Since the Pace Gallery in Palo Alto closed, Bay Area teenagers struggled to find venues for equally interactive artistic outings. However, many accessible museums in the South Bay and the Peninsula are open to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of art history, or just in finding good backgrounds for pictures. No matter the artistic background, these local museums are sure to please the eye.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) just off of Market Street remains an aesthetic visage even for bystanders with its unique architecture. The building’s interior is no less impressive, as it contains pieces from renowned artists including Henry Matisse, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera. While most pieces in the museum date within the last century, SFMOMA offers visitors fresh perspectives on familiar worlds with breathtaking exhibits on the homeless experience or World War II. The museum is free for anyone eighteen years old and under, and is very family friendly. However, touring SFMOMA may certainly be an all day event, as it has everything from a wall of plants to a sculpture garden to a cafe and gift shop.
Also located in San Francisco, the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park features collections of art from across the globe, providing insights into countless cultures. The museum’s eight floors house works by Claude Monet and Grant Wood. The De Young’s Danny Lyon exhibition will even offer one artist’s rendering of the future through an extensive collection of photography. For those more interested in tourism than artwork, the inverted pyramidal structure of the building offers the perfect sight for the eighth floor observatory, with a 360-degree view of the nearby sights of the city.
The Cantor Arts Center on the Stanford University Campus, while lesser known, has quite an extensive collection for a college campus. The formidable Grecian exterior and gorgeous marble interior of the museum itself sets visitors in awe upon arrival, and the treasures within do not disappoint either. The museum currently features an exhibit on surrealism, including explorations of the historic and cultural phenomena that preceded the movement. While the museum dedicated a whole exhibit to their Auguste Rodin collection, their works are as thorough as they are versatile, with works stretching from early civilization to today. The Anderson Collection adjacent to Cantor is also a worthwhile visit, housing more modern but equally breathtaking pieces. Both museums feature free admission, but visitors should be advised they are closed on Tuesdays.
The San Jose Museum of Art in Downtown San Jose may feature a smaller collection of more abstract pieces; their quickly evolving exhibitions offer a variety of art that makes repeat visits fruitful. The museum has an outstanding amount of photography and showcases pieces that comment on prominent social issues. This, combined with the museum’s quick turnover in exhibitions, makes the San Jose Museum of Art consistently relevant to local visitors.
Closest in proximity to Wilcox and right off of Monroe Street, the Triton Museum in Santa Clara provides a fantastic taste of local artists. While its hours are limited, the museum has many activities open for children and offers opportunities for visitors to gain more direct interaction with the artistic community in their area.
Although many of these museums are less interactive than the Pace Gallery, a visit to an art gallery can be a rewarding experience to expand one’s worldview. No matter the background, an appreciation for these cultural treasures is certainly refreshing among Silicon Valley’s constant spirit of evolution.