IAIN BAXTER&, Golden Gate Bridge, from the series Reflected San Francisco Beauty Spots, 1979; photo-etching and aquatint; 34 in. x 29 5/8 in. (86.36 cm x 75.25 cm); collection SFMOMA; © Iain Baxter&
Beginning May 26, 2012, and extending through the summer, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) presents a series of tributes to the Bay Area’s beloved Golden Gate Bridge. The museum joins civic, cultural, and education organizations from around the Bay that will host 75 different tributes as part of the Golden Gate Festival, a public celebration of the iconic structure’s 75th anniversary. SFMOMA will offer everyone in the community opportunities to engage with the celebration, including a special bridge-building family program on May 27; an online gallery and blog series reflecting on the bridge; and bridge-inspired treats and gifts at the Blue Bottle Coffee Bar and the MuseumStore. At Fort Mason, the SFMOMA Artists Gallery will host an exhibition of artworks showcasing the Golden Gate Bridge beginning May 26.
Building Bridges
SFMOMA Galleries and Koret Visitor Education Center
Sunday, May 27
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
SFMOMA kicks off Memorial Day weekend with a program that will be focused on building bridges, as part of the Family Sunday series themed “What’s the Big IDEA?” Ideas are one thing, what happens is another. It all starts with an IDEA! Family programs are designed for families with children ages 4 to 12, with free admission for children under 12. General admission is required for adult companions.
Picturing the Golden Gate: An Online Exhibition
The tribute continues on the SFMOMA blog Open Space, with five commissioned pieces from artists and writers reflecting on the bridge, commencing Memorial Day weekend and extending through July. The SFMOMA website will also host a special online exhibition highlighting works from the permanent collection featuring the Golden Gate Bridge. Artworks include Golden Gate Bridge (1934) by Peter Stackpole; Looking from Ferry Boat at Golden Gate with One Bridge Tower Completed, San Francisco (1934) by John Gutmann; The Golden Gate before the Bridge, San Francisco, California (1932) by Ansel Adams; and Reflected San Francisco Beauty Spots (1979) by IAIN BAXTER&. Browse the online exhibition at sfmoma.org/goldengate.
Inspired Artworks
The SFMOMA Artists Gallery at Fort Mason Center, Building A, opens a new exhibition, showcasing Golden Gate Bridge–themed artworks by over a dozen Bay Area artists. The show opens Memorial Day weekend and will be on view through June. The SFMOMA Artists Gallery is free and open to the public.
Golden Gate Gifts
Give the gift of the Golden Gate to your friends and family. Visit the MuseumStore online or in person for a special selection of bridge-themed items. Selections include educational books and DVDs, postcards, playing cards, and, for your inner craftsman, a model bridge-building kit. Kids can enjoy the bridge, too, with interactive placemats, books, and a new set of rubber stamps. Golden Gate items are available at the MuseumStore or at https://museumstore.sfmoma.org/gogabr.html.
Sweet Celebrations
Indulge in a sweet San Francisco treat during your museum visit. SFMOMA’s Blue Bottle Coffee Bar in the famed Rooftop Garden will create a delicious new bridge-themed dessert in honor of the anniversary celebration. The Buckminster Fuller hot chocolate ($5) is made with TCHO chocolate, a floating tetrahedral-shaped vanilla marshmallow, and sprinkled with house made sea salt extracted from salt water collected from under the bridge. The dessert will premiere Memorial Day weekend and will be available throughout the summer.
About the Golden Gate Festival
The Golden Gate Festival is a citywide program with the theme “Bridging Us All.” Rather than strictly focusing on the Golden Gate Bridge itself, the festival seeks to highlight the Bay Area community and its relationship to the bridge. The Golden Gate Festival is organized by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, National Parks Service, and The Presidio Trust. More information on the program can be found at goldengate75.org.