Go to: San Francisco Main Event Calendar | San Francisco Art Galleries
San Francisco Museum Exhibits - September 2008
Listings updated annually.
August 2008 exhibits at San Francisco museums. Museums outside of the city are listed at the end.
** Note: Museums not listed are temporarily closed or do not have special exhibitions this month.
The Guide to San Francisco Museums has a more extensive list of venues, with full address and location information. The San Francisco Museum Map shows locations of museums within the city.
See the guide to Free Museum Days in San Francisco for monthly freebies.
1. San Francisco Museum Map
Click here for the San Francisco museum map. Clicking the image on the left will not link you to the map.
This map shows the locations of San Francisco museums, from the large cluster of venues near Yerba Buena Gardens (including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) to museums farther afield such as the Legion of Honor in the Outer Richmond.
2. Asian Art Museum
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Civic Center
See: San Francisco Museum Map and Guide to SF Museums
Arts of the Islamic World From Turkey to Indonesia
Sep 5, 2008 to Mar 1, 2009
Approximately 60 paintings, manuscripts, ceramics, textiles, historic photographs highlighting these artistic traditions
Contemporary Korean Fiber Art: Reinterpreting the Korean Patchwork
To Nov 24, 2008
Showcasing six artists whose works transformed into modern expressions, the materials and techniques used in traditional Korean crafts
Power & Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty
To Sep 21, 2008
The first exhibition in the U. S. to focus on full range of Ming court arts -- with more than 240 artworks, porcelain, painting, textiles, lacquer, jade, jewelry
3. California Academy of Sciences
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Golden Gate Park - See Map
Weekend Opening Celebration: September 27 and 28, 2008
Golden Gate Park location opens with free attendance on Saturday, September 27 (from 9:30a to 9:00p). Sunday, September 28 is open to paid attendance from 9:30p to 5:00p.
See the California Academy of Sciences website for opening weekend details.
4. California Historical Society
Location: SoMa/South of Market - (SoMa Information)
See also: San Francisco Museum Map and Guide to SF Museums
The Chinese of California: A Struggle for Community
To August 30, 2008
Features historic documents, manuscripts and artifacts document Chinese American fight for civil rights and unique challenges in California
5. Cartoon Art Museum
Location: SoMa/South of Market - (SoMa Information)
See also: San Francisco Museum Map and Guide to SF Museums
From Richie Rich to Wendy the Witch: The Art of Harvey Comics
To November 30, 2008
Visual history of the popular comic book publisher
Small Press Spotlight: Briana Miller
To Nov 30, 2008
Showcase of work by Berkeley-born cartoonist
Bay Area Spotlight: Keith Knight
To November 9, 2008
First comprehensive exhibition of cartoonist Keith Knight, creator of the K Chronicles, (th)ink and The Knight Life
Farley's San Francisco Chronicles: A Salute to Phil Frank
To September 14, 2008
Celebrates the life and legacy of this Bay Area cartoonist in a special retrospective
6. Conservatory of Flowers
Location: Golden Gate Park
Website
See the Golden Gate Park and the Inner Sunset on a San Francisco Neighborhood Map
The Butterfly Zone: Plants and Pollinators
Through November 2, 2008
Exhibit returns with double the number of butterflies and more nectar plants for feeding
7. Contemporary Jewish Museum
Photo © Ingrid Taylar
SoMa
See: San Francisco Museum Map and Guide to SF Museums
In the Beginning: Artists Respond to Genesis
Jun 8, 2008 to Jan 4, 2009
Pairs seven new artist commissions with historically important works to explore our changing understanding of the story of creation as depicted in Genesis Chapter 1.
From The New Yorker to Shrek: The Art of William Steig
To Sep 7, 2008
Features wide selection of original drawings from William Steig's acclaimed career as a cartoonist for The New Yorker and as beloved author of children's literature
John Zorn Presents the Aleph-Bet Sound Project
Jun 8, 2008 to Jan 4, 2009
Acclaimed musician and MacArthur Fellow Zorn curates a series of original sound pieces based on a letter of the Hebrew alphabet
8. de Young Museum
© Ingrid Taylar
Location: Golden Gate Park
Profile of de Young Museum
See also: San Francisco Museum Map and Guide to SF Museums
Chihuly at the de Young
To Sep 28, 2008
An exploration of the groundbreaking glass artwork of Dale Chihuly
For Tent and Trade: Masterpieces of Turkmen Weaving
To Sep 7, 2008
Features selected masterpieces from the Fine Arts Museums' collection of Turkmen carpets and tent trappings
Chim: The Photography of David Seymour
To Sep 28, 2008
More than 70 of Chim's photojournalistic works
9. Exploratorium
Location - Marina District - (Marina District Information)
See also: San Francisco Museum Map and Guide to SF Museums
Mind: The Art, Science and Experience of our Inner Lives
Ongoing
The Mind team spent more than a year researching the cognitive sciences to create experiences highlighting the way our minds work.
Listen: Making Sense of Sound
Ongoing
Permanent collection of interactive exhibits, focusing on subtle and profound aspects of hearing
See the Exploratorium website for additional ongoing exhibitions and activities.
10. Legion of Honor
© Ingrid Taylar
Location: Outer Richmond (Outer Richmond Information)
Profile of the Legion of Honor
See also: San Francisco Museum Map and Guide to SF Museums
Women Impressionists: Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzales, Marie Bracquemond
To Sep 21, 2008
Many of the works deal with images of women—women at home, women with family, and women at leisure --in addition to other themes typical of Impressionism
Vollard, Editeur: Illustrated Books Published by the Legendary French Art Dealer
To Sep 28, 2008
The second in a series of exhibitions that focus on legendary publishers who were primarily art dealers