By Alex Gryciuk
As upcoming breaks are slowly creeping up on Westmont students, like myself, many individuals will enjoy breaks relaxing on their phone and away from school work. However, after two or three non-stop days of Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube, people get tecno-tired. Personally, I throw my phone across my room; so bored that I could cry. I find that a relaxing, mind stimulating trip to the museum can cure mind-numbing technological boredom. So, included below are some affordable museums local to the Bay Area that students can visit during the upcoming breaks.
San Francisco MOMA:
151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Under 18: Free
Adults 19-24: $19 w/ ID
Need to reserve tickets on the website
Spotlights:
- The Retrospective: Joan Mitchell (Open until January 17, 2022)
A “comprehensive retrospect” displaying 80 works of Joan Mitchell’s abstract expressionism. As a pioneer in the use of color and movement in her artwork to create dynamic pieces, Joan Micthell pushed the envelope and changed what modern abstractism meant. The exhibition displays her mastery with paintings, sketchbooks, and drawings.
- Pan-American Unity (Open until Summer 2023)
A large mural by Diego Rivera that displays a creative Pan-American history.
- Contemporary Optics
Olafur Eliasson, Teresita Gernándex, and Anish Kapoor create interesting displays of light, color, and human perception.
Rosicruscian Egyptian Museum:
1660 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95191
Children 7-17: $8.00
Adults 18-64: $10.00
*DOES NOT ACCEPT CASH*
Spotlights:
- New Alchemy Exhibit (New; Permanent)
The first alchemy museum in the United States and largest alchemy museum in the world offers workstations to interact with at the museum. Viewers may learn about the seven steps of the alchemical process and immerse themselves in interesting classes on plant and mineral alchemy, a medication chamber, and a full-sized reproduction of an Alchemist’s worktable. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
- Tomb Tour (Permanent)
Tour an underground tomb modeled after tombs found at the Beni Hasan cemetery in Middle Egypt. The replica includes images from the tomb of Khnumhotep II as well. Learn about the afterlife and walk through a traditional burial chamber. Scheduled times throughout the day include tour guides through the tomb and a traditional afterlife preparation.
Museum of Craft and Design
2569 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Student (Valid Westmont ID Required): $8.00
Adult: $10.00
Need to reserve tickets on the website
Spotlight:
- Mode Brut (Open till January 23, 2022)
A display of over 50 artists through textile-based work with some textiles created alongside developmentally disabled artists. Mode Brut explores what it means to be fashionable and reinvents fashion as a concept as each textile utilizes outside of the box materials. It also explores how fashion correlates to identity. With a “fashion show” the segment creates a stylish, new, humorous collection of artwork.
San Mateo County Historical Association
2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
Student (Valid Westmont ID Required): $4.00
Adult: $6.00
Spotlight:
- Land of Opportunity (Permanent)
A display of hardships, culture, and celebrations of immigrants that made up one-third of the population. The exhibit shows items, photographs, and stories from Irish, Chinese, Japanese, African American, Mexican, Filipinos, Italians, and Portuguese immigrants who came to the San Mateo area after the Gold Rush.
- Maverick’s (Permanent)
Learn about a famous surfing spot known all over the world. Near Half Moon Bay, 40-feet high waves bring big-wave surfers from all over the world. Interact with a surfboard simulation that “surfs” inside a virtual wave and learn about a local, famous surfing spot.
- Journey to Work (Permanent)
Learn about San Mateo’s local transportation that made the area “one of the premier suburban areas of the West coast.” Look at the progression of stagecoaches, trains, streetcars, all the way to cars. Interact with photos, models, and cool displays.
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Children (13-17): $7.00
General: $16.00
Spotlights:
- Mothership: Voyage into Afrofuturism (Open till February 27, 2022)
Enjoy a “future reimagined through a Black cultural lens.” Look at literary works, cinema, and contemporary works from notable black creatures. Listen to music from black visionaries like avant-garde jazz musician Sun Ra and look at an Afrofuturist vessel. The exhibition displays an interesting perspective of the world through Black artists, creators, and visionaries to create an Afrofuturistic world.
- Dorthea Lange: Photography as Activism (Permanent)
Experience the photography of a world-renowned documentary photographer. Look at displayed photography that captures powerful moments in social activist works.