent collection. Picture, if you will, more people than the gallery could comfortably hold, stumbling and shoving in a huge scrum, controlled by their audio devices, gazing in awe at the worst 2% of a real gallery's collection, while surveyed by grim-faced security guards.

No strollers are allowed in the exhibition, although this was not pointed out (as far as I noticed) when I bought my tickets. I woke up my peacefully sleeping toddler. She was not especially happy as she had planned to sleep through it. Lots of wheelchairs were clicking and whirring everywhere (the gallery is very proud that it is accessible to wheelchair users), but God forbid I could push my two-year-old daughter around in a stroller. I was then told (quite rudely) by one of the staff that I could not carry my daughter on my shoulders either. Lots of retired people were staggering around on sticks and walkers, but God forbid I could carry my daughter on my shoulders. This is the antithesis of "family-friendly", in my opinion.

If you are an art lover in the Bay Area, well first of all I feel very sorry for you. The local galleries are poor, pretentious and expensive, so no luck there. If you can afford it, save up your cash and go to Europe or the East Coast and see a grown-up exhibition in a real gallery. You won't regret it. Meantime I suggest buying postcards or reproductions of European art rather than going to the De Young or the rival (and slightly better) SFMOMA.

Don't go to this place unless you enjoy being part of a crowd looking at mediocre work. I wish I could give less than one star; I wish I could express how ripped off and insulted I feel from my dreadful experience today. I won't, of course, be back.

Although the building is much nicer, this gallery achieves the seemingly-impossible of making the SFMOMA look actually quite decent.

Edit: I hear they no longer allow sketching in the "gallery". What's that about?

9/25/2009

I love the DeYoung. Came here for the Yves St. Laurent show, which was very well put together. Lot's of beautiful things to look at.

Visited again this week for the Tut exhibit. It was pretty amazing. I know others have mixed feelings on this exhibit. But when you think about how old these items are it's pretty incredible.

Some people may think there will be tons and tons of stuff, it's just a great collection of particular items.

I opted not not pay extra for the audio tour and enjoyed everything.

I can't imagine the amount in $$ all those treasures are worth and are happy they were shared with us!

The intricately inlaid furniture was my favorite.

6/30/2008

I once had an architect spend a good half hour explaining to me that this building is genius and I would love it if I were smarter.  Guess what?  It's still ugly!  Did someone leave a copper dumpster next to the Bandshell?  I know, neo-classical architecture is supposedly not for smart people (yeah, I saw "The Fountainhead"), but shouldn't the building try to fit into its surroundings a little?  If not with the Bandshell, how 'bout with nature??  Yeah, yeah, oxidation.  I heard.

And those poor sphinxes that I used to think were my ponies... someone pack them up and bring them to my house, please.  They deserve to be somewhere that doesn't so obviously hate them for their outdated style.  They told me so.  WITH THEIR EYES.  

But I do realize that the old De Young jammed stuff in dark corners and smelled like wet cat.  And the new museum is well-lit and pleasant inside.  And sure, the tower is awesome.  But can someone tell me why the aerial map of San Francisco cuts off at Alemany?  Did the Portola and the Excelsior secede??  I guess it's not that important to tourists, but if you looked at a map of your whole city and your neighborhood wasn't on it, wouldn't you be pissed?  Just 'cause a cable car doesn't run by your house, it doesn't mean you don't exist.

Membership is affordable and includes the Legion, too.

6/18/2012

Cool place.  Check out some great  American art and some international contempory art.  The observation tower has spectacular views.

11/24/2010

Like most recent reviewers, I journeyed to the de Young museum to check out "Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay". It was, in a word, fantastic. The line to enter the exhibit is just like being at Disneyland, with VIP members getting first priority. Once you are granted entrance, you then feel like herded cow.  Everyone's anxious to see the paintings, so clumping and huddling will naturally occur. Be cautious of the black tape, which keeps you about a foot and a half distance from some of the paintings. I unknowingly stepped over the line at one point, and the "museum police" were on me like white on rice! Eek!

The museum is easily accessible via public transportation [we BART'd and MUNI'd it]. The staff was helpful and courteous. The café wasn't too bad, I'd say above average for museum food.  There is a Hot menu where you place your order for grilled items and sit down, and a Cold menu option where you can grab sammiches, antipasta and cold drinks. The museum stores are great. There is a store on the main floor, and another one located right outside of the exhibit (See? Just like at Disneyland..). I will say that the latter was better than I had expected. There are a variety of products to choose from that come plastered with your favorite painting. A sample list includes: magnets, postcards, note cards, playing cards, business card holder, and bookmarks.

