Parkside – Taraval Police Station

 Posted by on December 17, 2011
Dec 172011
 
Parkside - Taraval Police Station

Taraval Police Station 2345 24th Avenue Parkside Neighborhood, San Francisco This gorgeous building is the Taraval Police Station.  It was built in 1924 and designed by Martin Rist.  1996 brought a complete restoration and renovation. This piece is over the door to the community room at the police station.  It is by Scott Donahue.  Scott has a BFA from Philadelphia college of art and an MFA from UC Davis.  He has taught at UC Berkely, UC Davis and California College for the Arts. The piece is titled Kate, Allen, Javier, Ting-Ting, Sloanie and done in 1996 of concrete, fiberglass and Continue Reading

Ocean View Branch Library

 Posted by on December 16, 2011
Dec 162011
 
Ocean View Branch Library

Ocean View Public Library 345 Randolph, San Francisco The front of the Ocean View library is adorned with two marvelous sculptures on either side of the door.  It was done out of cast Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete with integral color. The left panel shows a young tree, with landmarks of the old Oceanview District, some still standing and some now gone, in the background. The artists are husband and wife team Mark Roller and Colette Crutcher.  According to Colette’s website it was made under the auspices of the San Francisco Arts Commission for the new branch library in the Oceanview Continue Reading

CCSF – Up Tight

 Posted by on December 15, 2011
Dec 152011
 
CCSF - Up Tight

Ingleside San Francisco City College Ocean Avenue This is titled Up-Tight #1 by Jaques Overhoff.  Mr. Overhoff has been in this blog before with a piece on SF City College campus.  Up-Tight #1 is painted concrete.  The name was to symbolize the stabilizing effects of the tension cables.  That made absolutely no sense to me until I found an earlier photo of the piece. Obviously some restoration is in order for this piece that was installed in 1977.  

CCSF – Sentinels

 Posted by on December 14, 2011
Dec 142011
 
CCSF - Sentinels

Ingleside San Francisco City College Ocean Avenue Campus * * Sentinels by Aristides Demetrios This one piece is titled Sentinels.  It is by Aristides Demetrios who has been in this site before with his aeolian harp.   This piece of welded bronze plates is titled sentinels and was done in 1973.   The piece is on permanent loan from the SF Arts Commission. In May 2010 the SFAC acknowledge that there was need for a complete conservation assessment as the piece was showing significant corrosion at the seams due to trapped moisture.  It was assumed at that time that the work Continue Reading

SOMA – Large Pieces of Marble

 Posted by on December 12, 2011
Dec 122011
 
SOMA - Large Pieces of Marble

631 Folsom Street SOMA These giant pieces of carrara marble are by Richard Deutsch are titled Frammenti.  Deutsch has been in this site before and I recommend you visit his website.  He is a very accomplished artist with work all over the world. This piece is titled Fragmented.  The day I was there the fountain was not running, but Deutsch’s website has some really gorgeous photos of the fountain while it is working.  

Tenderloin – NBC Radio City Building

 Posted by on December 11, 2011
Dec 112011
 
Tenderloin - NBC Radio City Building

Tenderloin 420 Taylor Street Mural by C.J. Fitzgerald Diane Winters is a tile restoration artist.  She recently emailed me about this mural that she was instrumental in restoring.  I had never seen it before, and was thrilled to get a chance to photograph it and learn a little bit of San Francisco history, I was completely unaware of. The mural sits on the side of a parking garage, little did I know the building also housed Radio City. The NBC Radio City building in San Francisco was not owned by NBC. It was built for NBC and owned by a San Continue Reading

SOMA – Annular Eclipse

 Posted by on December 10, 2011
Dec 102011
 
SOMA - Annular Eclipse

SOMA 560 Mission Street Annular Eclipse George Rickey George Rickey (1907 -2002)  built his career combining fundamental elements of nature and physics in the creation of his sculpture. His works include a broad vocabulary of geometric shapes and multiple devices for moving the elements in his sculpture, such as gimbals, pendulums and rotors.  Ricky constantly experimented with mechanical systems, but as he wrote in 1991, the drama in his sculpture “is in the movement, not the structure.  The means must disappear.” * While I am beginning to find kinetic sculptures over done in the modern landscape, I love the parklet Continue Reading

SOMA – Waterwall

 Posted by on December 9, 2011
Dec 092011
 
SOMA - Waterwall

SOMA 100 First Street 2nd Floor Scattered across downtown San Francisco are almost seventy semi-secret spaces, privately owned but open to the public. Subject to the fine print of a little-known pact between the city and business, these POPOS (Privately Owned Public Open Spaces) allow alluring vistas of San Francisco and access to its intimate interiors.  This little gem is up a flight of exterior stairs off Mission Street. * This black granite and glass piece is titled Waterwall by John Luebtow.  Over the past 30 years, John Luebtow has become one of the most respected names in contemporary glass Continue Reading

Potrero Hill – Snake Mural

 Posted by on December 5, 2011
Dec 052011
 
Potrero Hill - Snake Mural

Potrero Hill 17th and Alabama Sometimes murals catch you, not for their quality but for their whimsy.  Take a look at the close up pictures.  This mural is by Javier Manrique, a multidisciplinary artist who has shown all over the world. This mural is on the wall of Project Artaud where Manrique lives.

