…te it in perpetuity, so that it could be used, shared and seen, reflected his philosophy that art can and should inspire all of us. All of us at Stanford will always have the deepest affection for Hunk as a generous, big-hearted man.” To date, the Anderson Collection at Stanford University has been seen by nearly 250,000 visitors. Every work in the museum is viewable online and the collection has grown through gifts from other members of the comm…

…a central staircase that has a curved ceiling above it; best of all, an open floor-plan that mimics the flowing, interconnected spaces of the Andersons’ sprawling ranch-style home makes it possible (and fun) to look across to various galleries and gain unexpected views of paintings or sculptures that one can then see or revisit. I made several pilgrimages to the grouping of Bay Area Figurative artists, where I was drawn back to gaze again u…

…programs at Stanford. On Elite Campuses, an Arts Race John Hennessy, president of Stanford, originally identified the arts as one of five growth areas for a capital campaign that ran from 2006 to 2011. Student interest was a factor. The McMurtry will include art studios, while outside the district, a $28 million renovation of Roble Gym into an “art gym” will add rehearsal and performance space. Before the Bing, students complained about…

…Nick Cave exhibit features seven Soundsuits and two video installations in the first-floor galleries, as well as one suit that has invaded the permanent collection of abstract-expressionist-era work upstairs. For those new to Cave’s projects, the suits up close are surprising; they seem to ask questions and patiently wait for the viewer to answer. What kind of movements would you make if no one could see you? From the interior of the suits…

The Cantor and Anderson Collection offer free membership to Class of 2020…

…to the public at its new Stanford University home this Sunday, Sept. 21, in a freestanding pavilion next to the Cantor Arts Center in the University’s growing arts district. Members of the Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection can also attend a special preview of the museum on Sept. 20. Opening day festivities will include food trucks, music, activities and digital tours. Admission is free, and while visitors can reserve timed tickets o…

…anford. Bay Area figurative art is a particular strength of the Anderson Collection and the second Park painting is an important acquisition. A collection of essays about the painting by Nancy Boas, Helen Park Bigelow and John Seed will be available in the galleries and online at the time of the opening. The Anderson Collection reopens to the public on Sept. 22 after being closed several months for maintenance. The permanent collection is being c…

…simply a large pattern of burgundy, black and white. However, there was something very calming about looking at it. I used to criticize such artworks a lot, not understanding the value placed on artists like Rothko. But seeing such pieces in a museum in front of you feels very different than looking at images online after Googling the artist. These large canvases and colors, though they are just large patterns, weigh on you, and that weight was…

…nveiling on Monday, Oct. 28, along with her daughter Mary “Putter” Anderson Pence and granddaughter Devin Pence. Instead, it has now become an impromptu memorial to her. “Moo and Hunk believed these two works would provide more insight into the artists’ creative journeys,” said Putter Pence, “and given Moo’s love of learning, we can’t imagine a better way to honor her legacy.” Totem Lesson 1 (1944) by Jackson Pollock, one of his most significant…

…roviding tours, working with art history graduate student interns, and managing relationships with galleries and institutions. Among the most memorable Anderson acquisitions, he notes, are two ceramic works by California artist John Mason, one of which will be in the collection at Stanford (Spear Form, Ember). Mason began working in Los Angeles in the 1950s with Peter Voulkos and “developed revolutionary ways for communicating contemporary ideas…