I walked away with a handful of favorite artists and paintings, and a newfound appreciation for Pointillism [think Georges Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte"].

The other exhibits in the museum are good, too. But they really do pale in comparison to the main event.

Other handy dandy tips when visiting the de Young:
- Buy your tickets from Costco. It's cheaper and comes with an audio tour. The audio tour is a nice little perk. In lieu of a guided tour, this allows you to glean more insight into the artists and their works.  
- Be sure to reserve your tour time. Don't just randomly show up one afternoon because chances are high that you'll be turned away.
- Visit the Observation Tower. It's FREE (woot!) and has amazing views of the City.
- Take public transportation. It may take more time, but it's also more convenient.
- If you intend on taking notes, use a pen & paper. I was innocently taking notes on the notepad of my iPhone and was scolded immediately because there are no electronic devices allowed.  
- Arrive early and take your time.  There is A LOT to see. And unless you're going to make a trip to Musee d'Orsay (highly suggested, may I add), make the time to truly enjoy these works of art.

The Post-Impressionist exhibit is there through January 2011. And the line-up for the rest of 2011 is looking pretty exciting!

8/31/2012

Excellent museum with stunning views over SF.

10/19/2010 Updated review

As we were going to go to Paris and visit Musee d'Orsay, I wanted to go see the Birth of Impressionism exhibit that was going at the De Young Museum.

The BF picked up tickets and off we went. Having done the King Tut exhibit before this, we knew where to go and what to expect in terms of lines and the crowds.

Starting with "The Birth of Venus", it leads to you a wonderful tour of the beginnings of Impressionism with Manet and then with Monet, Renoir, Degas, and so many more. I saw some of my favorite Impressionist artwork in front of me and I didn't even need to go to Paris!

Beautiful exhibit and I spent far too long staring at the artwork as the bf impatiently waited for me to finish. I picked up a copy of my favorite Degas picture, "The Dancing Lesson" to hang up after leaving the exhibit.

It was a wonderful way to get me in the mood for Paris. I can't wait for the next exhibit!

12/19/2010

I came here once to see Post-Impressionalist exhibit and was disappointed when I arrived to find the tickets all sold out.  We went around the museum instead and looked at their permanent collection but I wasn't too interested in the collection.  

The second time I was here, I was smart and ordered the tickets early.  Picking tickets from will call was fast and easy.  I was quite worried about entering the exhibit at the right time only to find people at the gates weren't too strict on time entrance.  When we went in, it was so crowded which made it difficult to really look at all the art pieces.  I liked the collection but found fighting my way through the crowd to be difficult and frustrating.  I feel that to really enjoy the exhibit either you come during a business day or else go during the first showing during the weekend.

10/10/2008

I used to visit the De Young as a kid, about once a month, I loved it.

Recently I was there at the newly designed De Young.

WOWZERS! I loved it more than the Metropolitan Museum in NYC and that is saying  a lot!!

First Tuesdays are still free!

12/27/2009

I was asked if I had a Bank of America credit card when I went up to pay for admission, and I did so it was free. Some promotion for the day but a nice surprise nonetheless.

The building makes a stunning impression, but I went to only the Americas wing for an extra credit project for an art history class.

They had a nice collection of Mesoamerican art. Some of the pieces in the Maya collection were amazing and the wall paintings from Teotihuacan were incredible.

I'll be back to explore the rest of the museum very soon.

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• See all photos from Alona G. for de Young

7/31/2006

Pretty cool looking building, though I can imagine that in 20 years young people gazing upon the strangely colored angular structure may be saying to themselves: what the hell were they thinking? But for now, the De Young structure is the cats pajamas of the architecture world.

So besides the noteworthy structure, is there much else to see? Well the collection lacks any huge draws and some of the art on display suggests the curators might have been stretching to fill the space (mini-tvs in a wood cage?). But alas, I'm not an art super guru, so I won't bother faking it.

Conclusion: Next time San Francisco gets unseasonably hot and you're stuck without AC give De Young a go!

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  Brilliant!

  Brilliant!

2/25/2012

The collection isn't huge, but it's well-curated, contemporary and fun. This is one of those few museums whose physical space lives up to the art that it houses.  The building is one of my favorites not only in the city, but the country. It's worth a visit even if you don't plan on going inside.

12/1/2010

This art museum has a really nice collection of really old artifacts from around the world as well as contemporary stuff.  I really liked the observation deck where you can get a 360 degree view of San Francisco.  The day we went was clear so we saw the Golden Gate Bridge and all the neighborhoods surrounding the museum.

