SF MOMA — Six Truths and a Lie

All of these are things we heard from museum guards at the SF MOMA today — except for one. Can you spot the lie?

“Don’t lean”

“Don’t get too close”

“Don’t yell”

“Don’t kick”

“Don’t lick”

“Don’t blow on it”

“Don’t jump”

(Clockwise from top) Audrey in “Notion Motion”, Leo and Audrey in “360 degree room for all colours”, in the mist of “Beauty”, and wearing blankets before entering the room with the frozen BMW.

And the only one we didn’t hear was “Don’t yell”. Yes, the over-protective guards of the installations by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson told the kids not to blow (on water that was in a pool), not to jump (on creaky floorboards whose purpose was to make the not-to-be-blown water move), and don’t lick (???) or kick(???) the frozen car.

The exhibit was called “Take Your Time “.

Best part of the Eliasson show – “Ventilator” (1997)

The thing I think I liked best was the fan, hanging on a cable, buzzing around the atrium. The kids loved it and it was a great way to enter the museum and start having fun. The brochure says that it used to be at shoulder height, but was “adjusted upward for SF MOMA”. It’s like the dangerous crack in the floor at the Tate, only it’s America and someone would sue.

The New DeYoung Museum

A few highlights of our day at the DeYoung with Paul.

Lounging Leo

The DeYoung has lots of nice surfaces to lie on. Or maybe Leo just needed some lunch (he’s not lying down in any of the post-lunch photos).

Happy Birthday Papa!

Playground fun

The playground at Coyote Point — worth the $5 park admission, but even better when the ranger isn’t there and you don’t have to pay.

Baby Thalia

Hooray! We finally got to meet her. Here she is with Christian & Leta. Leo liked playing with her and piled up so many toys for her that you could barely see her.

Viewmaster Fun

Leo has discovered the joys of the Viewmaster.  Here he is, with some highlights of Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit’s hole.

Christmas

On Christmas Eve, we saw the neighborhood Christmas lights and read “The Night Before Christmas” with Papa (an old version from my childhood, illustrated by Susan Perl).  Sophie and I got the best Christmas card ever from Leo and we enjoyed the afternoon with Cousin Audrey

     

Here is Leo checking to see who is taller.  It’s pretty close right now.  

“Stuff Happens”

That’s what a woman who saw us walking through the San Francisco airport said.  It’s true.  Specifically, spilling a whole cup of apple juice happens.  Luckily, the American Airlines blanket can serve as a handy sarong.