All hail Diego Rivera
One of the city’s points of cultural pride is the San Francisco Art Institute, which was founded in 1871 by artists and writers trying to create something entirely new, a critical mass of artistic expression that would define a distinctly Western point of view.
Among the early artists associated with the school was Eadweard Muybridge, the great photographer whose famous motion studies of horses was pivotal in the advancement of cinematography; the Western impressionist (and poet) Maynard Dixon, who, incidentally, contributed to the murals in the Mark Hopkins Hotel; Louise Dahl-Wolfe, who developed the notion of “environmental” fashion photography; and, of course, the great muralist Diego Rivera, some of whose iconic work remains in the institute’s collection and is on permanent exhibition in the student-directed gallery space.
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Address 800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA, 94133, www.sfai.edu, +1 415.771.7020 | Public Transport Bus: 30 (Chestnut St & Van Ness Ave stop) | Hours Daily 9am–6pm| Tip Take a short walk to the hidden petite Fay Park at 2366 Leavenworth Street. Enjoy the serenity and the shade offered by the two gazebos in this public parklet. There is a wonderful sundial with the inscription: "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be."
Following World War II, the school, which is at 800 Chestnut Street, became a center for Abstract Expressionism. The faculty included the likes of Clyfford Still, Ad Reinhardt, Mark Rothko, David Park, and Elmer Bischoff. Ansel Adams cofounded the photography department.
Since 1961, the institute has sought to merge the notions of fine and applied arts and become a breeding ground for many forms of creative expression, including punk music, graffiti art, and more recently, community art projects. The institute offers various degree programs through its School of Studio Practice and School of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Located on Russian Hill, the building that houses the institute is a Spanish-style structure, complete with a bell tower. A visit up to the rooftop delivers a breathtaking experience. There are few other places in San Francisco that provide such a sweeping view of the city’s rolling hills and the bay. The panoramic vista spans east to west, from the Embarcadero and Coit Tower to Pier 39 and Alcatraz.
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