Albert Joseph Moore "Midsummer." Courtesy of Art Knowledge News
It's been a few days, readers, and for that I apologize! But I've been very busy baking, and there are some awesome new recipes over at the fortuitous baker. Might I add--a great date night can be as simple (and cheap) as renting a movie, getting a frozen pizza (I just tried Freschetta's new Brick Oven Pizza...mmm!), and baking a sweet treat. In fact, recently Will and I had an Avengers marathon where we did just that!
Will and I went to this exhibition with my mom when it first opened. She is a member and had an extra comp ticket, but we also happened to go on the Bank of America "Museums on Us" weekend. I'm not the biggest fan of my bank, but this is one of their lesser known, but redeeming, bonuses. If you are a Bank of America customer, regular admission at participating museums is free (each first full weekend of the month). For locals, this means free trips to the Legion of Honor, the De Young, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the Tech Museum.
Now special exhibitions cost extra, but instead of playing $30 to see the Cult of Beauty and regular admission, it cost us $10 for one person. What a great deal!
The Cult of Beauty showcased the work of the "Victorian Avant-Garde 1860-1900"--basically the British Aesthetic Movement during the second half of the 19th century. For those of you in theater-- specifically design--this exhibit is swoon-worthy. For anyone who loves William Morris prints, or the Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts movements, this is a chance to see authentic pieces up close.
Christopher Dresser Teapot, 1879. Courtesy of Legion of Honor
I was in designer heaven. Having studied the Aesthetic Movement in school, I was familiar with the catalog of names--Morris, Burne-Jones, Dresser...you name it, they've got it! Some of the pieces came directly from the V&A permanent collection, which I had seen before. But instead of hiding up in the darkest corners of the old museum, only to be seen by those searching for them, they were showcased in all their glory. One of the highlights for me was the original peacock print for Liberty.
courtesy of the V&A
The exhibition is on a world tour, and the Legion is the only US stop. It is organized by the Victoria & Albert Museum (my favorite in the world!), Fine Arts Museums of SF, and the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. It only runs until June 17th.
When we went, Will, my mother, and I ate at the Legion of Honor Cafe, which is a little pricey. If you want do this on free museum weekend to keep costs down, the fun thing would be to take a picnic with you. If you go early enough, its easy to find close parking. The Legion is a beautiful building with an amazing view!
courtesy of Famous Wonders
courtesy of FoundSF
Price: Budget
A day out at the museum in San Francisco can be expensive. Yet with some careful planning it can be done for a lot less--and you can still have an amazing experience. I highly recommend seeing this exhibit before it's gone! The last free museum days for Cult of Beauty will be June 2nd and 3rd.
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