Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

It was my first time here and it was overly nice. They were making nutcrackers for arts and crafts but I unfortunately did not stay for that. It's almost like a museum but just as much as cultural center. The exhibits were nice and I went on a free day which was really nice just as well otherwise it's $10. Very enjoyable and quiet. The park/plaza/gardens outside are just as amazing, it was cloudy out today but it was a still a great day to get out and see some museums! If you get time to ever feel like stopping by it is a nice area, you won't be missing too much tho, especially having to compare with the MOMA across the street. But I didn't regret my time going there and I'd still recommend to visit at least once, even on a free day like me.

Yerba Buena Center is a dynamic and cultural hub in San Francisco, offering a variety of art exhibitions, performances, and public events. The modern architecture and beautiful gardens make it a pleasant place to visit. It's an excellent spot for art lovers and those looking to experience the vibrant cultural scene of the city.

I found the exhibits today to have provided a not often seen insight on the SF art scene in the 90s, social issues on everyone's minds in the past and now, and revealing on the spectrum of experiences artists and people are going through. It was a raw collection in that it showed both human fragility and endurance, sprinkled with brightness here and there.

Although I've been to the SFMOMA many times since college, it's strange that I never been to YBCA before. I was under the impression that it's more of a community art center rather than a museum. But recently, I was drawn to it by the special exhibit from Nick Dong, another fellow Taiwanese American. And it was truly an experience that shouldn't be missed. I highly recommend it.

I was blown away. OMG I see the universe when I was in front of Nick Dong's art. This is the most underrated artist I've ever seen so far. This work should be in NYC or London. As a former Oaklander & Taiwanese, I feel very proud.

Great place. The entrance is a little hard to find. There are more than one bathrooms for the audience. Just ask the staff!

Wonderful experience watching Performance of Mahealani Uchiyama about black history in Hawaii. Wonderful singing, dancing, and spirit of aloha.

Home to the Bay Area Now recurring exhibition, which highlights local talents who explore themes that are both locally and globally relevant. The space is extremely well curate and the current exhibit showcases traditional art forms as well as VR and architecture.

I've attended a TEDx conference and a Smuin Ballet performance in the theater here. The theater itself is lovely, which I will detail when I review it directly. This is a review of the organization as a whole. It puts on some really slick, beautiful performances/conferences/exhibits/whatsits. Good for YBCA. I also spent years trying to win YBCA's super shady raffle; and, in fact, I did win twice. The first time, I won a blender. The second time, it was a very small gift card. So I won the raffle twice, and I'm still complaining? That would be yes, because with the amount of money this place is raking in, one would think it would be the most active place in town. It has a beautiful building with beautiful spaces within and without. It has a showy new metro stop nearby. So why does it always feel closed? I know it's not always closed, but it feels like it is. I feel like a part of this place's interior should be open to the public when other events aren't going on. Also, stop selling the theater's naming rights. Part of the reason its listing is hard to find is that it keeps changing names.

Did you know the museum is free on Wednesday. Saw 'Bay Area Then' exhibit which "brings together new and old historical works by artist who shunned despair to instead assert their unique vitality, resourcefulness, and camaraderie" on the first floor and then the 'Makibaka' exhibit on the second floor. Features Filipino activism in the Bay Area, especially SOMA area which rose with resistance in the Filipino community. Near the exhibit staircase there is a tranquil seating area outside with bamboo and a peaceful water area. Nice area to sit and enjoy the space and fresh air. There's also a little room near the entrance called the L. Fong Healing Arts Centre which is filled from top to bottom in all kinds of arts. Staff are friendly and welcoming. A great little museum and worth a visit.

Attended the Nick Dong: 11 to 88 exhibit months ago. The center itself is spacious and airy. Beautiful space. Great exhibits. Not very expensive admission either. On some days, the center offers free admission to the public. Located inside the Yerba Buena Gardens and steps away from the SFMOMA.

