want to offer. let me give you two examples of upcoming exhibitions to illustrate how we further implement our brand, starting from today, but it is a journey that will take years. you want to implement our brand by stages, so we are constantly working on improving the service and visitor experience. one exhibition that is about to open all daymaharaja the splendor of india's royal courts. this will showcase 300 years of the indian art and culture. the exhibition will have world class objects such as a large -- it did not fit in the doors. we had to take the walls of of the back of the museum and moved inside. on the way out, you may want to

peak at the corner to see it. to protect a work of art, you have to let it sit for 24 hours to acclimatize. this tells you the caliber of the objects in the show. to the right is a wonderful piece of jewelry, a turbaned ornaments. the show also includes objects of multimedia. for example, the largest piece. it also includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, a tremendous collection of art. as always, our visitors can enjoy the excellence of individual works of art, on an individual basis, but would be what to do differently is to add a new dimension. we want to call out those stories. we want to object to talk about themselves, to tell us what makes a maharaja.

how did he conducts his public life? maha means big, raja means king. so literally, and baking. how did he live his everyday life? how did he conducts his religious duties? negotiatinart and politics is an marriage, in this case, too. so we want to offer our visitors multiple choices. you can enjoy the art on its own individual basis and focus on its artistic quality, stylistic dilution, but also, if you like, there are stories at your disposal to learn. you can make a journey of self discovery.

the maharajah has also inspired contemporary artists. engaging with the early contemporary artists like sanjay patel. is there a semblance between the two? i think it is there. we had given him a book, a catalog of the exhibition, showing the wonderful works of art in the show, including this one. he looked at this and fell in love with the objects in the show and came up with a fresh imbricate -- interpretation of what a maharajah is. this is only in detail of his great creation. not only did he increate fresh works of art, but work inspired by the works from the 300 years

of indian culture, but also, through hands lens, in joining these treasures. we can also use his work as a way to encourage visitors to the museum. this is a very strategic corner. anyone coming out of the bart station, across indicted nations square, you come to this corner. we want to improve the way finding in the city center, to our museum, to enable the visitors to have an easier time. this is sanjay's work. today, we express our community

power through parades, and demonstrations. this will help to to guide you to the asian art museum. we live in a historical district. we want to be respectful of the historical integrity and the duty but we're also here to improve service to the public, improved wind-finding, improve the arts in this area. we want our visitors, once they step inside the museum, before entering an exhibition, you will be able did give the evocative environment of the maharaja. these are some of the sketches. also, wayne-finding, processions. beyond this exhibit, next spring, we have an exhibition at

our museum will be doing for the first time in history. we will generate a self- organized major scale contemporary art exhibition called contemporary awakened the past. the subtitle capture of one dimension of our vision, which is making a connection between the past, present, and future, but we want to cross the contemporary art program with our unique characteristics. where are was made, it was always contemporary. so we need to look at the art not only from the time of their making but also from today's perspective. they make a connection between the are being made today. this is one possible work of art.

we will and juxtaposed these contemporary works of art with these masterpieces from other collections, whether they were made 100 years ago or two dozen years ago. another thing we are doing, creating a super brand about our contemporary project, making the connection between the part of the past and art of today. the second unique thing about this exhibition is it will not only be presented in the special exhibition galleries, and will be presented also in the second and third for collection areas. in other words, the whole building is at the disposal of our visitors to engage, enable them to have an experience. making a concrete, active dialogue between the art of the past and the art of today. let me now in by our associate

curator of the south asian art to tell us about the detail of the maharajah, as well, snjay patel to tell us about his inspiration. >> we have already heard about the maharajah expedition -- exhibition, have seen some of sanjay's participation in it, but how did these alamance connect with one another? that is what we are trying to explore further. i have been interested in sanjay's work for some time now. not as much for the work itself, as for the process, because he, like many generations of artists before him, have been bringing stories of the past, subject matter from the past, back to life through their own art, making them into

relevant pieces of art with his unique style. that is what attracted my attention towards sanjay. what started out as a project to activate the exterior of the building became something completely different. it took on its own life. when sanjay came back to us with a body of work for what was supposed to be a simple exterior project, we were completely blown away. >> that is kind of you. first off, she is the smart one. she should know better to pick someone like me. thank you for recognizing my work and inviting me to participate with the museum. before i go into that -- i have to segue. there is one cool distinction with the modern russia.

i do not want to give away too much, but all the paintings, he has an awesome mustache. i feeling that is the son of a king. i notice there are not a lot of people here with moustaches except one. one particular person. mr. mayer has an awesome mustache. that is a great sign of his king weakness. it was really exciting. you hear awaken, expire. i am kind of cynical. that is like the corporate man telling me something. the fact is, they were already doing awaken and inspire. the fact that nick and his team got beyond the idea just speaks to the fact that the asian was already doing this great work. i was telling stories from my roots. when i got the e-mail, i was woken up. she said, do you want to come by

to do something with the exterior of the building? i would totally do it. i was open and inspired thanks to her. once i got the assignment, i started digging into the background of the maharajah. did i go down the rabbit hole. i feel like i am a pro, doing professional art for a long time now that fix our. the one no-no is you do not go off and start and finish something by yourself. typically at picks are, you show your early progression. you are showing it to the director. of course, being an idiot, i got totally obsessed and there went down the rabbit hole. i worked on my birthday.

