Table Of Content

DRAFT THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO at the CENTER CIVIC DOCUMEISSTS DEPT. Mri< 2 2 GAW FRAMCISCO PUBLIC L18HARY 5/S San Francisco PublicLibrary * -M'T.f-]TINFORMATfON CFf./TFn bAN FRANCISCO PUBLICLieRAK,- REFERENCE BOOK Not to be taken from the Library THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO at the CENTER CIVIC Digitized by the Internet Archive 2014 in https://archive.org/details/asianartmuseumof1991asia Table of Contents THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO: BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1 Introduction 1 Governance and Support 1 Mission and History 1 Recent Activities 2 San Francisco Bay Area and the Future 2 THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO AT THE CIVIC CENTER 3 New Civic Center Home for the Asian 3 Planning, Design, Construction and Funding 3 ASIAN ART COMMISSIONERS AND ASIAN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION TRUSTEES 5 APPPENDICES A Schedule of Expenditures Exterior Elevation Rendering of the Asian at the Civic Center B Section Rendering of the Asian at the Civic Center C D Aerial Rendering of the Future Civic Center Area 3 1223 06256 2229 Museum The Asian Art of San Francisco: Background Information Introduction and uplifts the spirit. Others come to Guardianship and custodial ser\dces maintain contact with their heritage and utilities are funded indirectly by and share it with their children. Still the City and thus not included in the The Asian Art Museum of San others come because they want to operating budget. Francisco has one of the very finest learn about cultures different from collections in the western world their own. devoted to Asian art. It includes over Mission and History 11,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of history and encompassing the art and Governance and Support cultures of 40 countries ~ over half The Asiam opened to the public in of the world's population. 1966. It was founded to house and The Asian Art Museum is a display the Asiam ait collections of The Asian is also people. It is the department of the City and Coimty of Avery and Elizabeth Bnmdage and of curatorial staff, the largest group of San Francisco under the Asian Art the City and County ofSan Francisco, exp)erts on Asian art in any American Commission. The 27 member one of the most magnificent museum; it is docents and educators Commission is appointed by the collections of Asian art amassed by who interpret the collections for the Mayor from individuals nominated by one person in the modem world. pubUc; and it is volunteers of all the existing Commission. Nominees The City of San Francisco and ethnic backgroimds who contribute must have a demonstrated interest or Bnmdage shared the dream that the their time and funds to enable the expertise in Asian art and culture. Asian would one day become the Asian to carry out its mission. greatest center for the study of Asian The Commission is currently chziired art and culture in the western world The Asian is currently located in San by Alice Lowe. In addition to being and that this collection would form a Francisco's Golden Gate Park where a proven fundraiser and administrator, bridge of understamding between the it shares an entrMce with the Mrs. Lowe graduated in the first people of the East and the people of 'M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, docent training course given by the the West. ladjacent to the world-fjuned Japanese Asian over 20 years ago. Tea Garden and directly across from To accomplish this mission, the Asian the California Academy of Sciences. In 1969, the Asian Art Museum presents thematic exhibitions focxised Foundation was established as a non- onthepermanent collection; organizes More than 400,000 people visit the profit charitable corporation dedicated international exhibitions; offers Asian annuzdly. They represent a to raising private funds for lectures and symposia on Asian art cross-section of both the surrounding acquisitions, exhibitions and enhanced and related topics; and develops communities and tourists. These educational programs. The educational outreach and performing visitors arc of European, Asian, Foundation is cxu^rently chaired by 2irts programs to better inform the ^rican. Oceanic and Hispanic Mrs. Genevieve Spiegel. Asian-descendent populace about its descent. They represent every age heritage and to educate the non- jroup, from school children to retired The Asian's operating budget for Asian populace about the arts and people. Some collect Asian ail and 1990-91 is $4 million. Of this, the cultures of Asia. javel to Asia; many are not wealthy City of San Francisco provided $1.3 ind come when the admission is free. million in direct support; another $1.5 Beginning in 1975 with The million represents membership and Archeolc^cal Finds of the People's (Vhy do people come to the Asian? other earned income; and the Republic of China," the Asian has -or some it is to be surroimded by remeiining $1.2 miUion is received in played a leading role in the )eautiful ait which gladdens the heart the form of contributions and grants. 1 introduction of the arts of Asia to storytelling, Indian dance, Vietneunese U.S. urban centers, San Francisco is U.S. audiences. The Asian organized music, Cambodian andJavanese music about 30% Asian, 25% Hispanic, 12% the first major exhibition of Korean and dance, Sudanese puppetry, Black and 33% Caucasian. The art to be seen in this country, "5000 Tibetan opera, Korean classical miisic Asian population includes established Years of Korean Art." This was and Chinese shadow theatre and Japanese, Chinese and Korean followed by two other landmark classical music. A film series, "Asian communities, as well as more recently exhibitions organized by the Asian, Women: New Horizons," addressed formed communities of people from "Treasures from the Shanghai the decisions Asian women face in Cambodia, Viet Nam, Laos and Museum" and "Essence ofIndian Art." their lives today while another series Thailand. The remaining population examined conflict in contemporary has equally diverse geographic origins. Asian cultures. Recent Activities The family and friendship ties to The AisiaD has added an Associate other countries inherent in its diverse Curator to its department ofJapanese population are among San Francisco's Under the leadership of Rand Castile, airt and will publish a major treatise greatest strengths: the future well- who has served as director since on its Japcmese collection in the fall being of all people depends on their January, 1986, the Asian has of 1991. With a major grant for ability to commimicate in a undertaken major reinstallations of endowment, the Asian created the multicultural world. the galleries emd increased the Paul L. and PhyUis Wattis Curatorial number of objects on view by 35 Chair of Southeast Asian Art, a In addition to its ethnic diversity, the percent; expanded the publication, position filled by the first curator of San Francisco Bay Area is known and education and exhibition programs; Southeast Asian art in the United respected throughout the world for its and enhanced outreach and fund States. With a Koret Foundation glorious physical location and its great raising efforts. grant, the Asian has also employed educational institutions. Located in I the first curator of Korean art. San Francisco, the Asian is uniquely Recent exhibitions include Spectacular positioned to demonstrate the respect Helmets of Japan: 16th - 19th There is an active campaign to add to the commxmity, the State and the Century. Extraordinary Persons: underrepresented areas of the Nation have for the heritage of Asia Japanese Artists in the Kimiko and collection. Through donation and and to provide essential information John Powers Collection. and purchase, the Asian has acquired about Asia's many cultures. Yokohama Prints from Nineteenth superb examples of Chinese and Century Japan. In 1991, the Asian is Indian paintings, Japanese calligraphy, presenting two major international Indonesijm jewelry and Middle exhibitions: Wisdom and Eastern Art. Recent donations Compassion: the Sacred Art of Tibet include a rare embroidered silk Oing and Sculpture of Indonesia. dynasty hanging scroll; the James and Elaine Connell Collection of Thai Through school programs and the Ceramics; and important Chinese I distribution of Asian art posters to paintings from the Tang Family 1,800 San Francisco BayArea schools, Foundation. The Asian will soon the Asian has brought Asian art into acquire a major collection ofJapanese many classrooms for the first time. screens, scrolls and sculpture. Through its pubUc programs, a reference hbrary open to scholars and the public, curatorial consultation San Francisco Bay Area services, and pubhcations, the Asian has enriched lives of people in many and the Future communities of interest. Performing arts programs presented San Francisco is the most ethnically recently showing the infinite richness diverse city of its size in the world. of Asian traditions include Japanese According to a recent study of major 2 (