Frank Marini

 Posted by on August 31, 2013
Aug 312013
 

Marini Plaza
North Beach

Frank Marini

Frank Marini (1862-1952) is mentioned often in Alessandro Baccari’s book, “Saints Peter and Paul: ‘The Italian Cathedral’ of the West, 1884-1984.” Marini was a major civic benefactor, participating in the work of the Salesian groups at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. He was a sponsor of the boys’ club, to help troubled immigrant boys who had little English speaking ability, education or guidance. He was a fundraiser to pay off the debt for building the church and Salesian school. He gave the money to build a gymnasium at St. Francis Church, on Vallejo Street, for the church-sponsored basketball teams.

This statue that stands in a park bearing his name .  According to the Smithsonian the artist was Gladys Nevada Guillici (1862-1952).  The statue was dedicated in 1954.

The plaque reads:

“Frank Marini
1862-1952
Benefactor
A Founder Of The San Francisco Parlor No. 49,
Native Sons Of The Golden West.”

Fire, Air, Earth and Water

 Posted by 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 the Rec and Park Department in the 2006-07 budget for $36,000.

Washington Square – Fireman’s Memorial

 Posted by on June 28, 2012
Jun 282012
 
North Beach
Washington Square
 Firemen Memorial by Haig Patigian
*
 To Commemorate the
Volunteer Fire Department
of San Francisco
1819-1866
Erected 1933
By Bequest of
Lillie Hitchcock Coit.
This sculpture by Haig Patigian  was erected with funds left by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an honorary member of Knickerbocker Volunteer Fire Company No. 5, and was originally meant for Coit Tower. The geodetic survey marker, dating from 1869, was placed there by Dr. George Davidson, for whom Mount Davison was named. In 1937, the latitude and longitude of Washington Square were carved onto the monument.

Three firemen grouped on a circular base, are standing, dressed in uniform. Two have hats on. One firefighter carries a woman in his arms; another holds what appears to be a bullhorn, and the third (behind the other two) holds a firehouse.

This statue was paid for by a portion of the monies left behind by Lillie Hitchcock Coit.

North Beach – Ben Franklin

 Posted by 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 first millionaires. When it was installed here in 1879, a time capsule was placed under the statue. The capsule, which mostly contained objects from Henry Cogswell, was opened in 1979 and replaced with a new one, to be opened in 2079.

Around the base you will find these words, one on each side; Congress, Vichy, Cal Seltzer. These were all famous Mineral Springs in California. Their purpose is to espouse the virtues of regular drinking water, as Mr Cogswell was a staunch temperance advocate.

North Beach- Marini Plaza

 Posted by on November 7, 2011
Nov 072011
 
North Beach
Marini Plaza
These are the bears of Marini Plaza at Powell Street.  It once was a lone corner of Washington Park.   Frank Marini (1862-1952) is mentioned often in Alessandro Baccari’s book, “Saints Peter and Paul: ‘The Italian Cathedral’ of the West, 1884-1984.” Marini was a major civic benefactor, participating in the work of the Salesian groups at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. He was a sponsor of the boys’ club, to help troubled immigrant boys who had little English speaking ability, education or guidance. He was a fundraiser to pay off the debt for building the church and Salesian school. He gave the money to build a gymnasium at St. Francis Church, on Vallejo Street, for the church-sponsored basketball teams.
The bears are gold painted, metal and filled with concrete.  I could find no information on the original sculptor, but after a tree limb fell on the walking bear, and it’s paws were damaged by vandals, it was restored by conservator Genevieve Baird.
This is the pose the Golden Bear has on our California State Flag.
Drinking Man

The other statue in the park is “Drinking Man” by M. Earl Cummings.  Mr. Cummings, who was a Park Commissioner at the time, donated the statue to the city in 1905. The city then paid $1550 to have it cast in bronze.  The model for the piece also posed for St. John the Baptist by Auguste Rodin.

North Beach Swimming Pool

 Posted by on September 21, 2011
Sep 212011
 
North Beach
Swimming Pool and Clubhouse
Lombard and Mason Streets
Artist Vicki Saulls was selected for this site-specific commission through the Arts Commission’s Public Art Program which, by city ordinance, allocates 2% of the construction cost of civic buildings, new parks, and other capital projects for public art.
This is the entry door to the North Beach Clubhouse.  “Locus”  is a sliding sculptural door on the eastern side of the clubhouse adjoining the pool building. The surface of the metallic gray door depicts a stylized topographical map of the North Beach neighborhood. Although no locations are identified on the map, viewers can orient themselves by the familiar waterfront pier formations along the upper right edge of the design. North Beach Pool and Clubhouse are located near the center of the work. The sculpture was fabricated in cold-cast aluminum to the artist’s specifications by Kreysler & Associates, a Bay Area fabricator.
This is what the door looks like overall.  The sign, listing summer restroom hours,  proves that to some it is art, and to others, it is just a door.

The Sentinel Building in North Beach

 Posted by on August 25, 2011
Aug 252011
 
North Beach
Sentinel Building
The Columbus Tower, also known as the Sentinel Building, or to most as Zoetrope sits at the corners of Columbus Avenue, Kearny Street and Jackson Street.   It is a flatiron building with a distinctive copper-green exterior.  Designed by Salfield and Kohlberg the building is clad in white tile and copper. Construction was begun before the 1906 earthquake and fire. The framing survived the disaster, and the building was completed in 1907.  The top floor initially housed the real estate offices of the notorious Abe Ruef, a local political figure who spent time in San Quentin for graft.  The Kingston Trio owned the building and used it as their corporate headquarters during the 1960s.
By the early 1970s the building was falling gradually into a state of mild disrepair. The film director Francis Ford Coppola purchased the building, and renovated it into the building that can be seen today. Coppola then set up his own business in the building American Zoetrope, and it remains there to this day.  The bottom floor is his restaurant Zoetrope, which is what most people see and why most people call it that.
To learn more about the Sentinel Read my article at Untapped Cities

Banksy in San Francisco

 Posted by on August 17, 2011
Aug 172011
 
Banksy in San Francisco
SOMA
8th Street between Folsom and Harrison
Quoting from wikipedia “Banksy is a pseudonymous England based graffiti artist, political activist, film director and painter. His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique. Such artistic works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world.”  ” Banksy’s first film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, billed as “the world’s first street art disaster movie,” made its debut at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.  The film was released in the UK on 5 March 2010.  In January 2011, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary for the film.”
When Banksy started to show up around down it caused quite a store even the S.F. Chronicle got involved.

This is on the corner of Commercial Street and Grant Avenue in Chinatown in San Francisco.  This one is now protected by plexiglass.  I am not sure what that means, street art evolved into high art?  Building owner wants it to remain to bring more people to his stores vicinity?  I am stumped.  The colorful piece was done afterwards by Twick.

If at first you don’t succeed, call an airstrike.  This is at the corner of Broadway and Columbus in North Beach.

error: Content is protected !!