My boyfriend and I had such a lovely date venturing into the city to experience the "Nick Dong: 11 to 88" exhibit at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and it was absolutely mesmerizing! From the moment we stepped into the gallery, I was completely captivated by Dong's unique and creative approach to art. The way he seamlessly integrates technology to create these beautiful, immersive, and interactive installations is truly innovative. What made it even more profound was the clear influence of Buddhist philosophy woven throughout the artwork. We were particularly drawn to the fascinating Buddhist-influenced exhibit. The glowing lotuses were ethereal and meditative, creating a serene and almost otherworldly atmosphere. And the rotating room with mirrors? Absolutely brilliant! It played with perception and perspective in such a thought-provoking way, inviting introspection and a sense of interconnectedness that resonated deeply with the Buddhist themes. The entire exhibit felt like a journey, prompting reflection and offering moments of genuine awe. My boyfriend and I couldn't stop taking photos and videos. We love art that's both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating, with a touch of spiritual depth, so we were very lucky to see this exhibit.

next year...back again...nice exhibit...surprises...cool...years later...here's to the future of contemporary art

The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is a contemporary arts center in SF, and it features visual art, performance, and film and video which celebrates artists and the local diverse communities. The current exhibits are Nicky Nodjoumi & Nahid Hagigat, last until February 2025. I think it took less than half an hour to explore the exhibits area.

Quiet and intimidate arts space which features smaller exhibits. Easy to spend about 1 hour or less here given its size. We stopped by for a special exhibit (Nick Dong: 11 to 88) which was free and engaging!

I attend performances at YBCA and have done so for years. It's a comfortable theatrical space, ideal for dance performances. I've also been part of women's gatherings, ethnic performances of all kinds. Their artist in residence programs in the past were inspiring. They're facing the challenges of dealing with the assault on creativity and freedom of expression like the entire sector.

Came here on Sunday for Nick Dong's 11 to 88 exhibition. Admission was free as it was the 2nd Sunday of the month. The lobby is expansive and has a ton of natural lighting, and plenty of space to sit and hang out. Restrooms were clean. We had to either remove our shoes or wear shoe coverings to enter the exhibition area. The space isn't huge but I spent about an hour or so here as there was a bit of a wait to enter the mirrored room. It was totally worth the wait though. A fun, trippy experience. Overall, worth it to stop by the YBCA if you're in the area and there's a new exhibition you've been eyeing.

Scored a free ticket to see Nick Dong: 11 to 88 exhibit during First Thursdays in downtown. It's usually $10 which is affordable too. Exhibit ends August 25, 2024. This was my first time entering YBCA. The staffs were all friendly. The exhibit was pretty cool. After redeeming your ticket, get your timed entry to enter the infinity mirror room. We waited only 30 minutes. We spent about 15 minutes looking at the other pieces and then we went outside to enjoy the nearby outdoor concert for First Thursdays and came back when it was our time. We only got 3 minutes once inside which was sufficient.

We came here for the parol star lantern event that SOMA Pilipinas held. The space itself is so beautiful. We were mostly on the first floor where the gallery was. I love that they support local artists, cultural events, and that it's such a community-based space. We also came another time for the actual parol lantern festival itself in the large room, and I love the the doors open and can be integrated with the gardens outside. Outside is a great place to walk around or watch the water fountains and relax. Super close to SFMOMA too!

Great modern theater. Nothing fancy yet super convenient and accommodating. We had great seats to see Alonzo King Lines Ballet, but I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. Very helpful staff readily available to give directions and answer questions. Little wine counter with snacks that we didn't partake in since we had just had dinner and drinks pre-show. Multiple entrances into this venue from around Yerba Buena. Restrooms were spacious, clean, and had plenty of stalls to avoid a lines - always a plus. Looking forward to more shows here in the future.

Audience friendly We took in Magic Flute by Mozart there and enjoyed it enormously: both the theater and the performance. Unlike the opera houses, usually grand and sumptuous, this one is small, simple and modern. The production is thin, so it the orchestra BUT the view from the seats from the row N are the best. (A-K aren't as good although they're closer to the stage.)

