First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art | Contemporary Jewish Museum | Dec 7–April 28, 2024

Overview

The works in this show are quite extraordinary and explore the different aesthetics in which neon light art is expressed. It’s also extremely educational; you’ll learn a lot about the science of neon lighting and the different gases used in its creation: helium (orange-yellow), argon (lavender/light purple or light blue), krypton (white-blueish), xenon (blue), and radon (red). During the artist walk-through, I learned that brown is an uncommon neon light color because, apparently, it is difficult to formulate.

Bending Table Demonstration with Kelsey Issel from She Bends. CJM, San Francisco.

Interactive Exhibit Exploring the Science of Neon Lighting. CJM, San Francisco.

🗓 First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art runs until April 28, 2024 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
💌 Did you see the show? What did you think? Let us know in the comments (in the Reviews section located on the second tab at the top of the page).

Kamila Mróz. Well Done—What Was the Cost?, 2023. CJM, San Francisco.

Neon art fans and enthusiasts, science nerds will LOVE this show. First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art  runs until April 28, 2024 at the CJM.

QUICK GUIDE: Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM)

⭐ EXHIBITIONS: First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art (Closes April 28, 2024); Radiant Practices: Illuminating Jewish Traditions (Closes April 28); L’Chaim: Celebrating Our Building at 15 (Closes June 9, 2024); RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped (Closes July 28, 2024); Annie Abigail: We Become [Vessels] (Closes July 28).
⭐ MUSEUM HOURS: Open Thursday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Monday–Wednesday.
⭐ ADMISSION: General Admission Adults $16; Seniors 65+ & Students $14; 18 & Under FREE. Membership starts at $75.
⭐ DISCOUNTS: Admission is FREE through the following programs: Free First Fridays; Discover and Go (Free w/library card—may not apply to all counties); SF Museums for All (show your EBT or Medi-Cal card/ID); Museums On Us (show your Bank of America/Merrill card/ID) on FIRST weekend of month. 
⭐ EVENTS: Purim Party: Esther Runs Hollywood on March 23, 5:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m (Adult General $46; Adult Member $36; Children $20; Child Member $18); Teen-led Printmaking Workshop on March 24, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m (FREE w/museum admission, FREE for teens); Sparking Your Inner Big Bang: A Meditation Circle with Dr. Butterfly Williams for New Beginnings on April 4, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. (FREE w/museum admission); Flowing with the Light Around Us (walking meditation with artist Nkechi Njaka is FREE w/museum admission on April 11, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.); Rockout with RetroBlakesberg on April 14, 2 p.m.– 4 p.m. (FREE concert with Retroband featuring Lebo, Steve and Ezra from ALO, Elliott Peck from Midnight North, and more); 
⭐ FOOD: Wise Sons Jewish Deli. Open Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–2 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Outdoor dining & indoor dining (during museum hours)

A LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDS

 For helpful tips on planning your visit to the CJM, see our COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM.

Guide to the Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) | A LOVE LETTER TO ART

Plan your best visit to San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum with A Love Letter to Art’s tips and recommendations.

NEARBY ART

Bay Area Now 9 | YBCA | (Post on A LOVE LETTER TO ART to follow soon.)

The ninth iteration of YBCA’s signature triennial exhibition highlighting 30 artists working throughout the Bay Area’s nine counties.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Explore the art of our time.

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