SF MOMA

21 Feb 2017

For many museums, a non-summer’s day means a peaceful wander around people-light rooms. It makes for a zen beauty experience, but it’s not too good for the museum’s bottom line.

When we visited San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art this week, it was humming. There were teens co-listening to audio guides and seniors taking selfies. One four year old girl in a white sparkle party dress and a flower barette was carefully angling her Daddy’s iphone to take photos of the bottom half of paintings. Daddy was leaving her to her artistic vision and, not surprisingly, this young photographer’s compilation was perfect.

SF MOMA opened their newly expanded museum on May 14, 2016 – the work of Snøhetta, who built on Mario Botta’s 1995 creation. Snøhetta worked on the project for six years, renovating 40,000 square feet and adding another 225,000.

With all of the attendees there with us, the rooms didn’t feel crowded, because there is so much extraordinary art – more than 30,000 pieces available in the collection – spaced beautifully over seven floors. Another 45,000 square feet of public space is accessible with art free for the viewing.

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