Swung by first-time on their free day (1st Tues of the month), after visiting SFMOMA just across the street. A very pleasant surprise! Highlights include: - Ambiance is cozy, welcoming, lively, authentic, playful. Sleek, urban interiors, w/ pastel-colored pamphlets & a modern, well-designed identity system across the museum space & its acessories. - Octagon, white Ping pong table at the entrance! Cubed, mobile couches in vibrant colors, designed w/ outlets. Floral decors & plants in front of a yoga multi-purpose room. Very aesthetic & functional & interactive interiors! -The most recent architecture exhibition is amazing by CCA Alumni (shown in pictures). They are small-scale models of architectures hung by wires, delicately & elegantly paired w/ little plants. Very impressed by the quality of design, and the level of professionalism of the staff at the showroom. - Friendly staff who showed us around & even brought my forgotten phone charger to me while I headed out to the building exit.

There wasn't much to this location when I visited. I was done looking around in 10 minutes. The tickets were $10. It may have been the time I was there that there wasn't much going on.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a community-based, unconventional small museum that supports local artists. It's located across from the Contemporary Jewish Museum and next to the Yerba Buena Gardens. I have been coming to this museum for the past three years. To me, this is the kind of place I go during my lunch break, just to relax my mind and be intrigued by the local artists. Some exhibitions have interactive workshops. The exhibits are small; it may take you 45 minutes to see everything. There is a bookstore that was opened last Fall. Staff are very friendly. Free Museum Day is the first Tuesday of the month.

One gallery on the 1st floor, one gallery on the 2nd floor, and a performance space. Admission is free on the 1st Tuesday of the month and from 4-8pm on the 3rd Thursday of the month.

I have no doubts that YBCA is a wonderful addition to the SF art community. However, from a tourist point of view, this is something you should skip. -- Museum -- You can visit the "museum" free of charge. However, it's basically just a display area for students at YBCA. There was nothing that really impressed me. I'd recommend going to some of the other, more professional, art museums that surround the park. -- Service -- The attendant at the museum was very welcoming and provided me with some useful information about YBCA and the work being exhibited when I visited. You do have to coat check any bags before entering the museum, but this was a free and fast process. -- Stars -- Museum: 1/3 Stars Service: 2/2 Stars Total: 3/5 Stars

The YBCA is always changing, which is pretty awesome. I was lucky enough to venutre into their latest exhibit, Dissident Futures, opening weekend and I have to say I was pretty impressed. The YBCA has commissioned some very well-timed art about what to do with the old Bay Bridge (turn it into a giant hydropnic farming community), future and stem cell regeneration, and strange possibilities for the future. Even someone with almost zero artistic background could appreciate these exhibits that seem to appeal more to science fiction types without being pretentious (I'm looking at you, Paul Laffoley). Also, they have the most awesome setpiece in their background. It reminds me of Studio Ghibli meets Little Shop of Horrors. Swing by and see!

Went after Cartoon Museum on Fri 4/12/13 to kill time. It's a bigger museum with a bunch of artwork. Showing now: Without Reality There Is No Utopia - I didn't read most of the captions so it was just ok for me. Lots of work from artist from Spain, Colombia, etc. We could take photos - no FLASH. I liked the artwork with the tractor trailer with fake fruit spilling out all around it. Zhou Xiaohu "The Crowd of Bystanders" - neat handmade ceramic diormas was interesting. Shih Chieh Huang: Synthetic Seduction - Upstairs his artwork is neat. Lots of homemade gadgets with lights that air that blow up & show off bright lights that look like sea creatures. I liked his work. Worth a visit if you really like art I guess or to kill time.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts hosted the ballet interpretation of Scheherazade & we were completely impressed w/ the venue & dancers alike Very unique & modern interpretation of the 1001 Arabian Nights story.....started out w/ an opening piece called Dust & this really featured the dancers agility, grace & physiques.....they were so incredibly fit & graceful, & fluid - each muscle group was prominent and defined & this was apparent even to those of us seated in the balcony. Then came more colorful costumes, albeit minimalistic, for Scheherazade - couldn't really tell the actual storyline (although Sis said she could follow) but enjoyed the movements & dancing nonetheless. No set design except for a covering above the troupe that moved up & down which was actually nice as it made the sole focus on the dancing Venue is setup much like a highschool auditorium - really cool, modern foyer w/ high ceilings, open stairways & railings lead you into a plush-ish theater. Views from the balcony were full-on (which is NICE) and seats were okay-comfy. Not a lot of leg room but it was adequate w/out feeling cramped Would totally come back for another artsy-venture & in fact, we are excited to do so!

