De New De Young, not De Old De Young

Yesterday we went to a members' preview of the new De Young Museum. It opens to the general public on Saturday.

Since I am still painting furiously (finished, I think...have to look at it again, the eighth painting in the last three weeks), the blog has had to take a back seat. So, until I get a block of time at the computer (and not one in which I need to delete spam comments and pings for an hour), this brief review will have to do:

1. Great building. I did not like the look of the plans, but the real thing is stunning. The copper siding will be particularly cool as it ages. The galleries are comfortable, the art is allowed to really shine (and when we are talking about nineteenth century art like Bierstadt and Church, shine it does), and the courtyards are a pleasant respite for the eyes.

2. Six or seven Diebenkorns, including Seawall, one of my all time favorites.

3. At least seven Thiebauds. Yipee!

4. Great view from the tower.

5. Did I mention all the nineteenth century stuff? Thomas Hill, Thomas Moran, Frederic (not Thomas) Church, James A.M. Whistler, Sargeant, Prendergrast, etc. Feast for the eyes.

6. The Piazzoni murals are stunning in their new home. I have never seen them in person, and to be able to walk around looking at them was a real treat.

7. Cool site specific works...more on that later.

8. Good early American modernist works: John Marin, Marsden Hartley (can't seem to get enough of him recently), an interesting Rothko (from, I think, his days in San Francisco), a lovely Motherwell.

9. Location. Location. Location. A museum in a great park wins points simply by being in the great park.