Friday was a gorgeous fall day in San Francisco. Clear skies and warmer than average temps were much appreciated in our day spent out and about in the city.
In the back of my mind, I knew there was a mint in SF; and I had visited mints in other cities. Friday I noticed the fortress-like SF Mint for the first time just as public transportation was rolling by.
The Bactrian Treasures at the Asian Art Museum were worth the visit. They were made of very high karat gold, and made with different techniques. Many were made of sheet, many were created with the repousse' and chasing technique, and some looked cast (although the descriptions on technique were often missing from the descriptions.) The pieces had great range, with the clearest garnet cabachons I've seen, inlaid turqoise, and elaborate sword decorations.
The crown shown on the National Geographic site for this exhibition can be taken apart and laid almost flat; fueling conjecture that the crown was worn by a nomadic princess.
The Pendant Show and re-invented recycled jewelry of the Radical Jewelry Makeover sponsored by Ethical Metalsmiths are accompanied by an exhibition of Jillian Moore's new work at Velvet da Vinci. The friendly staff at the gallery was very informative about the jewelry makeover project.
At the De Young Museum, Maya Lin's installation art, Yves Saint Laurent's artwork, Ruth Asawa's hanging wire sculptures, and a view from the tower at the de Young Museum were capped off with a listen to the Stanford Taiko groups first two songs.
The Academy of Sciences as seen from the tower of the De Young Museum.
Maya Lin's "2x4 Landscape" installation in the lobby of the De Young reminded me of favelas.
If you know if anyone wore this YSL wedding dress, I'd be interested to know who it was.
Having learned Ruth Asawa's basic technique from Nancy Banks at a Metal Arts Association of Silicon Valley meeting this year, it was very nice to see Ruth's work in person.
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