San Francisco, CA

‘Zen Mona Lisa’ on Loan from Japan—and Can Only Be Seen in SF

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2023

‘Zen Mona Lisa’ on Loan from Japan—and Can Only Be Seen in SF

Known as the “Zen Mona Lisa,” one of Japan’s most revered works of art is now on view in San Francisco—but only for the next three weeks.

Technically titled “Persimmons,” the 800-year-old piece is currently on display at the city’s Asian Art Museum, which offers a serene, contemplative haven for viewing it as part of the larger exhibition “The Heart of Zen.”

The ink and brush painting—created by the monk Muqi in 13th century China—is on loan to the U.S. for the first time in its history and can only be seen through Dec. 10. Its sister painting, “Chestnuts,” will go up on Dec. 8 and hang through Dec. 31.

The entire exhibition, in fact, consists of just these two artworks, and the installation is comprised of gentle lighting, taupe screens and a video projection of the Daitokuji Ryokoin Temple, where the paintings are typically housed.

“It enables you to calm your senses,” said Laura Allen, the museum’s senior curator of Japanese art.

A view of a gallery space that has beige walls edged with black and a low, taupe-colored bench in the middle. — A low bench stands in the middle of “The Heart of Zen” exhibition at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. | Source: Kevin Candland

Inaccessible to the general public in Japan and never having before left its Kyoto home, “Persimmons” is the influence for nearly every Japanese brush painting school, renowned for its tonality and simplicity. It is also credited with inspiring interest in Buddhism in the U.S. in the 20th century, said the museum’s director of communications.

“The Heart of Zen” could not be more different from the Asian Art Museum’s other show, “Takashi Murakami: Unfamiliar People—Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego,” which looks at the look at the sensory explosion of that “Superflat” Japanese artist’s work.

As the only venue to receive the artworks, this marks an unprecedented opportunity to view these renowned paintings.

The idea for the exhibition came about when the temple’s abbot visited San Francisco and was so impressed by the museum—and so overwhelmed by the suffering just outside it—that he wanted to do something to help.

“We didn’t seek to do this, but he offered,” Allen told The Standard.

The abbot, in turn, hopes to inspire compassion for those suffering from the drug and homelessness epidemics.

A robed man walks through a gate that has trees and greenery all around it. — The Ryokoin abbot walks through the Daitokuji temple in Kyoto, Japan. | Source: T. Minamoto

“In conversations with the abbot, it became clear that we could nurture empathy by sharing this pair of exceptional paintings with our city,” museum Director Jay Xu said.

While the artworks are not meditative objects—historically displayed at tea gatherings—they induce reflection, and a corner of the exhibition includes a meditation area.

The two paintings, both on scrolls that would have been unrolled during tea ceremonies, traveled across the ocean to Japan sometime in the late 1400s. With his more atmospheric and wet brushstrokes, Muqi is more revered in Japan than in his native China, where ink drawings emphasize precision.

An ink and brush painting depicts a grouping of six persimmons on a scroll. — The ink and brush artwork “Persimmons” was painted by the Chinese monk Muqi. | Source: Courtesy Asian Art Museum

The two paintings will overlap for three days only—Dec. 8 to 10—and the limited viewing time is an effort to protect the delicate artworks from exposure to sunlight. The glass casing which holds the paintings is lined with silica gel to control humidity.

James Cahill, professor emeritus at the University of California Berkeley, calls “Persimmons” the ultimate “unanalyzable” painting—before analyzing it for 30 minutes. Allen praised the painting for its enigmatic quality and highlighted its brush technique, ink values and composition.

It’s been a blockbuster season for the Asian Art Museum, fresh off the opening of its new rooftop art terrace and enjoying the overwhelming success of Takashi Murakami’s monsters.

The Heart of Zen

📍 Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., SF
🗓️ Nov. 17-Dec. 31 (“Permissions” on view Nov. 17-Dec.10 only)
🔗 asianart.org

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San Francisco, CA

Dolphins keep playoff hopes alive with 29-17 win over 49ers, who were eliminated Sunday afternoon

Published

7 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Dolphins keep playoff hopes alive with 29-17 win over 49ers, who were eliminated Sunday afternoon

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — – Tua Tagovailoa threw for 215 yards and a touchdown, Jason Sanders nailed five field goals, and the Miami Dolphins kept their playoff chances alive by beating the San Francisco 49ers 29-17 on Sunday.

The 49ers were eliminated from the playoffs before the game because of wins by the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders earlier Sunday. The loss ensured that last year’s NFC champions will have a losing season for the first time since 2020.

The Dolphins (7-8) helped their chances of making the playoffs for a third straight season, but will need to win their final two games and get help from losses by the Broncos, Chargers and Colts for that to happen.

Trailing by nine early in the fourth, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy found tight end Eric Saubert for a 2-yard score that cut the lead to 19-17, but the Niners couldn’t get past self-inflicted wounds.

After punting the ball back to Miami with 6:45 left, San Francisco was hit with consecutive penalties for illegal substitution, unnecessary roughness and offsides to give Miami 25 yards, helping set up Sanders’ 48-yard field goal that stretched the Dolphins’ lead to five.

The 49ers were penalized 11 times for 90 yards.

