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Great Women Artists at the de Young

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on August 12, 2011

Forty years ago, Linda Nochlin published her seminal article "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" spurring art historians and curators to reexamine the contributions of women artists over time. Since then, the landscape of the world’s art institutions has changed drastically. Here at the de Young, we often receive inquiries about the presence (or perceived lack) of women artists in the museum. In response, we have created a self-guided tour highlighting women artists at the de Young.

Gallery 1 and 1A

The first stop is in the Art of the Americas located directly off of Wilsey Court.

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Will Work for Art: Paul Palacios

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on August 9, 2011

"Will Work for Art" takes you behind the scenes to meet the people who make the Fine Arts Museums work. This week we take you into the tech shop, where preparator Paul Palacios installs the art that makes the galleries and exhibitions you see possible! Originally from Texas, Paul has been with the Museums for almost thirteen years, minus the two he spent working at the Asian Art Museum during the construction of the new de Young.

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A Day in the Life of the Museum Ambassadors

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on August 4, 2011

Last week you met the Museum Ambassadors, a highly motivated group of high school students trained to educate younger students about all things art. Today, we give you a sneak peek into the work that they do here at the Museums.

Weeks before we begin giving community tours, we memorize our scripts with our fellow ambassadors.

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Every Which Way But Up

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on August 2, 2011

When installing a painting or sculpture for exhibition, determining the correct orientation of the work is (perhaps obviously) paramount. When discussing modern art, a seemingly simple question like “Which side is up?” can become much more complicated; and occasionally when dealing with abstract art, this determination can be downright perplexing.

Two paintings recently reinstalled in Gallery 50 at the de Young have raised this question for years. Since they first arrived at the Museums, Georgia O’Keeffe’s Petunias and Arthur Dove’s Sea Gull Motive have puzzled viewers and art historians alike.

Georgia O'Keeffe (American, 1887–1986). Petunias, 1925. Oil on hardboard panel. Museum purchase, gift of the M. H. de Young Family. 1990.55. © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

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Meet the Museum Ambassadors

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 29, 2011

If you visit the de Young and Legion of Honor this summer, you may be surprised see troupes of young children following teenagers around the galleries. Don’t be alarmed by these lively tours– they are being led by the extremely capable Museum Ambassadors!

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Will Work for Art: Ann Hedges

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 28, 2011

"Will Work for Art" takes you behind the scenes to meet the people who make the Fine Arts Museums work. This week we take you into the whimsical world of the Flower Committee, where we meet artist Ann Hedges. Originally from New York City, Ann has been volunteering with the Museums for fifteen years.

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FRAME|WORK: Mantelpiece for Thurlow Lodge by the Herter Brothers

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 27, 2011

FRAME|WORK is a weekly blog series that highlights an artwork in the Museums' permanent collections. This week, we feature an extraordinary piece of American decorative art, the Mantelpiece for Thurlow Lodge, currently installed in Gallery 23 at the de Young.

Gustave Herter (American, 1830–1898) and Christian Herter (American, 1839–1883). Mantlepiece for Thurlow Lodge, Menlo Park, California, ca. 1872–1873. Wood, marble, antlers, and clock. Gift of James George and Penny Coulter. 2001.33a-i

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Follow that Art! Balcomb Greene's "Six-Sided Planes" Is Finally on View

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 26, 2011

For the past six weeks, we have followed the progress of Balcomb Greene's Six-Sided Planes through the museum on its way to exhibition. We began tracking the painting's journey when it first entered the Fine Arts Museums via the registration department. It then went on to paintings conservation for a makeover before heading on to the Board of Trustees for final approval. Next it re-entered the registration department for final acquisition, after which it was photographed for record-keeping purposes. And last week, we learned about the work's art historical context and significance from the American art department's curatorial perspective. Now, after all the research, preparation, and planning, Six-Sided Planes is finally on display in Wilsey Court!

Art technician Paul Tavian wheels the painting through Wilsey Court.

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Artist Adventures at the de Young's Summer Camp

Posted by Andrew Fox on July 23, 2011

“I think of art and painting as a journey, not simply a destination.”—Ken Campbell

Artist adventures! There are so many places to explore in the museum, and so many materials to experiment with in the studio!

  • How are artists inspired by different places and cultures in the world?
  • How does our sense of place affect our art?
  • What kinds of journeys do artists take with their materials in the studio?

These are some of the many questions the 7-and 8-year-old artists are thinking about as they spend a week in the de Young Museum drawing, sculpting, painting, observing, and making.

The week started off with venturing up to the tower and drawing from the many different reflective places. What can a new place teach you?

Summer camper drawing

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About Last Friday Night...

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 22, 2011

Every Friday Night at the de Young is an adventure! Each week, the intrepid Public Programs team puts together an evening to remember, and no one Friday Night is alike. It is huge undertaking that requires the careful orchestration of many moving parts. Navigating an endless array of logistics, including a sea of chairs, flyers, AV equipment, and feather boas (yes, boas), the Friday Nights team seamlessly works together to present museumgoers with an experience they'll never forget! We thought you'd be interested to see what goes on behind the scenes of what has become a weekly institution in San Francisco's nightlife.

3:00 p.m.

Supplies for the night's events are laid out on the 7th floor of the tower, including a detailed description of the night's many events.

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