Public Art and Architecture from Around the World

Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower Murals

Posted by Cindy on June 3, 2012

Jun 032012

Telegraph Hill Coit Tower WPA Murals * The California Agriculture Industry by Gordon Langdon The dairy business is represented in this mural as well as several of the artists friends. Gordon Langdon was assisted by Helen Clement Mills on this mural. Fellow artist Fred Olmsted and his assistant Tom Hayes Fellow artist John Langley Howard holding a pitchfork * Fellow artist Lucien Labaudt showering a cow Gordon Langdon did not stay long on the Coit Tower project. His friends remembered him as a “handsome young man”. His other murals in San Francisco include Modern and Ancient Science over the main Continue Reading

Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower

Posted by Cindy on June 2, 2012

Jun 022012

Telegraph Hill Coit Tower WPA Murals * * * * This mural is titled California and is by Maxine Albro. A wonderful depiction of the bounty of the California agricultural industry from Mt. Shasta Almond Orchards to Napa Valley grapes. * * The “gentlemen farmers” are actually the artists friends. Ralph Stackpole is in the checkered shirt and Albro’s husband, and fellow artist Parker Hall is by the tray of apricots. The NRA (National Recovery Act) eagle is found on the ends of the lugs of oranges. The NRA was the primary New Deal agency established by U.S. president Franklin Continue Reading

Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower

Posted by Cindy on June 1, 2012

Jun 012012

Telegraph Hill Coit Tower WPA Murals The little seated boy looks at a book whose page shows the date of Coit Tower (1933) and the date of the WPA projects at Coit Tower (1934). * Animal Force by Ray Boynton These are the first frescoes that one sees when entering Coit Tower. Boynton chose to portray animal power in Agriculture. As often occurred he included fellow artist Gordon Langdon leaning on a horse. Ray Boynton was an Iowan, after studying art in Chicago he came to California to become the first California Fresco artist. His first project appeared in a Los Continue Reading

Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower Murals

Posted by Cindy on May 31, 2012

May 312012

Telegraph Hill Coit Tower WPA Murals * This law library has some interesting book titles when one looks closely. There are the usual Civil, Penal and Moral Codes, but also the Law of Fresco Painting, Counterfeiting, and Laws on Seduction. A fun one is Martial Law by Brady, he was the VFW caretaker who watched over the project and lived in the Tower’s apartment. The man on the left with the pipe is thought to be, patron of the arts, William Gerstle. The Stock Exchange. Notice the downward movements of the market. Federal Reserve Bank. It is thought that the Continue Reading

Telegraph Hill -Coit Tower Murals

Posted by Cindy on May 30, 2012

May 302012

Telegraph Hill Coit Tower WPA Murals * * This is the beginning of a series on the WPA murals of Coit Tower. When the Great Depression hit, like everyone, artists were not finding work. George Biddle, a prominent lawyer turned successful artist, a member of a socially prominent family from Philadelphia, and most importantly, a Groton and Harvard classmate of Franklin Roosevelt, went to the President with an idea. He suggested that America hire American artists to paint murals depicting the social ideals of the new administration as well as the American way of life, on the walls of public Continue Reading

Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower

Posted by Cindy on May 29, 2012

May 292012

Telegraph Hill Coit Tower To understand Coit Tower you must first understand Lillie Hitchcock Coit. A nice tale is told here from the Virtual San Francisco History Museum written by: By Frederick J. Bowlen, Battalion Chief, San Francisco Fire Department. One of the most unusual personalities ever connected with our Fire Department was a woman. She was Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who was destined not only to become a legend but to attain that eminence long before her life ended. She came to this city in 1851 from West Point, where her father had been an army doctor. Seven years later, when only 15 Continue Reading

Lands End – USS San Francisco Memorial

Posted by Cindy on May 28, 2012

May 282012

Lands End 48th Avenue Parking Lot In 1942 the cruiser USS San Francisco attacked a vastly superior Japanese force off the coast of Guadalcanal. It was the most brutal close-quarters naval engagement of World War II. The San Francisco took some 45 direct hits and sustained heavy damage while sinking one Japanese ship and seriously damaging two others (including a battleship). One hundred and six sailors, including Rear Admiral Daniel Callaghan, were killed and 131 more wounded. Despite it all, the San Francisco safely made it back to port. This savage battle is commemorated by an unusual memorial in Land’s Continue Reading