Cornerback Kader Kohou then intercepted Purdy on the next drive, after the quarterback was pressured by defensive tackle Calais Campbell. Dolphins running back De’Von Achane sealed it with a 50-yard touchdown run.

Tagovailoa finished 22 of 34. Purdy was 26 of 40 for 313 yards and two touchdowns.

Tyreek Hill’s inconsistent season continued. He caught just 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown, with drops on the first two drives of the game and another on a potential touchdown in the third.

Jonnu Smith caught six passes for 62 yards to set the Dolphins’ single-season franchise record for receptions (76) and receiving yards (802) by a tight end.

Sanders was 5 of 5, including a 54-yarder, which made him 11 of 13 on field goals of 50-plus yards this year. San Francisco’s Jake Moody missed a 41-yarder in the third.

Deebo Samuel caught his first touchdown since Week 6 on a 16-yard score in which he muscled through several defenders on his way into the end zone.

Miami moved into 49ers territory three times in the first half but settled for field goals before Hill’s 3-yard touchdown catch from Tagovailoa that put the Dolphins ahead with 3:20 left in the second.

Purdy then drove San Francisco 67 yards down the field to set up Moody’s 21-yard field goal to cut Miami’s lead to 13-10 at halftime.

Injuries

49ers: LB Dre Greenlaw (right calf), LG Aaron banks (knee) and LT Jaylon Moore (quad) left with injuries. … DE Leonard Floyd played through a shoulder injury suffered in the first quarter.

Dolphins: WR Jaylen Waddle did not play because of a knee injury suffered last week. … CB Kendall Fuller (knee) and LB Jordyn Brookes (quad/knee) left in the second half.

Up next

49ers: Host Detroit on Monday Dec. 30.

Dolphins: At Cleveland next Sunday.

——

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflbr/]

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San Francisco, CA

SF is the only city where it's cheaper to buy a home now than in 2019

Published

15 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

SF is the only city where it's cheaper to buy a home now than in 2019

San Francisco is the only major U.S. city where it’s cheaper to buy a home now than it was five years ago, according to data from real estate listing site Zillow.

Of the 100 largest U.S. cities by population, San Francisco is the single example that saw home values fall between November 2019 and November 2024, based on what the company calls the “Zillow price index.”

The city saw the typical home price decline by 3.7% during that period. All other cities saw prices increase. Across the Bay, Oakland had the smallest increase, with the average home value rising 2.1%. Among other major U.S. cities, prices rose 37.58% in Los Angeles; 38.34% in Austin, and 69.26% in Miami.

Cheaper is one thing. But cheap? That’s a different story.

According to Zillow, the typical home value in San Francisco in November 2024 was $1.26 million, versus $1.31 million five years ago. In 2019, San Francisco had by far the highest typical home price across all major cities, coming in more than 30% over second-place San Jose.

In 2024, San Francisco was one of four cities, all in California, with typical home prices over $1 million.

Kara Ng, a senior economist at Zillow, said San Francisco was an outlier in the first place.

“Five years ago, San Francisco was far and away the most expensive city to buy a home in the U.S.,” Ng said, adding that the pandemic fueled the ability for a highly paid but price-constrained workforce to flock to more affordable areas.

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San Francisco, CA

Drive-thru turkey drive in San Francisco collects holiday meals families in need

Published

22 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Drive-thru turkey drive in San Francisco collects holiday meals families in need

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Holiday help was there for a community in need.

A drive-thru turkey donation drive was held in San Francisco on Saturday, benefitting the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. It brought a big donation response from the community, coming at a time when the need for food has never been greater.

Holiday turkeys and hams were arriving by the minute at a donation site near St. Emydius Church in San Francisco.

“Makes you feel good. That’s what you’re supposed to do,” said Ron Isola from Daly City.

The rainy weather didn’t stop anyone from showing up and helping out, especially Linda Peppars.

MORE: North Bay food bank issues holiday SOS for donations

“I live in the neighborhood and I just like helping people. God has blessed me. Why not bless other people? That’s the whole thing about life, especially today,” Peppars said.

It’s the 13th year for this turkey drive, started by volunteer Pierre Smit.

“I’m here from a different country. I came with nothing. If I had some some money, I would bring a few turkeys to St. Anthony’s,” Smit said.

It’s now a community-wide effort, benefitting the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

Hundreds of turkeys were donated, including lots of hams.

MORE: How Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign helps others achieve ‘2nd chance at a 1st-class life’

“We’re currently serving 50,000 households every week. These turkeys and hams will go to some of our agency partners who are putting on Christmas lunches and dinners,” Abbott said.

It comes at a critical time for most Bay Area food banks that responding to food insecurity.

One in six people in Santa Clara and San Mateo are getting help from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.

That agency is feeding a half million people every month.

In Napa, demand for food assistance has tripled compared to this time last year, and the North Bay’s Redwood Empire Food Bank is serving thousands more families, just in the past five months.

MORE: Toys for Tots aiming to reach 70,000 gift goal in Alameda Co.

“Our number one concern is inflation. We purchase some of the food we distribute. It’s costing us two times what it did pre-pandemic,” Abbott said.

It’s why this food drive is so important.

“It’s hard. Everybody doesn’t have what you have and visa versa,” Peppers said.

As a show of thanks, everyone who donated got a round of applause from volunteers.

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