The Mission Kid Power Park

 Posted by on December 4, 2011
Dec 042011
 
The Mission Kid Power Park

The Mission District Kid Power Park Hoff between 16th and 17th Ethel Siegel Newlin,program liaison at St. John’s Educational Thresholds Center (now Mission Graduates) on 16th Street, is responsible for this wonderful little oasis in the city. Ten years ago, elementary and middle school children in one of Newlin’s programs surveyed the neighborhood and found liquor stores, dry cleaners and thrift shops, but no parks. The nearest one was at 19th and Valencia. So they went to the Recreation and Park Department’s Open Space Committee to plead their case, and won $200,000. The next year they did the same thing, Continue Reading

The Mission – Kids Power Park

 Posted by on December 3, 2011
Dec 032011
 
The Mission - Kids Power Park

The Mission District Kid Power Park Hoff Between 16th and 17th Our Children       This huge mosaic mural is by Joseph Norris.  Writing about this mural is difficult.  While I love the smiles on these children, and I think the quality of the mosaic is superior, to say nothing of producing a mosaic of this size, the artist is a problem.  Joseph Norris was arrested this June for possessing child pornography. So while I find no point in celebrating the artist, I still feel the mosaics are worth viewing.

Robert Louis Stevenson in Chinatown

 Posted by on December 2, 2011
Dec 022011
 
Robert Louis Stevenson in Chinatown

Chinatown Portsmouth Square San Francisco remembers Robert Louis Stevenson with the first monument to Stevenson in the United States. It sits in Portsmouth Square in Chinatown.  In 1876 Stevenson was at an art colony in France and fell in love Fanny Vandegrift Osbourne, who was not only married with several children, but was 11 years his senior.  In 1878, Fanny was called home by her husband in San Francisco. After a while Fanny telegraphed asking Stevenson to join her and he headed to San Francisco. At the time Stevenson was not the world renown author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped and The Continue Reading

Salinas – Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe Casa

 Posted by on December 1, 2011
Dec 012011
 
Salinas - Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe Casa

Salinas, California The choice of building materials for the early Spanish settlers and Mission builders of California and much of the southwest of the U.S. was adobe.  Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material (sticks, straw, and/or manure), which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for some of the oldest existing buildings in the world. In hot climates, compared with wooden buildings, adobe buildings offer significant Continue Reading

El Camino Real

 Posted by on November 30, 2011
Nov 302011
 
El Camino Real

California Missions The El Camino Real Tomes have been written about the history of the Spanish and the Missions of California.  It was a difficult period in the history of California, fraught with inhumanity, as well as, expansion and progress. Much of California’s history began with the Spanish Missions. The chain of 21 missions along California’s El Camino Real (“The Royal Highway”) represent the first arrival of non-Native Americans to California. Life for the California Native Americans was forever changed. In addition to Christianity and disease, the missions brought livestock, fruits, flowers, grains and industry. If you are interested I suggest Continue Reading

Coalinga – Richfield Gas

 Posted by on November 29, 2011
Nov 292011
 
Coalinga - Richfield Gas

Coalinga Central Valley California If you have ever driven Highway 5 down the center of California you have undoubtedly stopped at Harris Ranch,  a half-way point between the metropolitan areas of northern and southern California.  Just on the other side of the highway is the town of Coalinga. In the early years of railroading, before the extensive development of oil production in California, the steam locomotives were powered by the burning of coal obtained from the northern foothills of Mount Diablo. The Southern Pacific Transportation Company established the site as a coaling station in 1888, and it was called simply Coaling Continue Reading

San Joaquin Valley

 Posted by on November 28, 2011
Nov 282011
 
San Joaquin Valley

Central Valley California I spent my Thanksgiving holiday driving the back roads of the San Joaquin portion of the Central Valley of California.  For those unfamiliar with the area it is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of California. It is home to California’s most productive agricultural efforts. The valley stretches approximately 450 miles from northwest to southeast inland and parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast. Its northern half is referred to as the Sacramento Valley, and its southern half as the San Joaquin Valley. The Central Valley covers an area of approximately 22,500 square miles, making it slightly Continue Reading