Yerba Buena Center For the Arts is a pretty awesome little spot to work so close to. There's the gardens, there's the party space, there's some tasty dining and drinking options near it and did I mention the party space? :) I went to one of their fundraisers here last weekend and it was a hoot hollerin' good time. Mostly because I was the chick in the dress in front of the stage hootin and hollerin and lusting over the oh so fine ass of one Mos Def. Good lawdy lawd, that man is finer that foine. And I challenge any chica or dude for that matter, not to feel sexy, sexy, sexy in the pants when he is on stage doin' his thang. Besides that it was a lovely gathering of people and each and every time I've been to an event here, i've had a dandy of a fine time. The only reason they lose a point is for the ridiculous performance art (and i use that term lightly) they have going right now with the various people miming in front of the Volkswagen. What the hell is that noise about?

Yerba Buena Center of the Arts really strives to produce innovative, relevant, and accessible shows on the regular. From profound dance performances, to retro 70's video art installations, to thought provoking abstract art - the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts is continually in touch with their audience and seeking to grow and challenge them. If you're looking for something to do on the weekend - it's always well worth seeing what Yerba Buena Center of the Arts has going on. From a series dedicated to dialogue provoking Bay area 70's adult movies to recycled art - Yerba Buena is always utilizing their space in a consistent and creative way. Their exhibit openings are always fun affairs and you can expect a hip stylish diverse crowd, as well as solid music and performances throughout the evening. Yerba Buena Center of the Arts recognizes local and developing art around us and beyond us. I'm thankful I'm so close this establishment and have always enjoyed my encounters with this space. Trust.

Thanks to my love affair with my DVR I now watch television commercials only twice annually: Super Bowl Sunday and the British Television Advertising Awards (now called the Arrow Awards) currently screening at YBCA. The Arrow Awards screening gives me a reason to go to YBCA which, I can't seem to make a priority at any other time of year. Their programming and installations are international, diverse, and interesting but other than the Arrows, nothing just screams at me as a must see. I don't know whether this is legit, but each time I've gone to YBCA for a screening I've also been able to walk through the art/installation gallery at no additional expense which makes for a very reasonable deal. It's a big, airy gallery, with lots of installations and performance spaces (but no permanent collection). Both times I've been they've featured artists from outside North America (currently featuring artists from India, in multiple disciplines). Their whole offering is a little different - a little less "accessible" to the masses and a little more challenging than art at, say MOMA - but that's not to say it's not good or worthy. It is. Within the gallery their "docents" take the approach of engaging patrons not by explaining the art but rather by questioning them on what the art says to them, or what they think it's about, which can lead to some interesting dialogue. If you like (or think you might like) being challenged by art in many different disciplines, pick a film off their calendar then follow up with a wander through the gallery. The whole experience is somewhat outside the box but it's nothing to fear.

This gallery specializes in modern art. Some of the exhibits were not too great, but there were some memorable ones. The one that sticks out forever in my memory was one that consisted of a butt, peni5, and boobs mounted to a wall. When you walk by, they suddenly start wiggling! Hahahaha ridiculous I tell you! There were also a few really cool paintings. But in my opinion, they could do much better than the selection I saw.

YBCA houses some pretty weird art concepts. It freaked me out a little because I'm not used to seeing such abstract things, but it's definitely somewhere I would take out of town guests if they wanted to check out a local museum. There is so much to see in all the rooms and on all the floors. You can spend a good hour or two here. Some other things to note... ladies need to check in their purses at the front desk, and YBCA would be a great space for a special event! I have not yet checked out the theater, but I really want to see a performance here. Like with any museum, I could have coincidentally visited during an awesome season, but I would come back here (probably on a Free Admission First Tuesday) to check out more of the art pieces.

'A great venue space for rotating exhibits of both local and far off exhibitions not "in line" for the MOMA down the way. If seen things like the Art of Star Wars to the exhibits of my photography professor who I used to TA for. If you've finished with the more established works across the street, opt for something edgier here

I finally came here for an ODC modern dance ballet performance, and this is a really great venue for the Arts. We had seats in the Orchestra and the view of the stage was perfect. Acoustics are good and check in is easy. They could use a few more restroom stalls as the line gets quite long for the ladies (but what's new, right?). I will definitely be back for more performances very soon!

