All of SAN FRANCISCO – Page 19 – Public Art and Architecture from Around the World

Goddess of Democracy

Posted by Cindy on November 6, 2012

Nov 062012

Portsmouth Square Chinatown During China’s 1989 Tianamen Square protests, when hope for sought-after reforms seemed to be fading, artist activists unveiled a 33-ft. tall paper mache and foam sculpture of the “Goddess of Democracy.” The statue, in the tradition of other giant torch-brandishing women, became an icon for the Democratic Movement, though it was demolished by government troops only five days after its appearance. Not surprisingly, replicas and tributes to the figure cropped up in other countries. In San Francisco’s Chinatown, a 10-ft. tall bronze version on a granite base was dedicated in 1994. The work was created by Continue Reading

GATS, Ras Terms and Dead Eyes

Posted by Cindy on November 5, 2012

Nov 052012

Laguna and Haight Streets Love in the Lower Haight Haight Street Side This piece is part of the Love in the Lower Haight Project, it is a collaboration between GATS, Dead Eyes and RAS Terms. GATS (Graffiti Against The System) “GATS is one of the West Coast’s most prolific and rampant graffiti artists. Their iconic characters litter the landscape from coast to coast and have been spotted in over half a dozen different countries around the world.” He was the focus of a video that I have found to be one of the best produced regarding the subject. It is Continue Reading

The Beautiful Women of the Tenderloin

Posted by Cindy on November 4, 2012

Nov 042012

Olive and Larkin and Geary The Tenderloin This beauty (though sadly tagged) is by Melbourne-based artist & Everfresh member, RONE. Made possible by Rogue Projects, the wall spans more than two car lengths and is located just off Larkin and Olive. Just at the end of the Olive on Larkin is this other lovely creature by RONE. This is at Larkin and Geary. RONE has this to say on his website: Rone’s posters are some of the most iconic in Australia, hiding under overpasses throughout Melbourne. He is renowned for the stylised images of ‘girls’ faces – it wouldn’t be a stretch to say Continue Reading

The Jungle on Clarion Alley

Posted by Cindy on November 3, 2012

Nov 032012

Clarion Alley The Mission * This gorgeous woman is by BODE. This mural is in Clarion Alley in the Mission District. Clarion Alley runs just south of 17th Street from Mission to Valencia. CAMP, or the Clarion Alley Mural Project originated in 1982, inspired by San Francisco’s Balmy Avenue just down the street. None of the artists that formed CAMP had participated in the Balmy Alley project, nor did any of them have any background in mural projects. There is no theme to the alley or what artists are allowed to paint. Once an artist is given space, and as Continue Reading

Thank You Tenderloin

Posted by Cindy on November 2, 2012

Nov 022012

Market and Turk Streets The Tenderloin Turk Street Side of the Building This mural, titled “Thank You Tenderloin” is a collaboration between Ricardo Richey also known as the Apexer, Neonski and Chez. Raina “Scar” Feger – a member of Living Miracle Productions * A major name in the Bay Area graffiti scene, Neonski became a member of the legendary BA (Burning America) Crew in the early 90s and in 1994, became the North American distributor of Barcelona-based Montana (MTN) Colors, a graffiti-writer owned, private company, and the first spray paint brand made by-and-for writers. MTN Colors has become a staple for Continue Reading

A Swiss Gentleman paints in the Haight

Posted by Cindy on November 1, 2012

Nov 012012

665 Haight Street This piece is by Romanowski. Born and raised in Basel, Switzerland he is a DJ and painter. According to All Music Romanowski considers sneaking into his mother’s liquor cabinet and record collection his introduction to the DJ lifestyle. Booze and Beatles albums gave way to old school rap and early electronica, a combination he spun together at the age of 14 in his native Zurich, Switzerland. He moved to San Francisco in 1992 and soon hooked up with the Behind the Post Office collective, a group of DJs and rappers revolving around the Behind the Post Office record store. Sharing Continue Reading

Meggs in The Tenderloin

Posted by Cindy on October 31, 2012

Oct 312012

Myrtle Alley The Tenderloin This piece is by Meggs. Growing up in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, David ‘Meggs’ Hooke, immersed himself in the worlds of drawing, cartoons, sci-fi films and skateboarding. In 2000, Meggs graduated from University with a Bachelor of Design and soon after became recognized for stencils and poster art on the streets of Melbourne. In 2004, Meggs became a founding member of the renowned Everfresh Studio a respected and unique collective of street artists known for large amounts of collaborative street work and aerosol murals.

