Everything You Need To Know About The Museum of The African Diaspora

By 布伦达·塔克

For visitors to San Francisco, the Museum of the African Diaspora is a must-see.

Since opening in 2005, the museum has celebrated the universal connection of all people through their association with Africa, the cradle of humankind. As one of the designers behind the museum, Deborah Sussman of Sussman/Prejza, 把它, “MoAD is essentially a place of storytelling. It’s about people 和ir experiences, rather than a collection of artifacts.”

A Museum with a Mission

The museum has expanded on the original story of the diaspora to focus on artists from various diasporas, whether they be Afro-Cuban, 亚非国家的, 加勒比黑人, or African-American. Since its inception, four themes have guided MoAD on its mission to help tell the story of the African diaspora:

Origin - Looking at the African roots of contemporary social, artistic and cultural forms of expression and practices that define the modern diaspora.
Movement - Tracing the social, cultural and artistic threads of the diaspora through various forms of art.
Adaptation - Exploring the variety of ways adaptation occurs through creative reinvention, 创新, and cultural resiliency.
Transformation - Looking at how individuals of African descent have forged new identities, defined their place, and made their mark on new communities and societies.

It tackles one of the most fundamental questions we human beings consider as we ponder our origins: “When did you discover you were African?”

新艺术与全球艺术

With a host of new exhibitions rotating through MoAD annually, the museum always presents a new experience, even for frequent visitors to the museum. Their exhibitions aim to represent work that may be under-represented in other U.S. 博物馆. This global intention yields exhibitions that include artists from the Middle East and Africa, as well as artists who may be in the early stages of their career.

According to Mark Sabb, MoAD's director of marketing and communications, many of the artists whose work is exhibited at the museum are still living, 和y often attend previews and special events at the museum. This accessibility to the artists offers an opportunity that is rare in most institutions. Be sure to check out the Emerging Artists Gallery which supports MoAD's initiative to foster San Francisco Bay Area artists.

社区领袖

Throughout the year, MoAD is an active community calendar. It is an anchor for celebrations honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. every January and ongoing Black History Month events in February. The museum also offers numerous workshops, 系列电影, panel discussions and its lively chef-in-residence program.

What to See at MoAD

壁画

As you approach MoAD, look up at the “jewel box” glass façade and into the face of a child that shimmers on the surface. Based on a photograph taken by The New York Times’s Chester Higgins, Jr. the three-story mural is, in fact, more than the face of a child; it is the face of many. The mural is comprised of 2,100 photographs submitted by people of the Diaspora, reproduced in 8-by-8-inch squares.

First Floor Gallery

The First Floor Gallery always has an exhibition installed and is located on the corridor which connects MoAD to The St Regis Hotel. Recent installations have included an exhibition of photographs by David Adjaye, the lead designer of the National Museum of African American History and 文化 in Washington, D.C., and one devoted to Jimi Hendrix. Access to this area is free and gives visitors an intro to what the museum is all about.

The Toni Rembe Freedom Theater

In this darkened theater, no images are projected. 坐在长凳上, listeners hear narratives by men and women of African descent — including noted author Maya Angelou, who provides an introduction to the nine individuals whose stories are told here. They include Mary Prince, the first black British woman to publish a record of her experiences; and Francis Bok, 的作者 Escape from Slavery, who was kidnapped and enslaved during an Arab militia raid on his village at the age of seven.

I’ve Known Rivers: The MoAD Story Project

This exhibit captures original narratives about people of African descent. Among the first postings is a story about photographer Jack T. Franklin’s work and photo essays on jazz legends. The latest collection (Volume 5) is an effort to preserve the stories of early African American pioneers in San Francisco's 海景区的 neighborhood and pass on the legacy of self-determination to a new generation.

附近

MoAD is located on the first three floors of the St. Regis Hotel, just steps from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Moscone Center, Yerba Buena Center for the 艺术, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and several other 博物馆 including the American 装订博物馆, California Historical Society, Children’s Creativity Museum 和 Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Nearby restaurants include 琥珀色的印度, situated at the entrance of Yerba Buena Lane; and 阿斯特拉, which offers exquisite American dishes inspired by California’s freshest seasonal ingredients. There are also a number of restaurants located along Howard Street, including 跟踪, located in the W San Francisco, and 方, noted for their modern take on traditional Chinese dishes.

Fast Facts About MoAD

Address and Contact

米慎街685号
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-358-7200
www.moadsf.org

小时

Open Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday-Tuesday and major holidays.

入学

成人:10美元
Seniors, students, and educators: $5
Children under 12: Free
Active duty military: Free

运输

取 Muni Metro或BART to the Montgomery Street station, which is a few blocks from MoAD.

可访问性

MoAD is fully accessible via wheelchair. Elevators offer access between all levels. A wheelchair may be borrowed during the visit (subject to availability).

旅游

Groups of 10 to 30 people can be accommodated. 旅游 last one hour and can be scheduled Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The first tour begins at 11 a.m. 和 latest begins at 4 p.m. Group discounts available.

餐厅

No food outlets on premises.

零售

The MoAD Marketplace features small gift items from countries considered part of the African diaspora and includes jewelry, small stuffed animals, 书, 和音乐. Coffee buffs can also purchase Red Bay Coffee, a popular “third-wave” roast which includes beans from Tanzania’s Sweet Unity Farms which was started by David Robinson, son of famous baseball slugger, 杰基·罗宾森.

布伦达·塔克

布伦达·塔克 is the Director of 艺术 Marketing at San Francisco Travel. She has lived in San Francisco since 1998, after driving cross-country to a home she secured sight unseen. Brenda enjoys swimming out-of-doors year-round, being inspired by the incredible art scene in the City, and living in the best place on earth.