Potrero Hill – Umbrellas

 Posted by on November 27, 2011
Nov 272011
 
Potrero Hill - Umbrellas

Potrero Hill 17th and Florida Muybridge Live Benjy Young The photos of these umbrellas have been on my computer for quite a while.  I did not want to post them until I knew who the artist was, and that task proved elusive.  However, today was one of those days that make it all worth while.  I went back to the umbrellas, as you will be able to tell by the varying sky and took a few more shots.  I also took the time to start knocking on doors and asking who was the creator of this whimsical, wonderful installation.  Well, Continue Reading

100 Children

 Posted by on November 26, 2011
Nov 262011
 
100 Children

Chinatown 740 Washington Street 100 Children by Leland Wong This mural is part of the Art in Storefronts project sponsored by the San Francisco Arts Commission.  Leland Wongs  Bai Zi Tu, or 100 children is a traditional Chinese painting, that brings blessing of a complete and healthy family that goes on for generations. Leland, a native of Chinatown, began with what he called “Chinatown” orange, and then photographed 100 children from two schools in the Chinatown neighborhood. * The arts commission gives each artist $500, Leland knew this was going to cost considerably more, so he left his comfort zone Continue Reading

Portmouth Square Tot Park

 Posted by on November 25, 2011
Nov 252011
 
Portmouth Square Tot Park

Chinatown Portsmouth Square Tot Park Untitled by Mary Fuller McChesney and Robert McChesney In researching the artists I found this 2002 article in the San Francisco Chronicle by M. V. Wood.  I loved it so much I thought I would just reproduce it here for all to enjoy. They were hip.   They were young and beautiful. And they were both artists living in San Francisco in the 1940s, when the city was already romantic, and the cars and tourists were still scarce. Their crowd ruled the scene long before the Beats bought their bongos. They were the countercultural kings when Jerry Garcia Continue Reading

Japantown – Origami Fountains

 Posted by on November 24, 2011
Nov 242011
 
Japantown - Origami Fountains

Japantown These are two of my most favorite fountains in San Francisco.  They are by Ruth Asawa and they reside in the Nihomachi Pedestrian Mall in Japantown. Nihomachi is a term used to designate an historical Japanese community.  Ruth Asawa has been in the site before, and her website shows the wonderful work she does with wire and other media. In 1974, Asawa created the Origami Fountains, two lotus, fabricated in corten steel. By 1996, the steel had seriously deteriorated and the fountains had to be removed.   Due to the communities love for Ruth, it was easy to mount support Continue Reading

The Embarcadero – Rincon Annex Murals

 Posted by on November 23, 2011
Nov 232011
 
The Embarcadero - Rincon Annex Murals

The Embarcadero Rincon Annex 98 Howard Street Panel #17 Panel #17. “Vigilante Justice Vigilance committees formed during the 1850’s in San Francisco to counteract excessive criminality and a weak city government. These committees handed down verdicts on their own terms. Vigilante justice was also popular in mining towns. This panel depicts vigilante actions in 1856 that resulted from the murder of newspaper editor James King of William by county supervisor James P. Casey. Casey was convicted and hanged at the same moment King of William was being buried” Panel #20 Panel #20. “San Francisco as a cultural center The famous Continue Reading

The Embarcadero – Rincon Annex Murals

 Posted by on November 21, 2011
Nov 212011
 
The Embarcadero - Rincon Annex Murals

The Embaradero Rincon Annex 98 Howard Street Panel #10 Panel #10. “Raising the Bear Flag The Bear Flag revolt established the Republic of California, one month before the United States won the territory in the Mexican War. John Charles Fremont was a prime force in instigating the revolt and William B. Ide became president of the short- lived republic. The original Bear Flag, designed by William C. Todd, flew over Sonoma for a brief time. The piece of white cloth seen lying on the ground was originally the Mexican flag. Because some people thought this was disrespectful Refregier painted it Continue Reading

Rincon Annex Murals

 Posted by on November 20, 2011
Nov 202011
 
Rincon Annex Murals

The Embarcadero Rincon Annex 98 Howard Street Panel #3 The murals in the Rincon Annex Post Office, have lived a long and very controversial life.  In 1941 the WPA held a competition for the murals, it was won by Anton Refregier.  He began work immediately and kept at it until they were finished in 1948, with a two year break during the war.  He was paid $26,000 for the job, the largest job ever given by the WPA in the painting/sculpture arena. The twenty-seven murals (29 panels) are actually casein-tempra (a process of painting in which pigments are mixed with Continue Reading

