Jul 072011
The Embarcadero – San Francisco
Two Columns with Wedge by William Gutmann
Visiting San Francisco, like many cities in the world, leaves one with the need for more time or many visits. The first few visits people very rarely get out of Union Square. Some people are able to get to the Ferry building and its environs. For the next couple of days I want to bring to you the Embarcadero Center. Shopping, Dining and art all in one spot. Because of the San Francisco public art laws, there is quite a bit to see at the four Embarcadero buildings and their surroundings. The collection was created by Embarcadero Center developer David Rockefeller and Embarcadero Center architect John C. Portman, Jr.
The collection changes, so I am going to bring to you the ones that are permanent and will most likely be there on your visit.
The Embarcadero buildings are really wonderful areas to be, each building has a central courtyard with a piece of art plunked down in a water feature. These all have long seating areas to lounge around with lunch or just tired feet. The public spaces are beautifully landscaped and are a magnet to office workers on lunch breaks and shoppers alike.
The above sculpture is in building one. It is a 17-ton stainless steel sculpture by William Gutmann that was fabricated out of an 82-foot long cylinder in a San Francisco wok manufacturing company, located just outside the Embarcadero theaters. The theaters, by the way, show foreign, and “art” films, a wonderful resource for offbeat movies.
Encircled by a spiral stairway between the LeMeridien San Francisco and the Old Federal Reserve Bank Building on Battery and Commercial Streets is this bronze sphere with black etchings, an untitled work by German artist Fritz Koenig.
At Two Embarcadero Center is Nicholas Schoffer’s Chronos XIV, a steel sculpture with 49 light projectors and 65 movable discs.
Still in Embarcadero Two on the Lobby level is Anne Van Kleeck’s bronze sculpture “Blocks”.
A difficult shot because of its massiveness, and shooting straight into the sun, the last piece for today is by one of my absolute favorite artists, Louise Nevelson’s Sky Tree, a soaring structure of black Corten steel set in a reflecting pool.
I have never been to San Francisco and would dearly LOVE to visit one day…soon. The architecture and sculptures in these phos are very enticing. 🙂
I have been to SFO a couple of times. Embarcadero is one of my favorite places there. I’ve seen some of the places you pictured here but I’m surprised that I haven’t seen as much as you have. You captured some intimate details that I missed. I can’t agree more with this statement of yours: “Visiting San Francisco, like many cities in the world, leaves one with the need for more time or many visits..”
SFO is indeed a wonderful city.