Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Francisco has long been on the cutting edge
of the Ameri-
can art scene, and the city's downtown galleries provide a rich
look at the depth of SF's artistic offerings, including works by mas-
ters of the past century, edgy contemporary pieces, and superb photo-
graphic prints. Most galleries carry the “San Francisco Bay Area Gallery
Guide,” which lists current exhibits.
Note:
Most galleries open
around 10am (noon on weekends) and close around 5:30pm, but on
the first Thursday of each month, galleries stay open later and many
serve wine and cheese. Best Tuesday through Friday—downtown
bustles and all the galleries are open.
@
2 to 4 hours.
START:
Bus 16,
17, 49; F Streetcar; BART/Muni: Powell St.
1
★★★
49 Geary.
This nonde-
script building houses several of SF's
galleries, covering an array of gen-
res. My personal favorites are the
Fraenkel Gallery
(
y
415/981-
2661; closed Sun-Mon) and the
Stephen Wirtz Gallery
(
y
415/
433-6897; closed Sun-Mon). Both
houses feature contemporary works
and splendid photography exhibits.
The
Catharine Clark Gallery
(
y
415/399-1439; closed Sun-Mon)
offers a layaway plan that puts art
within most everyone's reach, but
her keen eye for talent draws even
serious collectors.
49 Geary St.
(between Grant Ave. & Kearny St.).
Bus 16, 17, 49; F Streetcar, Muni:
Powell St.
2
★
Meyerovich Gallery.
You'll
find paintings, sculpture, and works
on paper by masters like Chagall,
Matisse, Miró, and Picasso. Meyer-
ovich's Contemporary Gallery holds
works by Lichtenstein, Motherwell,
Dine, and Hockney.
251 Post St., 4th
Floor (between Grant & Stockton
sts.).
y
415/421-7171. Closed Sun.
3
★
John Berggruen.
This gallery
specializes in 20th-century works
from artists such as Diebenkorn,
Calder, Matisse, Ruscha, and O'Keeffe.
228 Grant Ave. (between Post & Sutter
sts.).
y
415/781-4629. Closed Sun.
4
Café de la Presse.
Sip an
espresso at this bustling cafe, deco-
rated with movie posters and racks
of newspapers
. 352 Grant Ave. (at
Bush St.).
y
415/398-2680. $.
5
Caldwell Snyder Gallery.
Works from cutting-edge American,
European, and Latin American
artists are exhibited in a striking,
9,000-square-foot space.
341 Sutter
St. (between Grant Ave. & Stockton
St.).
y
415/296-7896. Closed Sun.
6
★★
Hang Gallery.
Hang fea-
tures arresting pieces by yet-to-be-
discovered artists at excellent
prices. Check out the Hang Annex
across the street, too.
556 & 557
Sutter St. (between Powell & Mason
sts.).
y
415/434-4264. Open daily.
Explore the avant-garde collection at the Hang Gallery.
