During this unprecedented time, visiting our favorite museums and enjoying live theatre, musical performances, and events are not possible, but our incredibly creative and hardworking local arts and culture professionals are making extraordinary presentations online. Here is a selection of a few that are sure to inspire.
ART
September 26
SJMA ONLINE GALA + AUCTION
San José Museum of Art’s Annual Gala is going online this year. The special evening will honor dedicated patrons Cheryl and Bruce Kiddo and artist Pae White. A dazzling new mobile created by White and hung in the atrium of SJMA will be unveiled during the event.
BEYOND THE CANVAS
SFMOMA website visitors can see what curators, artists, and others have to say about the art they make, study, collect, and restore. Take a deep dive with a fascinating collection of essays and “SFMOMA on YouTube” videos.
ONGOING
AURA ART + AUTHENTICITY
Stanford University Cantor Arts Center invites you to ask the question: What makes a work of art authentic? Some works of art change over time, while others come from cultural contexts where originality cannot be the litmus test of their charismatic presence. Visit Cantor’s digital exhibition online and explore the notion of authenticity in art with this virtual talk.
AFRICAN ART @ THE DE YOUNG
Until the de Young re-opens, discover pieces from its permanent collection, including important works of African Art. Since 1971, when the Department of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas was founded, the collection has been developed to present the richness and diversity of art from sub-Saharan Africa.
ACHENBACH FOUNDATION FOR GRAPHIC ARTS
The Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts (AFGA) is the department responsible for the Fine Arts Museums’ collection of works of art on paper: prints, drawings, and artists’ books. Learn about this artistic treasure via the Legion of Honor’s website.
WHAT MAKES A RODIN A RODIN?
The announcement that the Musée Rodin in Paris plans to use artist Auguste Rodin’s molds to produce additional sculptures of his work as a fundraising tool has prompted much discussion in the art world. Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center, home to the spectacular Rodin Sculpture Garden and one of the world’s largest collections of Rodin sculpture, has put together an informative video hosted by Cantor Associate Curator of European Art Patrick “Patch” R. Crowley to unpack Rodin’s approach and how his legacy endures beyond his art.
THEATER + MUSIC
August 23
BLACK VOICES IN CONTEMPORARY OPERA
In this interactive Zoom lecture San Francisco Opera Librarian Michael Bragg will explore and highlight the talented black artists and creatives working in the operatic music world now. Tickets are $20 per lecture.
August 20
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CURRENTS: ¡VIVA MéXICO!
The San Francisco Symphony presents CURRENTS, a four-part video series and accompanying podcast series featuring music and conversation around the changing perspectives for symphony orchestras today; curated by Michael Morgan and San Francisco Symphony musicians, with further learning led by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. ¡Viva México! will explore Mexico’s multi-generational musical culture.
August 30
WOMEN IN OPERA
San Francisco Opera’s “Opera Afficionado” virtual lecture series will feature an all-star panel of talented women in opera, including Stage Director and former Adler Fellow Aria Umezawa, San Francisco Opera Master of Properties, SF Opera Lori Harrison, Composer Nkeiru Okoye, Artistic Director and Conductor of Opera Parallèle Nicole Paiement, and General Director of Seattle Opera Christina Scheppelmann. Tickets are $20 per lecture.
September 27
SUNDAYS WITH ST. LAWRENCE
The acclaimed St. Lawrence String Quartet continues its fabled partnership with Stanford, directing the music department’s Chamber Music Program, concertizing at Stanford Live, hosting a popular summer seminar, and running the Emerging String Quartet Program.
Bing Concert Hall, Stanford | live.stanford.edu
October 3
FRANK WALN AND RAYE ZARAGOZA
Lakota hip-hop artist Frank Waln and singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza join forces in a concert that celebrates the identity and survival of Indigenous peoples.
Bing Studio, Stanford | live.stanford.edu
ONGOING
THEATREWORKS FROM HOME
Enjoy a taste of live theater action with videos from an array of past TheatreWorks productions, including Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, The Prince of Egypt, and Daddy Long Legs.
VIRTUAL PADDLE RAISE
The team at Opera San José has created multiple levels of fundraising support that will not only aid OSJ and its talented artists and musicians, but also offer an opportunity for the lucky bidders to bring extraordinary experiences of music to life.
PERFORMING TOGETHER WHILE SHELTERED APART
San Francisco Ballet’s website features a treasure trove of marvelous performances past and present. A Little Beauty features many of the San Francisco Ballet dancers and the orchestra during shelter in place. Tour de Marley spotlights San Francisco Ballet soloist Cavan Conly taking to his bike and dancing outdoors. Both films are worth a watch.
CULTURE
August 14
SUNSET CINEMA DRIVE-IN
Montalvo presents Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, based on the memoir of Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), the first African American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. The film, which follows Stallworth as he sets out to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan, will be shown on the lawn at Montalvo—watch from your own car. Tickets $25 per car.
Montalvo, Saratoga | montalvoarts.org
ONGOING
EXPLORING ART THROUGH SOUND AND MOTION
Inspired by artist Nick Cave’s Soundsuits, “Exploring Art through Sound and Motion” is a marvelous video created by Cantor Arts Center at Stanford that offers inspirational art project ideas that students and families can enjoy at home.
TINKER AROUND YOUR HOUSE
The Exploratorium is offering kids, teachers, and parents wonderful ways to explore science, art, and human perception online. You can subscribe to their educational resources, sign up for weekly newsletters, and enjoy videos for “Tinker Around Your House Experiments” you can do right now, including Cranky Contraptions, Light Painting, Scribbling Machines, and much more.
OUTDOOR ZOO AT CURIODYSSEY IS OPEN
As of July 1, the outdoor zoo and outdoor illusions exhibit at Burlingame’s CuriOdyssey is open to visitors with reservations. Tickets are limited and social distancing protocols must be observed.
ACADEMY BREAKFAST CLUB
The California Academy of Sciences is offering lots of ways to learn from home, including webcams, STEM activities, games, videos, and apps. At 10 AM on select mornings, the Academy Breakfast Club series showcases discoveries, insights, and stories from around the world, spanning a wide range of subjects through live, informal presentations followed by Q&As with the viewing audience.
DECONTAMINATION ALGORITHM
The Tech Interactive’s website is filled with fantastic at-home activities that will bring out your inner innovator. Build, make, and create wherever you are with educational ideas, resources, and links to IMAX films. One of the latest Activity Spotlights from The Tech includes the Decontamination Algorithm—a fun 2-person activity that encourages you to use computational thinking.
ALL ABOUT OTTERS
Explore undersea life at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium online with the incredible Meet the Animals A – Z web page. Enjoy discovering the many creatures that make the sea so fascinating including the charming otters that call the Monterey Bay Aquarium home.