The Fillmore Center – Hard Bop

Posted by Cindy on May 27, 2012

May 272012

The Fillmore Center Western Addition * Hard Bop by John Atkin Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or “bop”) music. Hard bop incorporates influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano playing. In 1942, during World War II, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which relocated all interned people of Japanese origin to internment camps throughout western United States. The vacant homes in the Fillmore attracted African Americans migrating northward to work in the shipyards, as well as musicians, and artists. Soon, many nightclubs (the likes Continue Reading

Fort Mason – Wind Arrows

Posted by Cindy on May 26, 2012

May 262012

* * Sailboat wind indicators mounted at on 3-foot intervals on a flagpole at the east end of Fort Mason illustrate how the laminar flow of wind changes with the height. This variation is often more complex and dramatic than expected. Along the San Francisco shoreline, for example, the difference of only 20 feet in altitude may mean a 90 degree difference in the wind direction. This is part of the Outdoor Exploratorium. It was created in partnership with GGNR (Golden Gate Recreation Area) and the Fort Mason Center. The interactive exhibits are designed to help visitors notice the subtle Continue Reading

Performing Arts Parking Garage – Dancing in the Curve of the World

Posted by Cindy on May 25, 2012

May 252012

Performing Arts Parking Garage - Dancing in the Curve of the World

Civic Center Performing Arts Garage Gough and Grove Streets * Dancing in the Curve of the World by Josef Norris Josef Norris is responsible for the murals at Kid Power Park. This piece, done in 2003 was paid for by the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Cultural Equity Fund and the Neighborhood Beautification Fund.

Western Addition – Blues Revolution Part II

Posted by Cindy on May 24, 2012

May 242012

Western Addition - Blues Revolution Part II

The Western Addition Post and Steiner Hamilton Pool and Rec Center * * * The Blues Revolution Part II by Santie Huckaby This is Part II of the Blues Revolution. You can see Part I here. Santie Huckaby was born in Ohio, and has spent 40 years in San Francisco working as a professional musician, sign painter and muralist. Included in his resume is the Rosa Parks mural, (at the Rosa Parks Elementary School in San Francisco) which was awarded best mural of 1997. He is currently an artist in residence at Hunter’s Point Shipyard, artist in residence at the Continue Reading

Christopher Columbus

Posted by Cindy on May 23, 2012

May 232012

Coit Tower Telegraph Hill * * Columbus by Vittorio Di Colbertaldo – 1957 This statue of Christopher Columbus sits in the center of the parking lot for Coit Tower. The figure of Columbus, the famous Italian explorer, gazes out over San Francisco Bay standing on a concrete pedestal in the center of a circular flower bed, bordered by a marble ring. Dedicated on October 12, 1957, the newspapers of the time recorded that “Singers, sailors from American and Italian navies, and spectators stood in reverent silence as 12-foot statue of Christopher Columbus is unveiled today on Telegraph Hill. The sculpture Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 22, 2012

May 222012

Fort Mason SEAT Exhibition Notice the QR code on the front Biked by Eddy Joaquim “Biked is a hybrid seat/bike rack with QR codes leading to bicycling maps of the area.” Eddie Joaquim is a product of the many countries he has lived in. An photographer with an architectural background he is a very unique individual. QR Code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and large storage Continue Reading

Western Addition – The Blues Evolution

Posted by Cindy on May 21, 2012

May 212012

The Western Addition Post and Steiner Hamilton Pool and Rec Center * * * * The Blues Evolution by Santie Huckaby Part I Sponsored by the Blues R&B Foundation. The Blues and R&B Foundation has this to say about the mural. We’ve received a lot of wonderful comments and support from the community concerning our mural. What has particularly stood out to us is the way it affects the youth that pass by all of the time, they look and ask questions. We’re on first name basis with many students that pass by. The mural represents unity and strength of accomplishments Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 20, 2012

May 202012

Fort Mason SEAT Exhibition * * Cirrus by Jeremy Alden “Through use of materials and form Cirrus investigates and celebrates dualities: of earth and sky, power and beauty, time and change.” J Alden Design is dedicated to provocative product, ceramic and furniture design with work ranging from mass-produced products to commissioned pieces for private and public collections.