Rincon Center Rain Column

 Posted by on November 19, 2011
Nov 192011
 
Rincon Center Rain Column

The Embarcadero Rincon Annex Post Office 98 Howard Street The word “rincon” means “inside corner” in Spanish. In 1939, architect Gilbert S. Underwood, most famously known for his design of the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite, designed this Art Deco-Moderne structure for the United States Post Office.   In the 1980s the building was put up for development by the USPS.  A 23-story mixed-use building was added on the south side of the block that contains a new post office, offices, and 320 apartments.  During excavation, a number of artifacts from the long forgotten saloons, boarding houses and laundries, of the Continue Reading

The Embarcadero – History of our Street Names

 Posted by on November 15, 2011
Nov 152011
 
The Embarcadero - History of our Street Names

The Embarcadero Looking Down and Learning History Archetypical Gold Rush San Franciscan, Sam Brannan was first in many achievements.  He arrived in Yerba Buena by sea in 1846, leading two hundred Mormon pioneers, and founding the city’s first newspaper.  He rode through the streets of San Francisco in 1848, announcing the discovery of gold for all to hear.  In 1851, he inspired the vigilantes to take the law into their own hands and restore order to a chaotic city.  The first California millionaire, he spent his fortune in building Calistoga as a health resort and lost it all.  He died Continue Reading

Embarcadero – History of Street Names

 Posted by on November 13, 2011
Nov 132011
 
Embarcadero - History of Street Names

The Embarcadero Continuing on our journey of “Looking Down” Quartermaster’s clerk of the Stevenson Regiment of First New York Volunteers, Edward H. Harrison came from an obscure post to occupy a respectable role in the nascent civic affairs of San Francisco, becoming Port Collector in 1848 before returning to the East in 1850.  Harrison typified the ordinary men of the Stevenson Regiment, recruited from the Irish mechanics of New York, who arrived in California too late in 1847 to effect the course of the War with Mexico, but stayed to rise to prominence in the state. “And when the Future Continue Reading

Embarcadero – History of Street Names

 Posted by on November 12, 2011
Nov 122011
 
Embarcadero - History of Street Names

The Embarcadero Continuing to look down.  Vallejo Street These four are so badly worn, but this is what General Vallejo looked like It reads: Soldier, land-owner and diplomat, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo started life as the son of a Spanish soldier, and rose from cadet to Commandante of Monterey.  From there he assumed command of the Presidio of Yerba Buena and later was made General of all Northern Forces in California.  Founder of Sonoma, Vallejo, and Benicia.  Vallejo became the most influential Californian in the decade leading to the American conquest.  Early on General Vallejo clearly foresaw the fate of Continue Reading

Embarcadero – History of Street Names

 Posted by on November 11, 2011
Nov 112011
 
Embarcadero - History of Street Names

The Embarcadero When this is the view from the Embarcadero it is hard to look down at your feet.  If you do however, you will find some fascinating little historical tidbits.  I searched everywhere to see what organization is responsible for the following and I found nothing.  But welcome to a bit of San Francisco history.The Embarcadero runs along the waterfront.  The streets that we will be looking at run down to the Embarcadero.  These signs are all on the city side of the Embarcadero where the streets end. It reads: In February of 1853 the United States Topographical Engineers Continue Reading

North Beach – Art at the corner of Broadway, Grant and Columbus

 Posted by on November 9, 2011
Nov 092011
 
North Beach - Art at the corner of Broadway, Grant and Columbus

North Beach Bill Weber is the muralist on this project, and according to his website he is an established Bay Area muralist and painter and has been creating murals nationwide since 1974. His style ranges from surreal to Trompe l’Oeil, whimsical to realistic and can be adapted to any project requirements. Language of the Birds by Brian Goggins Brian has written so eloquently about his project that I am just going to quote directly from his blog. Historically “The Language of the Birds” was considered a divine language birds used to communicate with the initiated. Here, a flock of books Continue Reading

Pacific Coast Stock Exchange

 Posted by on November 8, 2011
Nov 082011
 
Pacific Coast Stock Exchange

Financial District Pacific Coast Stock Exchange The Pacific Stock Exchange began life as a classical U.S. Treasury building, then in the 1930’s, Timothy Pflueger was hired to turn it into the Stock Exchange.  He was growing weary of classicism but was instructed that the granite stairs and the ten Tuscan columns had to remain.  The building was essentially torn town, leaving the front we see today.  Then Pflueger met Ralph Stackpole, and a wonderful working relationship was formed. Stackpole created the medallions on the entablature, as well as the two gorgeous art deco statues that grace the sides of the Continue Reading

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