One of the most notable destinations in San Francisco is the SF MOMA, one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States with works from artists all around the globe. The SF MOMA is actually the first museum dedicated solely to 20th century art on the West Coast. Not only does it host an impressive range of work, the SF MOMA building itself is a great work of architecture to explore, with how it divides spaces and guides the visitor upward from exhibit to exhibit.

We got to explore the seven floors of thought-invoking art, including the ongoing temporary 2022 SECA Art Award Exhibition on the second floor, which is free entry for all. This year, it celebrates Bay Area artists Binta Ayofemi, Maria A. Guzmán Capron, Cathy Lu, Marcel Pardo Ariza, and Gregory Rick. SECA has honored recipients of the SECA Art Award with an exhibition at the SF MOMA since 1967, and is a great way of showcasing incredible artists who may not have been recognized for their work before. The exhibition was incredible to witness, as the art displayed was truly beautiful.

The sixth floor had a particular impact on many of us, as there is art dedicated to challenging our perception of architecture and design. There are furniture pieces designed by many different artists that really made us ponder the concept of scale, the three-dimensional aspect of design, and what defines furniture as practical, and/or as art.

My personal favorite is an incredible piece by Ragnar Kjartansson called The Visitors, in which the hour-long work is projected across nine massive screens around the dark room. It takes place in a mansion where each musician performs in various rooms, alone, yet plays together in harmony within the exhibition space’s speakers above. The visitor is immersed in what feels like an intimate view of a friend group’s relationship with music.

The evening ended with a class dinner at Picaro, located near Valencia Street. We had delicious Spanish food, with paella served on massive plates and sangria poured from pitchers. It was a great experience being able to explore incredible art, then eat incredible food with the whole class.