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 19, 2012

May 192012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition * * Listen to Jimmy 1953 by Seam Studio “The year is 1953…the place Fort Mason: U.S. Army Port-of Embarkation (1909-1962). Take A SEAT on the footlockers of WWI/WWII/Korean-War soldiers…SIT on transport boxes for goods+ammo…imagine yourself here listening to 1940s/1950s music assigning vocal memory of the once bustling military activity deploying hundreds of Jimmy’s loaded with supplies. SEAM studios is headed by Topher Delaney, world renowned Landscape Designer. It is Seam Studios that is responsible for coordinating, and putting on this amazing event.

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 18, 2012

May 182012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition * * Life in a Small Place by Paul Zengyu Discoe “Life in a Small Place is a concrete box with trees growing out of its top. These trees will grow and change as the chair ages and blends with its legs.” Founded in 1988, Joinery Structures is a design-build studio and mill specializing in custom projects that integrate sustainable wood practices, innovative design, and precision craftsmanship. Founder and principal, Paul Discoe, is a renowned Japanese master builder and Zen Buddhist teacher. Paul studied architecture as a Buddhist temple builder in Kyoto, Japan for five years Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 17, 2012

May 172012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition * Seat 8 by Joel Cammarata “Serpentine bike rack conforms to the existing loading dock providing seating and tables for public interaction.” According to Joel Cammarata’s Etsy site: I am an architecturally trained designer, woodworker, father, and husband using small amount of spare time and garage space to create pieces of furniture, accessories and other objects in the hopes of making extra money to pay for preschool for another month.

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 16, 2012

May 162012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition * Sent Forth by ARUP + Jefferson Mack Metal “A stranded time ship plays centuries of soundscapes revealing histories of the area”. Sent Forth is conceived as a time-travelling airship which has been collecting audio recordings of San Francisco across the centuries. Recently, the airship has become stuck at Fort Mason Center. As it attempts to revive itself, visitors will hear fragments of collected soundscapes revealing histories of the area, both composed by the malfunctioning ship and influenced by the surrounding environment. The piece includes a unique ‘Solid-Drive’ sound system which relies on the shape and Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 15, 2012

May 152012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition * Band of Brothers by Malcolm Davis “A trio of salvaged eucalyptus trunks stand together facing the bay As sentinels, they reference the function of this site since the Spanish military in the 1700s”. Malcom Davis (Architecture) is a Bay Area native with an intimate understanding of its regional building styles and climates. Educated at UC Berkeley, his strong appreciation of the craft of building goes hand in hand with thoughtful stewardship of resources. He takes pride in creative problem solving through simple, elegant solutions. Employing a timeless vocabulary and a restrained palette.

The Tenderloin – We Rock Hardest

Posted by Cindy on May 14, 2012

May 142012

Polk and Eddy Civic Center/Tenderloin Englishman Ben Eine has many murals around San Francisco. Here is a video of the installation: The piece was done to launch his gallery exhibit at White Walls Gallery. They did a marvelous interview with him that you can read here.

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 13, 2012

May 132012

Fort Mason SEAT Exhibition Asana by Christine and James Desser “This Asana, “seat” in Sanskrit, like a big river rock, offers a comfortable pause for meditation, contemplation or to simply notice what is: the sea, the sky, the air, the sounds, whatever is arising in this very moment.”

