Go indulge yourself (with the Fisher collection)

Alexander Calder, Double Gong, 1953

No longer can Gap employees brag about their privileged access to Warhol and Serra…we the people can now view treasures of the extensive Fisher collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

I’ve heard of famous art works in lobbies and cafeterias, but I never actually took up the offer to go down to the headquarters and check them out with Gap employee friends of mine, now I know what I was missing. No wonder they get free access to the SFMOMA, the good stuff is right their at work.

And it is good. In fact it kind of blew me (and all the other press preview people) away. Doris and Donald Fisher have taste, especially considering they had no advisors or strategy–they just collected what they liked, the way your or I may collect rocks or stamps or shiny coins.

The real standouts are on the fifth floor where Ellsworth Kelly, Gerhard Richter, Anselm Kiefer, Richard Serra, and (notably) Don’s favorite, Alexander Calder have entire rooms to themselves.

Starting at the ceiling of the main lobby and continuing at the top of the stairs on the final floor, Calder’s hanging mobiles range from starch white to a deep space black, exploring all the colors of the rainbow in vibrant forms that imply twisted yet anxious motion. The pieces fill the entry way with a skeletal density creating a unique kind of ‘paint’ for the space.

Minimal aspects of line, form and color stick to the walls of the huge room devoted to Kelly and become overwhelming in the best way possible. It’s as if you are sitting in the front row at the movie theatre but the images are too good to change seats.

Serra’s ‘most important smaller, indoor works’ are in the next room. His House of Cards (1969) is especially haunting with its lead contents and chalk-like surface. Richter’s stylized photographic paintings are astonishing and make me want to see Madrid from a high rooftop in black and white.

Gerhard Richter, 256 Farben (256 Colors), 1974

Then you hit, or actually, the Kiefer room, hits you…hard. I overheard someone saying they were living in Germany when Kiefer was just gaining recognition. I can’t even imagine what a first look at his pieces in postwar Germany would be like; it’s as if he wanted to dig into that deep cut that was barely starting to scar. Even now his work pokes at your soul and makes you want to cry. Nevertheless, my favorite piece in the entire show is probably Kiefer’s Margarete (1981).

Andy Warhol, Triple Elvis, 1963

And of course, there is the sculpture garden (fantastic on a bright sunny day) and the famous works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Cy Twombly, Chuck Close, etc. etc. There is just so much. The best 3D experience is William Kentridge’s Preparing the Flute (2005).  Go ahead, indulge yourself!

Calder to Warhol
Introducing the Fisher Collection
June 25 – September 19, 2010

SFMOMA
151 Third Street (between Mission + Howard)
San Francisco CA 94103 USA
Work Tel: 415.357.4000

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