Ghost Sign, Or Is It?

Posted by Cindy on October 30, 2012

Oct 302012

SOMA 7th and Brannan Another great mural by the gang at 1AM I spoke with Dan at 1:AM and this is what he had to say about this mural: For “Knowledge is Golden” the inspiration was specific to the area which the mural was done. San Francisco is seeing its second gold rush with information and knowledge being the currency of today. SOMA, being slated to be developed as the new downtown of San Francisco with technology leading the transformation, is why we chose this location for our message. Gold miners have been replaced by tech innovators. Pickaxes and shovels Continue Reading

The Apexer in The Haight

Posted by Cindy on October 29, 2012

Oct 292012

Haight and Masonic * This spot recently held a mural by Lango. This colorful and powerful new mural is by Ricardo Richey, also known as Apex. Ricardo is a street artist who creates colorful abstract patterns through the use of spray paint. Part of the gestalt collective that engages in collaborative murals in San Francisco his work can be found all over town. This video shows the making of the piece.

Lango Updates Jessie Alley

Posted by Cindy on October 28, 2012

Oct 282012

Jessie and 6th SOMA * This piece in Jessie alley off of 6th street is by Lango. It replaced his eagle that you can see here.

Peter Voulkos Hall of Justice

Posted by Cindy on October 27, 2012

Oct 272012

7th and Bryant SOMA Peter Voulkos – (nicknamed)Hall of Justice – 1971 24 X 26 X 11 Feet – Bronze Peter Voulkos (1924–2002), was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his Abstract Expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. Born in Bozeman, Montana, he first studied painting and ceramics at Montana State University (then Montana State College), then earned an MFA degree from the California College of the Arts. He began his career producing functional dinnerware in Bozeman, Montana. In 1953, Voulkos was invited to teach a summer session ceramics course Continue Reading

A beautiful fairy on the side of Harrington’s Pub

Posted by Cindy on October 26, 2012

Oct 262012

A beautiful fairy on the side of Harrington's Pub

Harry Harrington’s Pub The Tenderloin 460 Larkin Street * * This mural on Harry Harrington’s pub is a collaboration Max Ehrman who goes by the name EON75, and English artists Faunagraphic and Rocket01. Faunagraphic currently lives and works in Sheffield, South Yorkshire England, She grew up in Yorkshire, surrounded by rolling countryside in a small town called Todmorden; it is clear where her inspiration came from. Her beautiful and delicate paintings feature birds organic shapes, animals, nature and character with an element of fantasy. Rocket01 grew up in the countryside on the edge of Sheffield, where there was no murals or Continue Reading

Artifact from a Coal Mine

Posted by Cindy on October 25, 2012

Oct 252012

SOMA Third and Townsend Mark Stevens -2007 “Artifact From a Coal Mine,” although the individual pieces have working names of: the ghost, gingerbread man, fire, whale tail and circle Weighing well over 10,000 pounds, these pieces were affixed as public art to the outside of a contemporary brick and concrete condominium building at 177 Townsend at Third Street. Three of the pieces are four stories tall. According to a 10.28.07 SF Gate article by Julian Guthrie: “They evoke a lost world and the uncertainty of climate change,” said artist Mark Stevens.” The pieces – shaped as flames, a ghost, a gingerbread Continue Reading

Creazione by Dimitri Hadzi

Posted by Cindy on October 24, 2012

Oct 242012

Dimitri Hadzi’s Creazione, a bronze sculpture with a spirited sense of movement was inspired by the music of Mozart. Dimitri Hadzi (1921-2006) was born in New York City. As a child he was sent to a Greek after-school program, where he received instruction in Greek language, mythology, history, and theater. His artistic ability won him a drawing prize and his strength in math and science gained him admission to Brooklyn Technical High School. Upon graduating he worked as a chemist by day while continuing to study chemistry by night. On July 4, 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Force and Continue Reading

George Rickey and his Kinetic Sculptures

Posted by Cindy on October 23, 2012

Oct 232012

George Rickey and his Kinetic Sculptures

Sydney Walton Park Two Open Rectangles Eccentric Variation IV Triangle Section by George Rickey 1977 George Rickey has several kinetic sculptures around San Francisco. Rickey (1907-2002) was one of two major 20th-century artists to make movement a central interest in sculpture. Alexander Calder, whose mobiles Mr. Rickey encountered in the 1930’s, was the other. After starting out as a painter, Mr. Rickey began to produce sculptures with moving parts in the early 50’s, but it was not until a decade later that he achieved the kind of simplicity and scale that would make him an important figure in contemporary art. At that Continue Reading

