Contemporary Jewish Museum facts for kids
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The former Jessie Street Substation (right) and the 2008 addition (left) designed by Daniel Libeskind
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| Established | 1984 |
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| Location | 736 Mission Street, San Francisco, California, United States |
| Type | Art Museum |
| Public transit access |  Powell Street Station |
The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) is an exciting museum in San Francisco, California. You can find it on Mission Street in the SoMa neighborhood. This museum started in 1984. It's special because it doesn't have a permanent collection of art. Instead, it focuses on showing different exhibitions and educational programs. The main goal is to share the many parts of Jewish culture and history with people today. The museum building itself is very unique. It was designed by a famous architect named Daniel Libeskind and opened in its current home in 2008.
Contents
Discover the Museum's History
The Contemporary Jewish Museum first opened its doors in 1984. For more than 20 years, it was in a smaller gallery space. This was close to the waterfront in San Francisco. By 1989, the museum realized more space was needed. They wanted to offer more programs to the community.
A New Home for the CJM
So, the museum decided to build a bigger and more central place. This new building would have more room for exhibitions. It would also have special areas for education. Plus, there would be spaces for live music, theater, dance, and film events. In June 2008, the museum opened its new building. It's a large 63,000 square-foot facility. This new home is right in downtown San Francisco.
Explore Exhibitions and Programs
The Contemporary Jewish Museum is unique because it doesn't have a permanent collection. This means they don't own a lot of art pieces. Instead, they create and host many different exhibitions each year. They often work with other museums and institutions to bring these shows to life.
Fun Educational Programs
The museum offers lots of cool educational programs. These are great for all ages!
- You can join public tours to learn more about the art.
- They have classes and workshops where you can get creative.
- You can watch film screenings.
- There are lectures and gallery talks by experts.
- They also host performances and special events.
- Teachers can get training here.
- Schools can arrange visits for students.
- Families can enjoy special tours and art-making activities.
- There's even a teen internship program for older kids.
The Museum's Unique Architecture
The main building of the museum is very interesting. It used to be an old power station. It was called the Pacific Gas & Electric Jessie Street Substation. This building was first built in 1881. After a big earthquake in 1906, it was rebuilt in 1907. A famous architect named Willis Polk rebuilt it. The building is so important that it was listed as a historic place in 1974.
Daniel Libeskind's Modern Design
Daniel Libeskind is a world-famous architect. He designed the inside of the old power station. He also added a brand new, modern section. This new part looks like a tilted cube. It's built in a style called deconstructivism. The entire new museum was finished in 2008. It cost about $47.5 million to build.
Blending Old and New Styles
The new part of the building is a dark-blue, shiny stainless steel cube. It looks like it slices right into the old brick building. This design shows how the new and old parts connect. Libeskind made sure to keep the cool features of the old building. These include its brick walls, strong support beams, and bright skylights.
The metal cube has 36 diamond-shaped windows. This top floor is called the "Yud". It's a special space for sound and performance art. Another part of the museum is a slanted rectangle. This section is called the "Chet". It holds the museum's lobby, an education center, and part of an upstairs art gallery.
Hidden Meanings in the Design
Just like his other works, Libeskind included special words in the museum's design. He was inspired by the Hebrew phrase "L'chaim". This means "To Life". The Hebrew letters that spell "chai" (which are "chet" and "yud") inspired the shapes of the building.
Libeskind explained his design: "The chet provides an overall continuity for the exhibition and educational spaces. The yud, with its 36 windows, serves as a special exhibition, performance, and event space." The phrase "To Life" also connects to the building's past. The old power station helped bring energy back to the city after the 1906 earthquake. The museum's mission is also to bring life and energy to Jewish culture. You can even find the Hebrew word pardes, meaning "orchard", built into the lobby wall.
The museum also has other useful spaces. There's a big room for events, an auditorium, and a museum store. You can even grab a bite to eat at Wise Sons Deli!
What Critics Thought
Art critics really liked Libeskind's design. Christopher Hawthorne from the Los Angeles Times said Libeskind found a "careful balance" in his design. David D'Arcy from The Wall Street Journal felt the museum was different from Libeskind's other works. He found a "lightness" to this museum. He thought it helped make the surrounding area less boring.
Museum Leadership
The museum has a team of people who help run it. Chad Coerver became the Executive Director in 2021. Before him, Lori Starr and Constance Wolf held the position. Heidi Rabben was hired in 2018. She is currently the Senior Curator.
See also
- The Jewish Museum, New York, NY
- Jewish Museum Berlin