Mr took me to see the grand opening of Dalai Lama Arts last Friday. It was pretty interesting. Coat checks are free (tips pls.) Security are very tight,they won't allow you to take pictures. My fav's and must see Laurie Anderson (clay & visual projector), Yoko Inoue (waterbottle collection), Katarina wong (fingertips arts), Long-Bin Chen (phonebook sculpture) our fav! & El Anatsui (bottlecap collection) and yeah the big inflatable buddha. (had the urge the jump up & down). Stop by the Bio Technique collection on the second floor, it's like a little shop of horrow, quite a sight.

I can't help but smile as I walk through here. I love it when they have music and dance performances going on -- it just makes it that much more beautiful. It specializes in modern art and has some great artwork. Hey, it's free, so go and enjoy yourself =P

I don't remember too much about the YBCA party in 2001, cos all my drink tix were used up on lemon drops, and then everybody gave me their leftover tix which i used on more lemon drops. I think I had fun. The r. crumb exhibit, now that was great, and that was probably a couple years ago already, then the Minutemen movie screening... Now it's 3 am after the YBCA Late Nite party of 2009 and it's time to bestow 5 long overdue stars. Nick Cave's art, food from Mission Street Food, the 70's trash movie trailers, the tattoos for a lifetime membership, the awesome drinks, all the bands and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Yeah...this place is an institution.

Very shady raffle. Good luck winning your dream house! Google it and read the sfgate article.

Came here during the free day and after walking into the one-room display, was so happy it was free. A major disappointment when the only place open is a 10X10 room that looks more like a jungle gym.

Yerba Buena is a popular art center in downtown SF with a focus on local artists making non-conventional / postmodern art. As a center designed to support local artists, I have no complaints. But as a museum, it's a bit lackluster. There are only a few rooms, and they weren't particularly to my liking - there were no pieces that were truly striking or beautiful or made me stop. So on the whole, if you want to see what some of SF's artists are up to, feel free to visit. But in terms of time value and financial value, I think there are better options in the area.

Just called the number but they are currently closed for the shelter in place policy with SF, but Yelp says it's open and there's an event at 3-5pm we were trying to go to? So confused

A friend and I were passing by, and we noticed a sign saying that their gallery was free today. So we decided to check it out. The front desk explained that the main gallery was closed for installation, but the galleries upstairs were available to be explored. We were asked to check out backpacks in and we were on our merry way upstairs. We were excited because we had never been there before and wanted to see what they had to offer. The curator upstairs approaches us, and begins to explain the display we were looking at, we even explained that we had no idea what it was about but we were excited to learn about it. She spoke for a little bit more, and then suddenly stops mid-sentence and says "you're not even listening, maybe you're better off exploring on your own and reading the descriptions yourselves", and before we could say anything she walks away from us. How unbelievably rude. We decided to leave after that; we went back to the front desk downstairs to claim our bags, and we shared what had just happened. And from above, we see the curator shooting dirty looks at us. The only redeeming thing was that the receptionist at the front desk was friendly, funny, and overall pleasant; she was awesome, she even apologized for the curator upstairs "... I'm sorry for that, maybe she's having a bad day". Unfortunately, more than likely we're never coming back after that experience.

In recovery of my liver and my autonomy, I fed my brain today. I plan on doing this far more often than I have as of late. Between the cube, the laptop and the partying, I have been feeling a little (okay, a lot) uninspired and dispassionate. Human Rights Watch International Film Festival presented Project Kashmir tonight and it was an excellent documentary. As intended, I was inspired and motivated by the strength and perseverance of these 2 women and the people of Kashmir. Tomorrow night, I may come back to see the incredible work of Nick Cave. My brain was starving!! Thank you, YBCA for feeding me today. p.s. Thanks for being so close to Icebee's too - they fed my ever-growing belly!

ODC Rocked this last night with their latest repertoire of pieces, including "River", "Grasslands" and their world premier "A Guide To Elegance". Again, I chose to splurge on orchestra seating as I enjoy watching the facial expressions of the dancers. But, as I said last time, there isn't a bad seat in the house. And, the best part of last night was discovering the concessions upstairs on the second level. No wine, but they've got tea, coffee, cookies and candy. But, don't be mad if they don't let you bring it inside the theatre. There were 2 dumb asses giving the ushers a hard time complaining about how their tea was going to be cold if they couldn't bring it inside. How rude.