Sirron Norris Paints Calumet

Posted by Cindy on October 22, 2012

Oct 222012

* As you can see, this piece by Sirron Norris is huge. This is what Sirron had to say about the piece before it began. (The scaffolding came down on August 31st). This mural will be funded by Calumet and will be a collaboration with Precita Eyes (www.precitaeyes.org)and the 3.9 art collective (www.threepointninecollective.com). My hope with this project, is to reach out to other artists and arts organizations in my community through collaboration. I also want to inspire my interns and give them one of the biggest challenges in their artistic life. On a personal note: this will be one Continue Reading

A great way to hide unsightly utilities

Posted by Cindy on October 21, 2012

Oct 212012

San Francisco State University Lakeside Flaura by Kevin La This student work is an enclosure for a utility box.The steel constructed sculpture offers a design that fits naturally in the surrounding environment. It is located between Humanities and University Housing buildings. Cities around the world are starting to use utility boxes such as these for public art projects, it would be nice to see more in the city of San Francisco.

A Facelift for Junipero Serra Park

Posted by Cindy on October 20, 2012

Oct 202012

300 Stonecrest Drive Lakeside There are two ceramic tile murals by San Francisco artist Bean Finneran, installed in 2007 at Junipero Serra Playground in San Francisco. The pieces are part of the SFAC Civic art collection and cost $23,000. Employing just two shapes, squares and darts, Bean Finneran varied the color relationships to create two distinct artworks for the new clubhouse. The optical effect of each is strikingly different. On the south wall, facing the playing fields, the 7-foot by 9-foot pattern appears to be vertical stripes, while the north wall’s 7-foot by 8-foot mural becomes a series of oscillating Continue Reading

Sun Spheres on Ocean Avenue

Posted by Cindy on October 19, 2012

Oct 192012

1344 Ocean at Grenada Ingleside/Sunnyside There are three of these mosaic Sun Spheres on Ocean Avenue between Miramar and Grenada. Done by Laura True, they were installed in 2008. The Spheres range in size from 3′ to 5′ in diameter and were commissioned by the SFAC at a cost of $47,500.

Fire, Air, Earth and Water

Posted by Cindy on October 18, 2012

Oct 182012

Helen Willis Park Broadway and Larkin These columns, titled Fire, Air, Earth and Water were done in 2004 by San Francisco resident, Amy Blackstone. Amy has several pieces around the Bay Area. Excerpt from a March 6, 2004 SF Chronicle piece about Amy Blackstone: “I love gardens. To me, especially in an urban setting, a garden is kind of magical and the gateway is kind of a trumpet announcement.” Gates are one of Blackstone’s specialties. These pieces are made with steel, fiberglass and patina. The pipes were donated by Naylor Pipe Company. They were commissioned by the SFAC for Continue Reading

Andrew Furuseth at the Sailors Union of the Pacific Building

Posted by Cindy on October 17, 2012

Oct 172012

Andrew Furuseth at the Sailors Union of the Pacific Building

Sailors Union Building 450 Harrison Andrew Furuseth (1854 – 1938) of Norway was a merchant seaman and an American labor leader. Furuseth was active in the formation of two influential maritime unions: the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific and the International Seamen’s Union, and served as the executive of both for decades. Furuseth was largely responsible for the passage of four reforms that changed the lives of American mariners. Two of them, the Maguire Act of 1895 and the White Act of 1898, ended corporal punishment and abolished imprisonment for deserting a vessel. Furuseth was credited as the key Continue Reading

Harry Lundeberg and San Francisco’s Seafaring History

Posted by Cindy on October 16, 2012

Oct 162012

Harry Lundeberg and San Francisco's Seafaring History

Sailors Union Building 450 Harrison Street Harry Lundeberg was born on March 25, 1901 in Norway, Lundeberg shipped out at the age of fourteen. Many years later, testifying before a Congressional committee in 1955 he described his past with simple precision. “As for my background, I am a sailor. I went to sea for 21 years. I sailed in many different rigs. I have sailed in steamers, passenger ships, sailing ships and any type of rig you can mention. I have sailed under several different nationality flags. I am an American citizen. I am married. I have a family. Continue Reading

