For those of you who think that nothing of interest or importance ever happens in San Jose, take a wander around the San Jose Museum of Art’s current exhibitions. It’s impossible not to enjoy this fascinating local show of works by M.C. Escher and some of the seminal artists from the Op Art era. Judging by the large crowds I witnessed there over the weekend, these exhibitions are very popular and are bringing locals and visitors here alike, proving once again that our museum is a vital part of life in San Jose and the region.
After many years of free admission, I was disappointed when the museum was forced to start charging for entry last year. With the loss of the support of Knight Ridder and no other financial backers stepping up to take their place (!), I guess it was inevitable. But, anyone with a San Jose Library card can get in for $6, $2 off the regular fee, so it’s cheaper than a movie ticket. Even better, you can do what I did and become a member for $50 per year for an individual and $75 for a family. This gets you in anytime you like, plus invitations to openings, lectures and events and a 10% discount in the shop. Membership also gets you free admission to many other associated arts institutions along the west coast, including the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas for example. That’s a pretty good deal by any standard.
Most of us have seen works by the 20th century Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher (1898-1972) in books and on cards and other printed products. But to see the lithographs and woodcuts in this exhibition, aptly named “Rhythm of Illusion,” in person is a revelation. There are several works of Escher’s trademark geometric and mathematical conundrums, like the painting “Relativity” of 1953 where a closed circuit of human forms going in opposite directions appear to be going upstairs and downstairs at the same time. Less well known pictures in this exhibition, but just as fascinating, are some of Escher’s early woodcuts illustrating Genesis from the Bible as well as architectural pictures he made while living in Italy.
The neighboring exhibition, “Op Art Revisited” (short for “Optical art” and analogous to “Pop art”) from the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, could easily be called “Illusion of Rhythm.” This is one of those shows where you can linger for some time studying each work because they are all about challenging human perception and how our eyes and brain can play tricks on us. The beginning of the era is traced back to the work of Josef Albers, represented by two paintings in the current exhibition, in the decades before, but the Op Art period was mostly a product of the 1960s, although its influence can still be seen today. Pieces by most of the major practitioners such as British painter Bridget Riley and Hungarian-born Victor Vasarely can be seen, with their typical constructions based on illusions of motion and perspective, and the effects and after-effects of wild hypnotic shapes and color combinations. You would swear that Vasarely’s work “Vega-Nor” was a three-dimensional object—a sphere projecting from the surface of a painting—but close-up inspection reveals an illusion created on a flat two-dimensional space.
“M. C. Escher: Rhythm of Illusion” and “Op Art Revisited” will be on display until April 22. Don’t miss them.
Weblink to San Jose Museum of Art.
Thanks for plugging the SJ Art Museum Jack – it’s praise well deserved. Our art museum consistently puts up top shelf shows.
And you can take your kids without sweating it, you don’t have to worry about art porn being around the next corner.
Kudos to SJMA.
Thanks, Jack, for calling out a excellent exhibit at SJMA. The am always struck by what is an architectural triumph at that museum—the integration with the old Post Office is elegant from the outside, but even more notable—and radically simple—on the inside.
While the Escher and the Op-Art exhibits get all the glory right now, I’d recommend this site’s bloggers go upstairs and check out the California Suburbia exhibit as well. It’s a critical, but still insightful, artistic view of the housing and planning that typifies 408-land. The works clearly aren’t in favor of tract homes and ploughed hillsides, but there it’s important for us to take a hard look at where we live and the aesthetic of the city and residential planning that informs it.
In any case, the lunch at sjma is great, too. Thumbs up.
Thanks, Jack. Sounds like a great show.
Thanks, Novice—I think. Somehow you manage a compliment and take it away at the same time. Art porn?? Most of us understand that appreciation of art is subjective. Some will like certain works, others will dislike the same works. But art porn? I don’t know what that is but I imagine your definition and mine would be different. Is some art more appropriate for adults than children—sure. But does that make it “art porn?” Just wondering.
Unfurrow your ‘cultured’ brow little Ahaus and wonder no more.
In Ofili’s “Virgin Mary” painting, a large, exuberantly decorative black Madonna, made sparkling by the addition of map pins, on a fluorescent yellow-orange ground. Its colors, shiny pins, and Mary’s benign expression all combine to give the painting a celebratory air. Cut-out rear views of buttocks with pussies peeping underneath surround the image of Mary.
“Piss Christ” is yet another fine example of ‘art porn’.
Some of my favorite exhibits have been courtesy of SJMA, and this goes back to the pre-annex days.
As for art porn, maybe Novice recalls one piece a few years back that depicted a nude man on horseback who had an appendage that would make the horse’s pale in comparison? I took a couple of kids to SJMA and one of them tuned into it, the other didn’t.
But the term “porn” is taking things a little too far. Geez Novice, where are you blogging from? Downtown Cornville Iowa?
I also vote “thumbs up” for the Escher exhibit. Logic can be defied looking at some of his works such as his architecual pieces wherein never ending upward staircases look practical.
But there is an even more architectual oddity at the SJMA and that is the museum itself. For 100 years citizens have looked at its beautiful sandstone clocktower and most likely assumed that is the way it should look. That is wrong.
