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.
Asana by Christine and James Desser
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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 to consider the James Caird’s voyage as one of the greatest open boat journeys ever accomplished.
Lawrence LaBianca is a New York City-born sculptor who now makes his home in San Francisco, where he shows with Sculptueresite Gallery. Lawrence creates metal, ceramic, wood, and glass objects and tool-forms that explore our relationship with nature through attention to craft, form, physicality, and the fluidity of the boundaries between these ideals. His work is both abstract and narrative, as the materials with which he works assume new and idiosyncratic identities.
Lawrence holds an MFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts, where he is currently a lecturer in interior architecture.
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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 adorned with sculptures of fish and dragons and is flanked by two large lion statues or fou lions, which are meant to thwart evil-spirits. The gate has three passageways. The large, central one is meant for dignitaries while the two smaller passageways are meant for the common people. Taiwan provided materials for the gate, but the design is by Chinese-American architect Clayton Lee, whose design apparently won a contest in the late 1960s. The two-tiered, pagoda-style structure was built according to principles of feng shui, which dictate (among other things) that a city’s grandest gate must face south, and — though somewhat dwarfed by the larger buildings around it — that it does. A wooden plaque hangs from the central archway, on which stand gilded characters rendering a quote from the “Father of Modern China”, the revered revolutionary leader (and one-time Chinatown resident) Dr. Sun Yat Sen:
“ALL UNDER HEAVEN IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE”
In China, the lion is regarded as the king of the forests and of the other animals. It has thus long been
used as a symbol of power and grandeur. It is even believed to offer protection from evil spirits. That is
why imposing statues of lions were placed at the gates of imperial palaces, official residences, temples and
tombs. Incense burners and imperial seals were also often decorated with carved lions.
Usually a male lion is on the left with the right paw on a ball – the symbol of unity of the Chinese empire –
and a female lion on the right with a cub under the left paw – a symbol of offspring. Another explanation is that the male is guarding the structure and the female protects those dwelling inside the building.
Time Capsule
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.
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Last Flight by Bicycle Fabrications
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 he could. Three years later, he was in the Tenderloin for a six-month stopover. He’s not quite sure why he never left. Inspired by the work that Shepard Fairey and others were doing at the time with wallpaper glue from the hardware store, a world of possibilities exploded in his mind. This self-taught artist had found his medium.”
If you are interested in reading more about the people that Hugh Leeman paints the article is fascinating. Or even easier, watch the video.
Hugh Leeman from Agency Charlie on Vimeo.
“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 to the promotion of architectural excellence, we offer exceptional service to our clients through all phases of design and construction.
Swords to ploughshares (or swords to plowshares) is a concept in which military weapons or technologies are converted for peaceful civilian applications.
The phrase originates from the Book of Isaiah, who prophesies of a future where there will be peace amongst all humankind:
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
The advent of air transportation in the post-war era made Fort Mason obsolete for military use. In the 1960s, the Department of Defense closed the port and eventually decommissioned all of Fort Mason.
The future of Fort Mason, and other former military sites, was the focus of lively debate at the local and national level. In the early 1970s, under the leadership of Congressman Phillip Burton to protect historic sites and make national parks more accessible, Congress established the first urban national park, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), which includes Fort Mason Center.
Fort Mason Center, a nonprofit organization, partnered with the GGNRA and opened in 1977.
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 studied Architecture and Art History for one year in Paris, France through Columbia University. She has been a member of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Alumni Council, and has been admitted to the American Institute of Architects as an Associate.
The type of concrete used in this seat is Ductal. Ductal is a proprietary pre-mixed ultra-high performance concrete whose physical characteristics exceed those of common concrete used in the construction of buildings. It is manufactured by Lafarge and Bouygues. Ductal has high compressive strength and flexural resistance compared to other concretes. It also has high durability, abrasion resistance, and chemical/environmental resistances (e.g. freeze and thaw, salt water, etc.). Due to these properties, Ductal can be used in thinner cross-sections and in more varied applications than common concrete. Ductal is almost self placing and is best suited for precast elements or in-situ repair or upgrade works. The constituents of Ductal are cement, fine sand, silica fume and silica flour as a filler, additive and water, using a low water cement ratio and may include high-strength steel fibres or non-metallic fibres.
Untitled by Anthony J. SmithThis abstract sculpture is a sphere held up by a pair of large hands. Set in niches around the surface of the sphere are fourteen life masks of people who live in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. The artist’s face and the face of Father Boedekker are also included in the sculpture. The bronze sculpture stands on a low, circular concrete base.
This photo was taken through a fence. Boeddeker park is in one of the most crime ridden areas of San Francisco. The park is not open on the weekends and has very limited hours during the week. There are 3 other sculptures in the park
Father Boeddeker was a Franciscan Priest that started St. Anthony’s Dining Room nearby.
