It’s free museum days: May 6 and 7. Speaking of which, a new museum is on the horizon. The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) is now only a month away from re-opening in its new location: 736 Mission Street.

As seen here, the new museum is an adaptive reuse of the landmark 1907 Jessie Street Power Substation. Featuring a vibrant blue-steel extension designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the 63,000-square-foot building preserves the character-defining features of the susbstation, while introducing bold contemporary space for the CJM’s galleries, performances, and education programs.

Designed in 1907 by Willis Polk, the substation was key in restoring energy to the city after the 1906 earthquake. Mr. Libeskind takes this fact/theme and builds upon it with his new design, in particular the blue-steel extension, inspired by the Hebrew phrase “L’Chaim” (To Life). In fact, the extension is conceptually modeled after two Hebrew letters, the “chet” and the “yud” from the symbolic “chai” (meaning: “living”).

The new museum will open to the public on June 8, 2008. Founded in 1984, the CJM presents contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. Now, with over two decades behind it, the museum is set to launch an enhanced exhibition program comprised of art projects, historic objects, film and music, scholarly interpretations, and diverse cultural takes. The first three exhibitions have already been announced:

• In the Beginning: Artists Respond to Genesis (thru Jan. , 2009)
• From The New Yorker to Shrek: The Art of William Steig (thru Sept. 7, 2008)
• John Zorn Presents the Aleph-bet Project (thru Jan. 4, 2009)

Beginning June 8th, the museum will be open daily (except Wednesday) from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and on Thursdays, from 1 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and free for members and youths (18 and under). As noted, on Thursdays, the museum opens and closes later, with admission only $5 per visitor after 5 p.m.

As for the city’s other museums, today and tomorrow are indeed free museum days. See if a visit to any of the following will fit your San Francisco itinerary:

Tuesday, May 6.
Asian Art Museum | California Historical Society | Cartoon Art Museum (pay any fee you wish) | Conservatory of Flowers | de Young Museum | Legion of Honor | Museum of Craft & Folk Art | San Francisco Museum of Modern Art | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Wednesday, May 7.
Exploratorium | San Francisco Zoo

^{* Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco, 736 Mission Street. Photo © Mark Darley, CJM.}