1160 Mission Street
SOMA
SOMA Grand
Composed of 390 panels, most about 2-by-7 feet and 1/4-inch thick, this mural is titled “Realm”. It is the biggest piece of glass art in the city. Coming in at three stories tall, it cost $800,000.
The piece is part of the 1% for art program of San Francisco and was created by Dorothy Lenehan.
Dorothy Lenehan founded Lenehan Architectural Glass in 1995 after a years-long tenure with Narcissus Quagliata’s acclaimed glass studio in Oakland, including 10 years as studio manager. After the Quagliata Studio relocated to Mexico City in 1995, Dorothy moved her studio to Emeryville and changed the focus of her work from leaded art glasswork to contemporary fused, painted and laminated architectural elements.
The “1% for Art” program requirement is governed by Section 429 of the Planning Code, which provides that construction of a new building or addition of 25,000 square feet or more within the downtown C‐3 district, triggers a requirement that the project provide public art that equals at least 1% of the total construction cost.
We have the same kind of 1% program here and it has resulted in some wonderful work and other work that is not so great. I like this one!
How creative to have artwork on the windows. I am glad to hear such an art program exists.