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Off the Walls in Z Space

Posted by Andrea Martin on September 11, 2012

For the past year, Artist Fellow Sarah Wilson and her artistic partner Catch Me Bird have been creating Off the Walls, a multimedia performance based on the de Young Museum’s iconic painting Aspiration (1936) by Aaron Douglas. On September 20, the world premiere of Off the Walls will take flight in the Koret Auditorium at the de Young. Today we highlight Z Space, one of the project’s collaborating partners, whose technical residencies offer artists and performers the time and resources to experiment with various staging elements and production designs integral to the creative process.

Z Space B_W

Photo by Adrian Arias

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The Classical Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Posted by Gregory Stock on September 4, 2012

It’s day two of Five Days of Friday and we’re featuring Classical Revolution, whose tag line is “chamber music for the people!” Rise up and face the music at Friday Nights at the de Young on September 7.

Classical Revolution

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Five Days of Friday

Posted by Renee B. Baldocchi on September 1, 2012

You know that saying “It’s always five o’clock somewhere?” Well, this week it’s Friday everyday! We’re bringing you five days of Friday to showcase the amazing events taking place this (and every) Friday Night at the de Young through November 23.

Friday Night Lights from FAMSF on Vimeo

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The Invisible Man: Self-Portrait by Chuck Close

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on August 22, 2012

In 1972, Chuck Close came to Oakland’s Crown Point Press with the express goal of mastering the art of printmaking. The special exhibition currently on view in the Anderson Gallery at the de Young Museum, Chuck Close and Crown Point Press: Prints and Processes, examines this groundbreaking period in the artist’s career. In an earlier post, we discussed the mezzotint print Keith in the context of its 40th anniversary. Today, we take a closer look at Chuck Close’s Self-Portrait, completed in 1977.

Self-Portrait

Chuck Close (American, b. 1940). Self-Portrait (Black on White), 1977. Hard-ground etching with aquatint. Anderson Graphic Arts Collection, gift of the Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson Charitable Foundation. 1996.74.65

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Art Animals at the de Young Summer Art Camp

Posted by Eileen Lew Morris on August 17, 2012

It’s hard to believe that the last week of the de Young Summer Art Camp is already here. During this final week, the sixth floor studio turned into a zoo as guest blogger Alida Jekabson reports.

Goodbye summer camp

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#MuseumOlympics Torch on Fire: A Story of Collaboration and Social Innovation

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on August 14, 2012

For the past two weeks, the world watched athletes from the world over compete and triumph in the 2012 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, museums the world over competed on Twitter in the tongue-in cheek competition #MuseumOlympics, which originated right here in San Francisco. Willa Köerner, digital engagement associate at SFMOMA and today's guest blogger, takes us behind the scenes of #MuseumOlympics and reveals the origins of what will surely become a new quadrennial tradition.

Taber Olympics

Isaiah West Taber (American, 1830–1912). Olympic Club Day, 1894. Gelatin silver print. California Midwinter International Exposition, through M.H. deYoung. 2502

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