We were thinking of having a bite at the cafe but it was crowded and the menu didn't appeal to so we left.

8/4/2011

I have always loved art.  So for my birthday my dad decided to buy me a membership to the De Young.  It has been the best present ever.  Normally Baroque is my style, but who can say no to their very persuasively beautiful Latin American exhibit.

But what are really spectacular are the show.  The post impressionist show is one of the most impressive collections of art I have seen.  Very, very crowded.  But then again I believe that children and art are like children and booze, a recipe for disaster. The Balenciaga show made me want to try on every one of those dresses and play Belle.  I believe that his winter 1951 was a season completely dedicated to me.  And then there were the huge Olmac heads.  Damn, those indigenous people could make some really big heads.  Very impressive.

My favorite pieces are not in fact in the museum but outside in the sculpture garden.  And both are kind of tucked away, my secret art.  The first is an amazing metal piece that is huge and shiny and has hole through the middle.  It looks all crinkly and fun to touch.  Every time I see it i just want to climb all over it.  The second is all the way at the back of the garden down a secret path to a small round building.  When you walk all the way around and into it you find a white room with a round hole in the cieling and a mirroring piece of blue marble beneath it.  I love it.  It is quiet and peaceful and nice.  My own secret place.  

And in the end isn't that what it is all about, taking art and making personal and mean something to you.

8/11/2010

I was majorly disappointed today when I went to visit De Young's temporary exhibit called "Birth to Impressionism"

The artwork was wonderful but the staff, not so much.  The rule wasn't listed anywhere on the exhibit walls or signs, but apparently you CAN'T SKETCH in the exhibit.  That's right. . NO sketching.  

The security guards were on me like a hawk. . rudely grunting at me and I was nearly kicked out of the exhibit because I was sketching.

I wrote down my experience in more detail here: cycheng.xanga.com/731471…

So word to the artists. . . beware the bringing of your sketchbook friends. . beware.

5/12/2011

The Balenciaga exhibit was mediocre, but overall it's a beautiful, spacious, airy museum, quite different than my childhood memories.  The warm woods used throughout bring a very "Americana" feel.  The parking garage is expensive but convenient.  I like the reimaginng of the de young.

3/26/2012

Great FREE access to the 9th floor observation deck. Go there.

2/21/2011

The last time I had been to the DeYoung, Caryola was servings hors d'oevres, and not just any hors d'oevres...the American Wing featured tiny roast beef sandwiches, and the Asian collection was accompanied by tiny dim sum, so the new De Young was something of a shock.

The old building looked like something that had been built for the 1937 World's Fair.  Stocky, and pseudo Moderne, the old building looked more like an abandoned utility factory.  The new building is very urban, and reminscent of the Art Brut period of architecture, which has been redefined a eco-tech in this building.  Lots of use of natural materials, and asymmetry, make it compatible with both the park setting and the city scape int he background.  

We went for the first half of the Impressionist exhibit.  Since I always do everything at the last minute, and hope for discounts, I got tickets to the twilight show, just before closing.  These included dinner in the Museum Cafe after viewing the show.

This show had the great benefit of being less expensive, there was ample parking, and there were no crowds entering when we did, apart from a private cocktail party.  We also took brilliant photos in the near sunset light outside the museum.

The show itself was fascinating, and beautifully curated to show all the work leading up to the full expression of Impressionist art.  It made great intellectual sense to see how the prominant the influences, such as the Barbizon School of art, led to the development of Impressionist work.

The new De Young is a welcome addition to the already scholarly Bay Area assortment of art venues.

12/14/2010

I didn't have enough time to check out the museum, but the view from the top floor viewing area is stunning and totally worth the FREE price tag. Even if you can't check out the full museum after a day at the Academy of Arts and Science, this is a must see!

6/20/2010

If you're a classical art obsessive like me, get thee to the deYoung NOW! Birth of Impressionism is only there 'til September!

Magnificent works of art that I'd never seen in person...no waiting in line...classy place set in a beautiful park...drool!

Because the Impressionism exhibit is special, it had a higher charge than general admission. I bought our tickets online at $21 apiece. Didn't buy the audio tour. I'm not a member because my attendance at museums is relatively rare. Considering the fantastic once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these historic pieces only an hour from home, the price was a bargain. The admission got us into both the deYoung and Legion of Honor because we visited both on the same day.

Really hard to believe it was possible to get so close to such awesomeness. My sweetheart isn't a fanatic like me, but even he thought it was incredible to stand right in front of Whistler's Mother.

There were lots of paintings I'd never seen before, that have inspired me to learn more. Then there were others that were "OMG -- I know that one! And it's HERE!"

