Floor 5: 5th Floor City Gallery (entering Co-Lab)
Overview
Gallery Wayfinding
You are entering the Co-Lab, an interactive space with various activities including a projection station, a paper folding station, and a wall of shapes.
You've entered from the right of the back wall of this wide rectangular gallery, facing the long, front wall. On the wall to the left of you is a small piece of graphic text that says Welcome to Co-Lab! There will be a change in flooring from wood to carpet when moving from the City Gallery to the Co-Lab.
In front of you along the right wall is a lounge space that has wooden seating with pillows and cushions. This lounge space protrudes out from the wall about five feet and faces a large window with a view of downtown San Francisco. Farther to your right on the back wall is the entrance to the main activity space of Co-Lab.
In this main activity space, immediately to your left is a large shelving unit holding some books and objects. On the other side of the shelving unit is an activity table where visitors can fold forms out of paper. Past that, on the far left wall, there is light projection activity that includes a table with objects on it and a light projector attached to the ceiling. On the long, front wall is an activity that relates to moveable shapes as well as a large cutout window with a window bench that offers a view into the Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing 273 Gallery. Near the right wall, there is a spinner activity on a small table, along with some chairs. Immediately to your right, on the back wall, there is bench alongside the wall that has shelving beneath it.
To get to the Alexander Calder Gallery, exit the Co-Lab and turn left. Travel through the entire 5th Floor City Gallery and turn left. Walk past the elevators and 5th floor tactile map to get to the Alexander Calder Gallery.
Label
Artists Alexander Calder, Ellsworth Kelly, and Sol LeWitt created art based on simple elements like lines, shapes, and colors. While they each planned their work carefully, they often left room for surprises along the way.
In this space, you can work the same way these artists did—by observing closely, trying things out, and seeing what happens. Jump in and explore! Visionary support for Co-Lab is provided by Fisher Art Foundation.
Major support is provided by Deborah and Kenneth Novack.
Meaningful support is provided by Sarah and Jason DiLullo and
Jane Kim and Jung Min.
Co-Lab Rules:
- Stick together! Children should always stay with a trusted adult.
- Be a good collaborator. Use your inside voice and share materials with others.
- Save snacks for later. No food or drinks in Co-Lab or the galleries.
- Use walking feet. No running, please!
- Keep a clean studio. Please tidy up after you finish creating.
- Take your paper sculpture home but leave other supplies for the next artist.
Objects
4 objects in the order you'll encounter them from this entrance. Select an object to view details.
Artwork Label Text
Not sure where to start? Spin the arrow and let chance decide your first activity!
- Ask a friend what activity you should try first.
- Look at Sol LeWitt's Wall drawing #273 through the window.
- Slowly spin around 3 times. Walk toward the activity you are facing.
- Go back to the galleries and spend one minute looking at a red artwork.
- Go to the bookshelf and learn one new thing about an artist.
- Relax on the cushions and watch the shapes on the screen.
- Create a paper sculpture to add to our light sculpture.
- Use simple shapes to abstract an everyday image.
- Spin again!
Artwork Label Text
What makes an object feel like itself? Instead of showing details, artists like Ellsworth Kelly and Alexander Calder use simple shapes and colors to capture their ideas.
- Pick an image card from the crate.
- Choose shapes that you think best represent your image.
- Challenge yourself! Can you make it using only three shapes?
- Add the shapes to the board to recreate your image in a simple, abstract way.
- Challenge a friend or someone nearby to guess what your creation is!
Artwork Label Text
- Choose a paper shape from the trays.
- Use your hands and the tools to fold, bend, or twist the paper into a new work of art.
- All done? Place your sculpture in the drop-off zone or take it home!
- Return or recycle any unused or scrap paper to the bins on the table.
Leave your creation at the drop-off zone and we'll add it to the light sculpture each week. Come back again to find yours!
Artwork Label Text
Many artists use simple colors and shapes to build surprising artworks.
- Choose materials in different sizes, shapes, and colors.
- Add to or take away from what's on the lightbox to create a design.
- Watch your creation come to life on the big screen!
- Leave your design behind for the next person to rework.