This whole center is really fantastic. The theater where I got to see the Stephen Petronio Company performance for the Yelp Elite event was awesome. Cozy movie theater like quality with killer sound. For a minute i was convinced that Rufus Wainright was actually there singing the songs that the dances were choreographed to. The live girls choir that backed up his recordings were fantastic, and the dancers were definitely gifted. Their main focus is live art, and with a motto like "Join us and experience life---amplified", how can you go wrong? I would come back to the theater to see another show, but building aside, I didn't even know how much Yerba Buena had to offer. Right next to Moscone and the Metreon, this square block has a garden, an ice skating rink, a bowling alley, a children's playground (apparently with a squishy floor, but i haven't seen that yet), a cute bar B, fountains, art sculptures, and great views of the downtown skyscape. I work around the corner, and am now tempted on a nice day to grab my lunch and sit outside, watching life happen. A somewhat hidden gem, worth checking out.

Dance! It inspires me and makes me think. This review is for the Novellus Theater at YBCA. OK, maybe I think too much. If I were trained in choreography and semiotics I would have plenty to analyze, because modern dance always says something. And when My Lady and I accepted comps for the Paul Taylor Dance Company on March 30th, I started the evening trying to match all the dance numbers to the descriptions in the program. Forget it. At the first intermission I loosened up with a glass of chardonnay ($8 + tip), and from then on the dance flowed smoothly across my eyes and brain. From the unusual, iconic characters that raised memories of Greek and Roman legends, to hip hop and parodies of various dance styles, to one piece that the lead dancer performed completely en pointe -- because modern dance and ballet are bff's you know -- to the costuming, everything flowed beautifully. We had perfect seats to see it all, in Orchestra Left, but the theater has no bad site lines. Pretty much the cube you see on the outside is the cube you see on the inside, with the exception of there being a full traditional seating arrangement. Yes, there are balconies and boxes. I wanted to post their promo picture of men in black briefs leaping at each other, but it doesn't do the program justice. The dancers are simply fantastic, and watching pure muscle fly effortlessly through the air inspired me to resume my own training program. Visiting companies are performing constantly. See sfperformances.org for details.

Before wandering into the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts yesterday, my experience with these guys was limited to my Dream House Raffle ticket. It's a big modern space, and I enjoyed the inviting Lobby, the cool little gift shop, and of course the exhibits. I could definitely see why YBCA makes an excellent venue space and why it should be part of a walkable art museum tour that would also include the CJM and the SF MOMA.

awesome venue. I've been here numerous times to see dance performances and for an event they had called the bay area guide to independent fashion. The all day event was so much fun because they had fashion and trunk shows by local designers (I got to walk for an awesome designer hellyn teng/ ht habitus). The YBCA offers so much.. they have dance performances, film screenings, exhibitions and other special programs. It's worth checking out..

This is an amazing art space and event venue. If you're in the area, drop in and check out the exhibits. On a nice day, you should also swing over and have lunch in their garden or just roam the center grounds. I attended a work event here and had a blast - cool facilities.

On first Tuesday of each month, they have free admission and thank goodness I didn't pay for this art gallery... Well if you can even call it that... Vancouver art gallery is pretty small but this was far worse.. They had some weird photos of random messy beds framed, a copy of knitted designer purses, and not much else. Don't spend your money here if paying to get in but worth the look on free days just to see.. Outside is much Keller than what is inside the glass building Value 3/5 only cause it was free otherwise 1/5 Atmosphere 3/5 Service 2/5 Quality 1/5 9/20

