I got in a lot of walking today. Otis and I went out for our morning amble around the neighborhood, than I walked to the de Young Museum to check out the new Ansel Adams exhibit. Along the way, I passed the beautiful Russian Orthodox cathedral and an awesome van belonging to the Church on Wheels – both San Francisco institutions.
The exhibit was outstanding, featuring not only Ansel Adams photos, but also works by that photographers that both inspired Ansel Adams, and that were inspired by him. I am still so amazed at the interaction of dark and light in his photos, even some of his classic Yosemite scenes that I have seen hundreds of times are still so compelling. One of my favorite photos of the exhibit is one that has Georgia O’Keeffe with a lovely, mischievous smile on her face. It’s really cool to think that I’m spending the week in the same neighborhood that he grew up in, several of the photos in the exhibit were ones he took from his childhood home.
The Kehinde Wiley exhibit at the de Young blew me away. I had heard of him because he did President Obama‘s portrait for the Smithsonian, but I didn’t realize he is also a sculptor. The portraits in the exhibit were very moving and compelling, but it was his bronze work that really moved me. It is absolutely stunning and powerful. The detail is so realistic, I felt like any second the statues would open their eyes and come to life, like they had just fallen asleep. What am incredible talent and how lucky we are to be able to experience and learn from him.
After experiencing both of those exhibits I was ready for some time outside to rest and let it all sink in. I had lunch in the sculpture garden, then stopped inside once more to marvel at Ruth Asawa’s wire sculptures. I particularly love that the shadows cast by her sculptures create an additional piece of art. I am so grateful that she gifted the Museum some of her incredible work so the public could enjoy it. What an amazingly talented artist.
On my walk back I enjoyed the beautiful trees and artwork along JFK drive, I so appreciate that it is blocked off from vehicular traffic making for a much more enjoyable stroll through the park. There are wonderful bright yellow chairs dotted around the grass, and even in the middle of the street, with a piano available for passerby to play.
By the time I got home, the wind had really picked up. I spent some time collaging and reading. When Otis and I went for our early evening stroll the beach was almost deserted because of the heavy wind, though this did not deter Otis in the least! Later after dinner, I bundled up and braved the wind so I could watch the sunset, it was totally worth the effort, though not quite as relaxing as I had hoped.