Something that really confused us was the profusion of patrons  standing or sitting around who seemed totally disinterested. Just yakking and being bored or unimpressed.

Huh? If the majesty is lost on someone, fine, it's not their thing, but what are they doing there? I found it disrespectful. Do they just go because they're spending the day in the Park? There are other touristy spots in the Park for people not interested in old art.

Seeing the works was very humbling for me as an artist. So many times, I've left paintings unfinished for so many reasons. I let things stop me. I let life stop me. The old masters did not let things stop them. Despite war, disease, famine, poverty, heartbreak, whatever, they produced gifts that are enjoyed all these generations later.

So go, and enjoy!

6/25/2010 Updated review

The current Impressionist show from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris
is well worth spending an hour or two visiting.  It is put together in
a very intelligent way and ties in the history of the time (the war of
1870-'71, The Paris Commune, The Salons)  I've seen these
paintings in Paris many times, but the way they are sequenced at
the deYoung is completely brilliant.  One really does experience
"the Birth of Impressionism", through the way the show is sequenced.
Bravo deYoung and d'Orsay on this show!  One star off for the
hoards and hoards of people.........

7/22/2009

I didn't find the art to be overwhelming compelling.  The section on African artifacts was distinctively fascinating though.  I could have spent a lot of time here looking at the masks and shields, etc.  Very cool.

I like how the viewing room at the top of the museum is open to the public.  The views were nice, although it was foggy the day I visited.

7/1/2012

This place is equivalent to a candy store for me. I was running around like a child trying to soak in the amazing artwork that this museum had in store for me to see. I went here primarily to visit the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit and boy did that knock my socks off! I was impressed by his amazing work and photography is allowed (I just didn't want to take photographs *no flash* as I was too busy soaking in the amazing designs to take any photographs).

8/9/2008

After living in the city for 5+ years, I finally made my way to the DeYoung... and what perfect way to experience the museum for the first time than to catch it during the exhibition of the groundbreaking artwork of Dale Chihuly.  Filled with vibrant, colorful, hand-crafted glass sculptures there was not a time where I felt bored.   Everything you see will leave you breathless and in awe, as the artwork is full of energy!

Chihuly at the de Young is a definite must to check out.  It is here until September 28th, so make sure you go see it!

(We came during a weekday afternoon and it was packed.  So the weekend may even be busier, so plan accordingly if you want to avoid the crowds.)

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  Chihuly Exhibit

  Chihuly Exhibit
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  Chihuly Exhibit

  Chihuly Exhibit
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  Chihuly Exhibit

  Chihuly Exhibit

11/14/2010

On the fourth attempt within a week I was finally able to get into the De Young's special exhibit: titled "Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay".

The De Young has the rare privilege of being the only museum in the U.S. to display several post-impressionist masterpieces on loan from the Musée d'Orsay until mid January. After having the recent pleasure of viewing Van Gogh's second version of "Starry Night" at the Museum of Modern Art , New York, I was looking forward to experiencing his first representation, without taking a trip to Paris.

You have to love this kind of exhibit. People from different walks of life, young and old, from different cultures, all coming together to enjoy works of genius.

The exhibit appropriately starts out with a display of late-Impressionist paintings, including paintings by Claude Monet and Auguste Renoir. Not a bad way to start, and I really enjoyed the warmth ironically emanating from Monet's "Frost" (1880).

Moving away from the these late impressionists, the next room offers works from neo-impressionists masters like Seurat and Georges Lemmen. Try viewing Georges Lemmen's "Beach At Heist" (1891) from the right side, about ten feet away, at a thirty to forty five degree angle. Pretty cool in my book. The color from Maximillien Luce's "The Siene at Herblay" (1850) also leaves a lasting impression, pardon the pun.

I highly recommend spending some time in front of Seurat's series on the far wall. Great technique and detail. You have to see this stuff close up to appreciate his work. I have to confess, however, that while viewing Seurat, a certain Van Gogh painting in the room to the right held part of my attention.

After a quick once over of a few of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's paintings in the main room, I quickly moved over to Van Gogh. The man was obsessed with painting his "Starry Night". What a painting. You can almost feel this guy layering on thick powerful short strokes with passion. You feel the coldness from the blue colors of the night. and movement of the wind. But there is also the warmth from the city lights and stars piercing through this painting, lighting the way for the couple on the banks of the Rhone. This is a much more peaceful "Starry Night" than the version he painted a few months later while he was in a mental institution. I guess not so unexpected. What a privilege to see these two masterpieces within two months.