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 12, 2012

May 122012

Fort Mason SEAT Exhibition * The James Caird by Lawrence LaBianca and Robert Buckenmeyer “Bravery and courage saved the open boat journey of Ernest Shackleton and five companions” The voyage of the James Caird was an open boat journey from Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands to South Georgia in the southern Atlantic Ocean, a distance of 800 nautical miles. Undertaken by Sir Ernest Shackleton and five companions, its objective was to obtain rescue for the main body of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–17, trapped on Elephant Island after the loss of its ship Endurance. History has come Continue Reading

Chinatown’s Gateway Arch

Posted by Cindy on May 11, 2012

May 112012

* * * Arguably one of the most photographed sites in San Francisco is the Gateway Arch (Dragon Gate) on Grant Avenue at Bush Street marking the entry to Chinatown, dedicated on October 18th 1970. This gate is the only authentic Chinatown Gate in North America. Unlike similar structures which usually stand on wooden pillars, this iconic symbol conforms to Chinese gateway standards using stone from base to top and green-tiled roofs in addition to wood as basic building materials. The gate is based on the ceremonial gates that can be found in Chinese villages, called paifang. The gate is Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 10, 2012

May 102012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition * Case Study #22: Arboreal Thrones by Kristen Franz A pair of chairs combines site specific lumber and repurposed old chairs, highlighting the juxtaposition of natural and manmade elements. Kristen has a degree from UC Berkeley, B.A. in Environmental Design

North Beach – Ben Franklin

Posted by Cindy on May 9, 2012

May 092012

North Beach Washington Square * Time Capsule 1979-2979 AD Dedicated to The Citzens of San Francisco Cal Seltzer * * Benjamin Franklin – Artist – unknown This statue of Benjamin Franklin is the earliest – still existing – monument placed in San Francisco. It was originally located at Kearny and Market, but was moved to its present location in 1904. The statue is cast iron and sits atop a granite pedestal. The statue was donated to the city by Henry Cogswell, a dentist whose investments in stocks and real estate during the gold rush made him one of the city’s Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 8, 2012

May 082012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition * Last Flight by Bicycle Fabrications “Takes it shape and dimensions from the Saqqara bird, an ancient Egyptian artifact that demonstrates an advanced understanding of aerodynamics” The Saqqara Bird is a bird-shaped artifact made of sycamore wood, discovered during the 1898 excavation of the Pa-di-Imen tomb in Saqqara, Egypt. It has been dated to approximately 200 BCE, and is now housed in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo. The Saqqara Bird has a wingspan of 7.1 inches and weighs 1.380 ounces. Its function is not understood because of a lack of period documentation. This installation Continue Reading

San Francisco – Hugh Leeman

Posted by Cindy on May 7, 2012

May 072012

All Over Town Hugh Leeman is an amazing individual. This is taken directly from an article in The Bold Italic. “His tiny studio is a mess of paints, a collection of floor-to-ceiling portraits, and a charcoal-covered MacBook. With no kitchen or bed in sight, I get the sense he’s focused solely on his mission: photographing, painting, and wheat-pasting the faces of the Tenderloin up around the city. They’ve become his friends, his subjects, and his business partners. Hugh is quite a character himself. At 18, he grabbed his backpack and traveled the world, hopping trains to see as much as Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 6, 2012

May 062012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibition SToP by Cary Bernstein * * “SToP celebrates the decommissioning of Fort Mason – Swords to Ploughshares.” Cary Bernstein graduated from Dartmouth College in 1984 with a B.A. in Philosophy and Russian Literature. She received an M.Arch. from the Yale School of Architecture in 1988. The office of Cary Bernstein Architect is committed to progressive design resulting from thoughtful planning, focused attention to detail and the highest construction standards. Each project is developed in response to the unique combination of client, site and budget without the imposition of a preconceived style or solution. In addition Continue Reading

Fort Mason – SEATS

Posted by Cindy on May 5, 2012

May 052012

Fort Mason SEATS Exhibit JW4 by J. Weiss Design “In WWI & WWII, concrete ship building was pioneered in Oakland. Our dry docked SEAT uses a new high-performing concrete that allows for greater, thinner spans.” Jennifer Weiss has over 18 years of architecture-related experience, including working for the architecture firms Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, KMD Architects, and Levy Design Partners, as well as for the General Contractor Ryan Associates as a construction Project Manager. She earned a Master of Architecture from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in both Architecture and Art History from Columbia University. Ms. Weiss also Continue Reading

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