The top 40 feet of this amazing clock tower was toppled in the ‘06 quake and never rebuilt.
This is a shame because the tower houses a rare Nels Johnson clock, one of two still remaning hand wound clocks in the US. It has a wonderful hand cast bell that cannot be rung because there is no belfry.
I encourage everyone to see the fabulous Escher exhibit with delight and wonder. Then step outside the museum and look up at the clock tower and imagine.
Listen to that, Single Gal! Take kudos from Jack because he’s aware of what’s going on downtown, which you’re not.
John, for years there has been talk of placing the turret back on top of the clock tower. Within the last year I read something fairly promising that indicated that this was actually going to happen, finally. But haven’t seen, read, or heard anything since. Maybe another false alarm. I’m surprised the National Trust for Historic Preservation hasn’t contributed anything to the effort. Maybe nobody has solicited them yet? Then again, they are more focused on the east coast, which is why I’m no longer a member.
Mark T – take heart. There is a drive underway by a citizen group called It’s About Time to restore the clock tower.
Presently we are about to apply to the CA Cultural and Historic Endowment for a reconstruction grant for 1/2 the cost -Est total $3M. the deadline is March 1.
With the support of state and local representatives as well as preservation and history groups we hope to get this grant and addtional funds to rebuild.
When finished people who are familiar with the tower will look at it with pride as a truly significant landmark for now and for future generations of San Jose to come.
But the amazing story is inside the tower. The Nels Johnson Century clock was the high tech wonder of its day. When asked if within 4 seconds accuracy a month was good enough, Johnson replied, “if you want better, talk to God.”
After almost 100 years of little care the handwound clock is still working! Its bell is disconnected because there is no where for the sound to go except down inside.
If San Jose had such a thing as “crown jewels” it would be this clock.
Citizens have already made tax deductable contributions to SJMA -Clock Tower Fund. For more information please contact me
jr********@sb*******.net
Thanks Jack, your appreciation for the arts, whatever medium, is great.
Jack-
Good job of plugging the SJMA! It is one of our few downtown gems. One of the neat things that OED and SJRDA don’t promote enough is that SJ has some very kid & family friendly venues. I guess they’re too busy with their fixation of being inadequate in size. Everything they publish has the inauspicious claim of being the 10th largest city. I guess its a Freudian thing with their staff but it gives us a desperate image and has the same ring as Modesto or Visalia trying to maintain parity with the Porkbelly capital of America. Here’s a clue OED and SJRDA, “It’s about quality of life—stupid!!!” Silicon Valley CEO’s are the most concerned about 1) Traffic Congestion affecting their workforce and 2) Housing their workforce in good safe neighborhoods.
But I digress, the SJMA is great. I had not been in SJMA since 1995 but took my young daughter to visit last month. She loved all three exhibits and we look forward to seeing the Escher exhibit next week. I can also put in a plug for the great cafe. It was a pleasant surprise and the lady that runs the place is quite gracious.
My only disappointment with the exhibits was that the Suburbia exhibit seemed too one-sided and incomplete. It was more of the same preachy tones of “housing production for the mass of returning WWII vets is bad. ” Little was presented about the suburban housing boom being the spark that created the greatest peace time expansion of our economy or that it provided the broadest socio-economic opportunities for the largest percentage of the US population ever to improve their quality of life AND that it set the stage to improve the lives of their progeny beyond what their grandparents could have ever dreamed of in the tenements of the east or the far off foreign shores.
Even though I enjoyed the CA Suburbia exhibit at SJMA, I applaud Asian Voter’s critique of its one-sided, predictably liberal political slant. There’s alot of complain about in suburban planning, but arguably there’s MORE to like and given the one-sided dismal of suburban living by Planners and Artists alike, it’s refreshing to hear the other side so eloquently stated. We need to hear those voices more! Go Asian Voter!
In regards to the comments made by Asian Voter, if the city would put more funds towards the arts and other family attractions downtown instead of the lousey Grand Prix, maybe families in the city would be better informed. 4 million dollars would go a long way in achieving this!
Great job SJMA!
#14. Sparky – You need to think creatively. Put the art on the sides of the race cars and make San Joseans run alongside to see them. It’s fitness, fun and culture all rolled into one event!
#9 John,
At the risk of opening up a can of worms I can’t help but wonder if your group has ever asked the RDA for funding to restore the clock tower?
If so, what was the response?
Jack – today’s blog illustrates the larger point that those who think there is no culture in San Jose simply don’t know where to look.
#8 Mark T
The National Trust does do a lot for the West Coast. They have been involved in several projects locally. In fact they recently gave the Preservation Action Council of San Jose a grant. In turn PAC SJ is funding a very expensive city survey of min-century architecture in SJ. In past years in SJ and presently in other cities this has been payed for by city government. This survey should help prevent developers from purchasing unknown historic resources with the intent to demolishing them. This will also save the City a lot of money for both an inventory and lost law suits. Developers owe a big thanks to PAC and should contribute to the inventory. I hope you will rethink your membership to the trust and at least support PAC SJ, they both are fine organizations.
The “Speed City” exhibit at History SJ in Kelly
Park and “150 years at San Jose State U” exhibit on the second floor of the MLK library are also well worth seeing. At some point the exhibits should be combined as a permanent exhibit at the University.