Few and Far Paint Clinton Park

Posted by Cindy on October 15, 2012

Oct 152012

As you turn onto Clinton Park from Valencia the first piece you are greeted with is the beauty by Amanda Lynn. Few and Far have covered the walls of Clinton Park to the delight of all that wonder down this very short alley. * * * * * * And a little further down Valencia at Duboce, you will find another by Mags and Amanda Lynn *

Celebrating the UN Charter through Art

Posted by Cindy on October 14, 2012

Oct 142012

Hinckley Walk at Golden Gateway Commons Fountain by Jaques Overhoff Jacques Overhoff has several pieces around San Francisco. Overhoff was born in 1933 in the Netherlands and studied at the Graphics School of Design and the University of Oregon. He moved to San Francisco in the 1950′s.

Henry Moore at 1 Maritime Plaza

Posted by Cindy on October 13, 2012

Oct 132012

1 Maritime Plaza Standing Figure Knife Edged by Henry Moore – 9161 This is an enlarged bone with the addition of a small head. Moore had always been fascinated by bones. “Since my student days I have liked the shape of bones, and have drawn them, studied them in the Natural History Museum, found them on sea-shores and saved them out of the stewpot. There are many structural, and sculptural principles to be learnt from bones, e.g. that in spite of their lightness they have great strength. Some bones, such as the breast bones of birds, have the lightweight fineness Continue Reading

Icosaspirale

Posted by Cindy on October 12, 2012

Oct 122012

1 Maritime Plaza Icosaspirale by Charles Perry – 1967 – 8 feet – Brass This sculpture is constructed of bronze rods brazed together into triangular sections. Those sections were assembled into an Icosahedron shape. Note that each triangle that makes up the Icosahedron is itself a spiral. Hense the name “Icosaspirale Charles O. Perry (1929-2011) was born in Montana. After graduating from Yale, Perry practiced architecture in San Francisco, California with the firm of Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill, from 1958- 1963. During his architectural career he had developed many sculptural models and was offered a one-man sculpture show in San Francisco. Continue Reading

Peacock Fountain at 1 Maritime Plaza

Posted by Cindy on October 11, 2012

Oct 112012

1 Maritime Plaza Embarcadero This Peacock fountain was designed by architect Robert Woodward. Robert Raymond (Bob) Woodward (1923 – 2010) was an Australian architect who gained widespread recognition for his innovative fountain designs. Woodward was educated at Granville Technical Granville and Sydney Technical College.Upon completion of his military service he enrolled in the architecture course at the University of Sydney. After graduating he worked locally for a year and then travelled to Finland to work for architects Alvar Aaltol and Viljo Revell. Upon his return he went into partnership, forming Woodward, Taranto and Wallace, specialising in commercial and industrial architecture. In 1959, Continue Reading

University of Wisdom in the Financial District

Posted by Cindy on October 10, 2012

Oct 102012

University of Wisdom in the Financial District

310 Battery Street Financial District Embarcadero * This piece sits on the other side of the Old Federal Reserve Building from Dionysus and Hermes, also by Armand Arman. The French-born American artist Arman told an interviewer in 1968. “I have never been — how do you say it? A dilettante.” Arman’s vast artistic output ranges from drawings and prints to monumental public sculpture. His work—strongly influenced by Dada, and in turn a strong influence on Pop Art—is in the collections of such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London and the Centre Continue Reading

Albert Paley at 199 New Montgomery

Posted by Cindy on October 9, 2012

Oct 092012

199 New Montgomery SOMA This sculpture, titled Volute, is complemented by two wall sconces, they are all by Albert Paley. Albert Paley, an active artist for over 40 years at his studio in Rochester, New York, is the first metal sculptor to receive the coveted Institute Honors awarded by the American Institute of Architects. Paley received both his BFA and MFA from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Rochester in 1989, the State University of New York at Brockport in 1996, St. Lawrence University, in Canton, New York in 1997, Continue Reading

Light Cannons at the Ferry Building

Posted by Cindy on October 8, 2012

Oct 082012

Ferry Building Plaza Foot of Market at the Embarcadero These two light towers, called Light Cannons, are approximately 65 ft in height. They are located in front of the Ferry Building and serve as the focal point of the Mid-Embarcadero Improvement Project. The towers are a combination of stainless steel, structural steel and cast-in-place concrete. These two ”light cannons” are capable of projecting a pair of column-like shafts of light into the night air. The designer is ROMA Design Group of San Francisco.

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