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA). I remember hearing the news about its formation in the late-80s-early-90s. An arts complex with a park, museum, outdoor stage, theatre, fountain and a park where people could relax. I knew of an engaged couple who were getting married at St. Patrick's (across the street, next to the Contemporary Jewish Museum) who were very sure the park would be in existence by the time of their wedding. (NOT!) Next to the YBCA is the Metreon, the home of the new Target store, a City Target as well as Sanraku, Cako, a food court with various eateries, and the AMC Metreon. Here is the 411 on Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: http://www.ybca.org/about/history I have sauntered through the park to go to SF MOMA, the CJM, Moscone Center, the Metreon, and to various establishments within the proximity. I walked through the fountain dedicated to the late Dr. Martin Luther King; remembered being in awe looking at the photos and the text about him. I have visited the museum a couple of times on free days. The last time I was there, much of the exhibits were dedicated to the local occupy movement and abstract works by various artists. I regret to say I was not too impressed with what was being exhibited at the time. I am overdue for a return revisit. The Lam Research Theater (formerly known as the Novellus Theater) is a state of the art modern theater. Straight, simple clean lines. This theater relies on modern computer technology in setting the miss-en-scene (mood, lighting, background) of what ever is needed. I was amongst a group of students who were invited to watch the final dress rehearsal of Opera Parallèle's production of AINADAMAR by the composer Osvaldo Golijov performing this weekend, February 15-17. It was good fun watching a dress rehearsal and observing the goings-on before the official opening in making sure everything runs smoothly like clockwork. So the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts has something for everybody here: a park, a museum, a theatre, outdoor theatre, a fountain, and the Metreon. Centrally located within the shopping meccas, the museums, and within the Financial District. Fresh Review #23 of 100 Yelps! for 2013.

It's always an adventure to walk inside the YBCA. The building itself by Fumihiko Maki is a wonderful place, perfect for the organization's mission. Over the years I have come to expect the unexpected and to be filled with a sense of wonder and delight at YBCA. I cannot say that this is a given for every single exhibition but nearly so. My favorite exhibition / installation at YBCA was the "Listening Post" created by Mark Hansen and Ben Rubin. I saw it first at the Skirball in Los Angeles and when it arrived in the Bay Area I could not resist an encore. There are several YouTube videos of Listening Post, but none of them captures the atmospheric excitement of the piece. It's just impossible because it was an environment with extraordinary spatial and acoustic properties. Add to that it all took place in a dark room, with only the LED displays illuminating that space. All of these things are impossible to represent with any degree of fidelity on YouTube. The spirit of creative exploration seems to infuse most art that often comes to YBCA. Robotics is one example, and on one occasion in particular it was the work of Alan Rath, who always has an excellent eye for his electronic constructions. If Jean Tinguely were alive today he would be showing his work at YBCA.

As an artist, I truly appreciate all forms of art and admire the work that fellow artists put on display. I was really excited that Yelp had invited us to see the Cosmic Wonder/Sampling Oakland exhibit here on opening night. We were able to peruse the galleries and view the interesting art. I was particularly wowed by one really large piece that was made up of detailed paint strokes and stenciled cut-outs. What was really cool was that several pieces had audio descriptions that you could access with your cell phone. However, if you're caught talking back on your cell phone, the security guard will tell you to get off your phone. I especially liked the cute deer made entirely out of bars of Irish Spring soap. It's not wrong that I wanted to wash myself with the little deer, is it?

This is my ultimate top event space. We filled the forum with 500 attendees for a charitable event. The outcome was astonishing for it's second year running. The space is large and accommodating for any type of an event. Although it is architecturally boring. There isn't much character to the buildings in the center as well as the inside. In that aspect it's fine because for the most part you want to add your own character. This location truly has everything. Theaters, Forum, Restaurants, hotels, clubs, art, gardens, and the list goes on...

Edit: any curator/director even suggesting the use of the term "Mixtape" in an exhibition or performance title should be put down. They really need to put just a little focus on the quality of the art work and not on just special interests and passing social trends. Last I looked it was a contemporary art space and not a hipster dive bar. When you see the occasional great art work there it is in the context of a social agenda (Basquiat and Pettibon in the Beautiful Losers show) or out of context altogether such as a Joseph Beuys multiple in the middle of a Black Panthers Exhibiton. Even witihin their obvious agendas they could show at least a few good, serious works at any given time. The Berkeley art museum's Matrix series shows 10 times more serious contemporary art than YBCA. Edit: I got the new catalog in the mail. Not one serious project involving art. If I see one more cutesy art-school collective there I am going to puke, and nothing against R. Crumb but there is a cartoon art museum around the corner!!! I wish Yelp would go lower than one Star.