5/17/2009

This is a very beautiful museum in a stunning setting. Unfortunately, I believe today is the last day for the excellent Warhol exhibit, which far surpassed my expectations. But King Tut is coming next, and that should be fascinating as well!

The De young does a great job of rotating exhibits that really speak to a wide variety of interests. Fashionistas had their chance at the YSL exhibit, for example. Friday nights are pretty cool because the museum is open later with live music and cocktails - so if that's more your speed than the actual art, sink your teeth in!

7/17/2012

Amazing museum! Always amazing shows! Get the membership!

4/24/2011

This is just a really fine museum.  My sister and I came for the Impressionist exhibit on loan from the Musee d'Orsay which had some pieces that had never left France before.  The museum is "human scale" - not so overwhelming that you don't know where to begin - but rich enough in exhibits to keep you coming back.

9/6/2010

The De Young used to be an excellent museum, but since it was rebuilt into the eyesore that it is today, it is really lacking in architecture, people managing skills, and customer service.

The building itself does NOT belong in the park. It's a monstrosity, and does not fit in at all. It's large, and feels really nihilistic with it's large window-less brown walls, and the dark sort of gold tunnel you need to go through to get to the main door. It's confusing and is not built to accommodate large groups of people.

This is especially prevalent in the special exhibits like the recent King Tut exhibit and the Birth of Impressionism exhibit. The basement level is used for these special exhibits, and the rooms there are small, and have no natural lighting. Also, the way these rooms are built is not ideal for moving large groups of people. The way it is now makes for there to be bottlenecks at every doorway between rooms, and there is nothing to keep people from going up within five inches of the paintings. Furthermore, those selling the tickets believe that these rooms were built for about three times as many people as can actually fit. It is always too crowded to see anything in the exhibits at all.

Skip this museum, and head over to the Legion of Honor instead. It's a much more pleasant experience!

(also, the top floor of the large tower has a map of San Francisco that cuts off the bottom 1/5th of the city where I happen to live. They deemed it fine to include an extra two feet of ocean at the top, but don't want to include the whole city, including SF State? Shady...)

12/8/2012

My sister and I decided to pay de young a visit on one of their free days. Since my aunt had asked to check it for a wedding party in the summer. Figured hey its free and I can walk through the museum, look at things, and check out the place to see if it would work for my aunt.
First of all there are only a few areas for the general public to visit, which is basically the second floor. And there are no signs pointing to where people are allowed to go.
When we arrived on the second floor we started looking at this painting when  this old woman, who did not identify herself as an employee but I later found out her name is Rebecca,started to tell me to put my purse to the side. I ignored her because I thought she was just some loony wanting to chit chat, mostly because she was standing right next to me and she was baciscally whipsering. I mean personal space man! Then she became agaited and told my sister the same thing. As my sister walked away she asked my sister if she wanted to get kicked out. How rude!! Speak  up if you want people to listen to you!
We complied but she kept following us throughout the second floor telling us to put our purses to the side or not to stand to close to the painting. It was creepy!
The annoying employee, Rebecca, also thought it was necessary to mention that we were on camera before we left to look at the other exhibits. I mean come on it's a museum of course there are cameras. I felt like a criminal.
The paintings and sculptures are interesting but I'm not sure it's worth encountering Rebecca again. Rebecca was horrid and made the experience unpleasant.
I told my aunt that she should look at other venues for her wedding reception.

11/28/2010

I absolutely love this museum. The last exhibit I saw here was the Andy Warhol. The layout for this exhibit was well put together. Warhol's pieces were well spread out and included a couple sculptures along the way too. In short, the exhibit was spectacular. The rest of the museum is no different.

The African art collection is breathtaking. From sculptings to carvings, masks, dolls, it's all really amazing. Not to mention, de young has the best American painting collection I've seen. Overall, every time I visit de Young, I leave feeling like I really learned something meaningful. Go!

8/3/2010

OK, full disclosure, I am a museum snob.  There aren't too many museums west of the Mississippi I haven't been to.  The De Young was having an Impressionist exhibit and I thought I'd take a gander.

Oh glory me!  At ten o'clock on a Wednesday this place was packed.  Fine, OK, whatever.  We are herded through the twists and turns to the entry.

I go in and elbow my way through the crowds to view the paintings. . . .and then it's over.  I was so disappointed. Maybe it's because I've been to the Louvre and the D'Orsay, but I have to say this was way overpriced for what you get.  The Monets were tiny and they really need to utilize better crowd control.

The best part of my day was going to the tower and the cafe- no complaints there.  

It is a fun way to spend a few hours, but not on a par with other world-class museums.

Sorry guys.  I know you tried.