Cantor Arts Center

Two things set Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center apart from every other major Bay Area art museum. First, the museum’s main attraction is not even inside. It’s the Rodin Sculpture Garden outside the west entrance; Cantor’s collection of Rodin bronzes is the world’s second-largest behind only the Musee Rodin in Paris. You’d think this would dissuade some visitors from paying to see the museum’s wide-ranging art collection inside, but that’s the other unique thing about the Cantor: there's no admission.

Auguste Rodin’s 20 century-old bronzes in the sculpture garden include larger-than-life nudes, partial figures, busts and the wall-sized epic, “Gates of Hell.” Each piece is given ample space, allowing visitors to experience them from benches scattered throughout the grounds. Once you’re ready to step inside, you’ll view 10 more Rodin pieces in a splendid rotunda gallery, then dozens of smaller Rodin works in two adjacent galleries.

Most of the museum’s 13 first-floor galleries present the art of different parts of the world. There are two Africa galleries, an Oceania gallery and three Asian art galleries that draw from a 4,000-piece collection, including 4,600-year-old Chinese pottery. If local history appeals to you, you’ll be fascinated by the Stanford Family Room, with its old photos and possessions of Leland Stanford Jr., who founded the university in 1891 and opened the museum three years later.

Ten second-floor galleries emphasize European and American art, with “American” defined broadly by featuring the art of Native Americans and the ancient civilizations of Peru and Mesoamerica. Also on this level are contemporary art galleries that highlight recent works, especially those of prominent Bay Area artists like Robert Arneson and Richard Diebenkorn. Three galleries in the museum display temporary exhibitions, which change about once a month.

Matching the quality of the art is the impressive architecture, which combines the elegance of a marble atrium lobby with modern touches like skylights and a second-floor outdoor sculpture terrace. By the time you leave, you’ll surely remember many museum visits that weren’t nearly as satisfying—and they weren’t even free.

HelloSanFrancisco Tip: General and exhibit-specific docent tours are offered daily for visitors wishing to know more about Cantor’s art in greater depth.
 

- by Bob Cooper, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Bob Cooper

Bob Cooper is a full-time freelance writer (www.bob-cooper.com) who writes about travel, outdoor sports and health. He is a monthly contributor to Runner's World and has written recent articles for other national magazines such as Continental, Ladies' Home Journal and Inc.