Free Things to Do in San Francisco

Contemporary Jewish Museum, opening day, June 8, 2008

What do you do on Christmas if you’re Jewish (or if you’re not, but have finished opening your presents early and are looking for something else to do)? The traditional thing to do is to go to the movies. But this year, there’s another option. The brand-spanking new Contemporary Jewish Museum will be open. And thanks to Target sponsoring one of its Family Days, it will be free.

There are four interesting things to see.

In the Beginning: Artists Respond to Genesis has seven new works commissioned for this exhibit. My favorite is a kind of Genesis slot machine, where you hit a button which makes words from Genesis spin and form different phrases, some of them being “jackpots.” It’s mesmerizing to watch. I also like the strange-looking apparatus near the front of the exhibit which plays the sounds of the Big Bang. All the way in the back, there’s a documentary film, Genesis Now, where scientists, religious leaders, and writers give interesting perspectives on their reactions to Genesis. (If you don’t make it to the Museum, you can watch the documentary online). This exhibit is closing January 4, so it’s pretty much now or never.

The second exhibit, Warhol’s Jews: Ten Portraits Reconsidered, revisits an exhibit Warhol put on in 1980. The show was well-received in most places, but it drew scathing criticism when it was in New York. This exhibit show the original prints and paintings, along with a lot of background on how these particular 10 Jews were selected (Warhol said it was because he liked their faces), info on how the prints were made, and an examination of the controversy.

Inside of the “Yud” space

The third thing to see is the inside of the “Yud” — a big empty white space — which, through January 4, has piped-in music composed by Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, and many more, commissioned especially for the space. There are benches there, so if you have museum feet, it’s a good place to take a break.

Contemporary Jewish Museum, exterior (bookstore visible through windows)

The last essential thing to see is the architecture itself, which has the new literally smashing into the old. The new is the blue-metal clad “Yud” cube, and the old is a renovated red brick power station, originally built in 1907.

On Target Family Day, there will also be performances by a singer and a storyteller especially for kids.

The CJM is right across the street from the Metreon, and a block-and-a-half away from the Westfield Mall, with its theaters on the top floor. So if you simply must go to a movie on Christmas, you can easily do that and go to the Museum too.

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, December 25, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Museum will be open until 4), Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St

WHAT: Target Family Day. Special activities for kids. Almost-last chance to see the Genesis exhibit and hear the Sound Project before they close on January 4.

TOTALLY FREE? Yes.

COMFORT LEVEL: Brand new museum! What’s not to like?

photos (c) 2008 Ms. Terri

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