Thank you Larry Ellison

With the BART strike bearing down on us, we decided we had better get into SF for the Larry Ellison exhibit at the Asian Art Museum.  In connection with the America's Cup, Ellison has loaned many objects from his Japanese collection to the museum. We had read about his collection when the exhibit opened a few weeks ago.  He has his own curator who takes things on and off display every couple of weeks.  With that in mind, the items on display at the museum will be changed on August 20, and with any luck (and no strike) we will try to get back to see the second batch. 

We headed to the Civic Center, near City Hall...

and my alma mater, Hastings College of the Law...

to the museum. 

The first two rooms are dominated by a large gold silk screen.  There is a 12 minute loop of lighting and sounds (crickets, wind, etc.) to show how the screen changes in appearance in different lighting conditions. 

We both loved this one -- a troop of bugs going on a feudal procession. 

For me, this one was the highlight, a silk screen in silver.  At the far left end, a peacock in full plumage...

while at the far right, a crow looking back ruefully at a peacock feather. 

This was Tom's favorite, a Hokusai scroll. 

Stay tuned for part 2!