i did not update my facebook. i just worked. i work for about a month. we were lucky and smart enough to set a deadline. in a month i showed her but i had. at that point, i had a two-hour presentation. i showed it to my friends at picks are. they said, you need to get some facts of it -- fresh air. we have a term known as a spanking. that means you have to discipline it, and trim the fat. we were able to get it to a manageable size. i brought it to the museum. i showed it and apparently it did not stop. happy picks are ending. there was more good news in store, but i will let her explain that. >> the next year project quickly became something bigger than that. it became a second phone call

which was, would you like to do a collaborative project where your work is in dialogue, in the same space as amazing work from our collection? that led to another product we are working on, which will open after maharajah, on the second floor of the gallery. here is a preview of what it will look like. >> that is cool. i do not care if anybody else likes it. that is like the inside of my mind. i'm so happy with this room. i hope you all come back to check it out. we came up with a fund title as well. the museum was marred and serious. the bees, and demons, and views of staches.

i think the exhibition opens november 11. i have one more surprise today. i know you want to check out the show, but i have one more surprise. jay put me up to some work. he said, sunday, i am going to give you permission to put your mark on the asian. what does that mean? i think i know i want to do but i do not want to get arrested because -- this is the city. graffiti is not cool. i do not know, i'm going to try something. bear with me. i'm going to invite everyone else to put their mark on the asian as well. i am going to kick us off first. do not arrest me. i am sorry, nick. no pressure. i am a big fan of staches, so i

will start with a beautiful sta che. while i do this, i want to invite -- stick around, is going to get there. how about that? jay, nick, mayor, please come up and put your mark on the asian. akiko, tony, please come and make your mark. please come up and put your mark on the asian.

>> congratulations, chief. as you may well know, we were named the top in 2005. i thought that was wonderful. >> that is the top irish- americans in the country, not just san francisco. >> they knew they could fire

chief when they saw one. we thought we would do a nice irish song for you. we will not take long, we promise. ♪ , over the hills my money-eyed irish lad come over the hills to your darling you choose the road love and i will make the balancvows and i will be your true love forever red is the rose that beyond the garden grows there is a lily of the valley

here is the water that boasts from the spring but my love is [inaudible] ♪ ♪ down by killarney

the moon and the stars they were shining the moon shone she was sure she would be my love forever red is the rose that beyond the garden grows there is delayed of our valley there is the water that flows from but my love is better than any ♪

[applause] >> over in the corner, and john's father. we are so thrilled that this long overdue that we hang your picture on our wall. you have supported our 1906 survivor dinners and luncheons over the years. i do not know what i always see you at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning, but you are always there for us. 1983, there was a fire at jon's grille. your guys came in. in those days, i think it was guys. they got the bar out, they got chief bill murray's picture off the wall. but mayor christopher's picture off the wall. we have been rebuilding ever since. but we are a little short on beautiful ladies. we are happy to have you on the

wall. [applause] do you have something that you would like to -- >> lee and john, thank you for inviting me here. for all of you, fire commissioners, city family. i guess when joanne came, everyone said, first female. she has shown that she has joined the great chiefs of our city. it did not take long at all for her leadership to come out, for her personality, a french ship,

but also for that wonderful leadership. our great city sometimes, a lot of people focus on who is in room 200, but there are very special moments for many periods of the city where the city is defined by its great chiefs. today we celebrate one of those already. who is this movie star? that is a great thing. i want to thank john's grill for putting up, under their 40- year tradition, someone that we believe very much in our city, who has really led a great leadership and our fire department and has been a great leader on many fronts, helping us so much on anything -- everything from the toy drives to community participation, to everything that reflects a modern fire department and all the men and women that served the department. really give them the pride for

working for the great city. chief, congratulations for making it on the wall. lee, john, to have this tradition, welcome our great chief. [applause] >> since you are the last one that has been hung on the wall previously, you two work so closely together, could you say something? >> i am no where near as good looking as joanne. kind of down the line there. joanne and i have been friends forever. i played football with city college with her brother dan who was the coach. talk about a great person to be able to follow. she has been so supportive. i have learned so much in my short time on how to be a good chief. she is modest, gracious, everything that you would want to have. i just hope someday people will

think of me the way that i think of her. [applause] we have a surprise hear from senator mark leno, who i believe has not made an endorsement yet. would you like to make an announcement? >> speaking of better looking -- >> it is my pleasure to join mr. mayer and our chief on this auspicious occasion. i think all the kind and generous words have been said. if you look on this wall, joanne, you can see the threshold to get on this wall is rather high. with some exceptions, we have got police chiefs, fire chiefs, mayors. i have been discriminated against because i am gay, jewish, but never for being

estate center. i asked, how and why going to get on the wall? -- when am i going to get on the wall? he said soon. it is my pleasure to join in with the celebration and take a moment to recognize your unique accomplishments. chief hayes-white is the only chief to have served in all 42 different stations. i think that says something for your hands-on leadership style, that you have not only earned your stripes, made your way up the ladder in the department, but also have brought to us a motherly touch that is uncommon. congratulations to you on this wonderful distinction. i would also like to thank john and john crow for supporting

this tradition, which i aspired to at some point. >> thank you. [applause] >> you will be well-hung. you are jewish? all of you who would like to, we hope that you stay and eat and sleep and -- share wonderful stories. thank you, everybody. >> thank you to lead to help steer values -- continue to buy a the city history. certainly, to mr. john and gus constant, owners of john's grill for four years. it is an honor to be here. to have my picture up there. .

a lot of water under p.m. very under the bridge. the firefighter was behing me, and taking good of us. i feel good about it. thank you.

i think the world of chief s uhr. thank you to my co-workers. is all about teamwork. thank you very much. i consider you part of my team. thank you so much. it is a wonderful surprise. a wonderful tribute. thank you for those songs. my younger brother dan is here.

my younger sister is here. and my mom, who is 86 years old. 86 is just a number. i am sorry. of all the things i've participated in, this is the most exciting moments. is part of the history, and my mom has dined here many times and has seen the pictures on the wall. thank you, mom. thank you very much. again i appreciate this. thank you. thank you