Museum tickets (like most things) have gotten more and more expensive, which is why it’s become altogether necessary to keep track of various local institutions’ free days. In a perfect world, museum collections, part of our region’s cultural fabric, would be freely accessible — but until that day comes, we have to cling tightly to opportunities like SFMOMA’s upcoming Free Family Day.
SFMOMA’s Free Family Day on Jan. 14: A Last Chance to See Two Great Shows
A view of Pacita Abad's trapuntos (with one verso, in black) from 'Pacita Abad: A Million Things to Say' at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Manila, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in 2018.
While visitors 18 and under always receive free admission to the museum, on Sunday, Jan. 14, up to four adults accompanying a child or teen can also enjoy SFMOMA without stressing over a $30 ticket. And while there are plenty of current shows which might appeal to younger audiences (Wolfgang Tillmans for the budding photographer, Sitting on Chrome for those who love a bit of sparkle, The Visitors for the musically inclined), Sunday will be one of the last opportunities to see two very important ones.
The first is the monumental installation of Diego Rivera’s Pan American Unity mural, which has been on display in the Roberts Family Gallery since June 2021. If you haven’t seen it yet, I’m not sure what you’ve been doing, but this dense, truly awe-inspiring fresco leaves public view after Jan. 21. Given the ongoing legal dispute between SFMOMA and City College of San Francisco over expenses related to the mural’s relocation and storage, combined with the fact that the building it’s meant to live in has yet to be built, I’m not sure when we’ll next get a chance to bask in its presence.
The second show is Pacita Abad, closing Jan. 28. Do not miss this beautiful retrospective of the Philippines-born artist who drew materials and methods from her international travels, which allowed her to fully absorb the traditional craft practices she met along the way. There is nothing stuffy about this exhibition — painted textiles hang from the ceiling, the walls zing with bright shades of paint and Abad’s thrilling combinations of color and texture show the process of their making.
In that spirit, Sunday’s family day will have a number of opportunities for hands-on art making in the museum’s fourth floor “white box,” and a partnership with SOMA Pilipinas will bring performances and a scavenger hunt to the museum.
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SFMOMA’s Free Family Day is Jan. 14, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. You can reserve tickets in advance.