This piece is owned by the San Francisco Arts Commission. It cost $20,000 and was dedicated on the first anniversary of the park: May 16, 1986.
UPDATE 2013 – As of July the park has been completely razed. A new park design addresses community concerns, including improved safety, active and passive recreation opportunities for all ages, and beautification elements. The renovation will replace aging play equipment that is inaccessible and noncompliant with the Americans with Disability Act, a clubhouse with significant visibility issues, and a major lack of green space. The new park will also feature a full-size basketball court, play area, fitness equipment, new large lawn, seating areas, gardening beds and a brand new clubhouse.
Construction is expected to last approximately 18 months.
As I find word of what is to happen to the art I will keep this site updated.
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Flotsam by David Allen“A transient, contemporary ruin that stimulates the contemplation of forlorn beauty, time, weather, decay and distant shores.”
Again, an explanation for those not up on marine vocabulary, flotsam is the wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on or washed up by the sea. Just in case you were wondering Jetsam is unwanted material or goods that have been thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore.
David runs Artefact in Sonoma, California. At Artefact you’ll find rare antique architectural pieces, decorative objects crafted from salvage, large-scale organic forms and exclusive home décor products. Our offerings include antique furniture, lighting, mirrors, teak outdoor furniture, garden ornaments and sculpture. We produce our own collection of unique gift items and unusual home decorations. We personally travel and gather decorative accessories from the US, Europe and Asia. Closer to home, we include in our collection carefully selected sculpture and paintings from prominent local artists, commissioned pieces and a growing range of pieces designed by founder Dave Allen.
Artefact sits on the edge of Cornerstone Gardens.
Cornerstone Gardens is an ever-changing series of walk-through gardens, showcasing new and innovative designs from the world’s finest landscape architects and designers. The first such gallery-style gardens in the United States.
The nine-acre gardens were inspired by the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire in France, Cornerstone Gardens aims to create a cultural and creative haven, celebrating the connection between art, architecture and nature. The gardens contribute to the art, philosophy and future of garden design; they focus on themes and ideas, establishing or uncovering new directions in garden design and art. Continually in a state of evolution, some garden installations will be in place for a season, while others will remain for several seasons.
23 in Binary Code
23 in Roman Numerals
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Mission 23 by Rigo23 – 2003Mission 23 is a multi-part mosaic tile art piece embedded in the north-east and south-west sidewalks of Mission Street at 23rd Street. On each one of the white squares is a sentence painted in green that provides a fact about the number 23. Each of the large rectangles is a graphic symbol of the number 23, in white against a green background, to mimic a standard street sign, all of 1-inch mosaic tile.
The number 23 holds a special significance for the artist known at the time as Rigo 2002. In addition to being the number of the street where his artwork is located, it is also the street number of his studio and the age at which he moved to the United States.
Rigo noted the importance of the number 23 in natural systems and these facts formed the basis of the four sentences, rendered in English and Spanish, in the sidewalk: “A healthy human being gets 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 from the father.” “The planet earth spins at a 23 degree angle from its north/south axis.” “The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are roughly 23 degrees north and south of the Equator.” “The number 23 is only divided by itself or one.” The number 23 is described in the giant mosaic as symbols in the six large rectangles. They are shown as Binary code (10111), 23 dots, Roman Numerals, cursive, cross-hatching, and as “= + =” .
Rigo has work all over san francisco.
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Rigo’s work sits on both sides of Mission at 23rd. This is the north-east side of the street. I find it appalling that the City of San Francisco’s Art Commission can not at least maintain what art they do know they have. They know of this damage as they have noted that fact on their web page where I found a description of the piece.
This first photo below is upside down because a garbage can is sitting where I would have like to have stood to take the photograph. It also explains why it is so filthy. The others are so badly damaged as to either be missing or completely illegible.
As a huge fan of Rigo23, I find it a shame that this work has been allowed to fall into such complete disrepair.
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Fender Bender Bench by JC Miller
This mural is by Twick of ICP Crew who had a mural in SOMA that has since been painted over and another one around a Banksy in Chinatown.
According to his Facebook page: “Twick” is a SF Hip Hop urban legend with many ranks like a general. He is one of the most respected figures shaping the Bay Area graffiti movement from the 80’s to present day. At the age of twelve Francisco (his real name) was inspired by the Chicano writing that decorated the walls of the Mission and his neighborhood. During this time he was introduced to his passion graffiti art. He is a self-taught artist who has been painting the art ever since it arrived in the Bay Area in the early 80’s. With 26 years of experience he uses Graffiti art as a positive tool. With his enduring passion evident through his everyday endeavors, Twick helps to break graffiti’s negative perception by transforming it to be looked upon as imaginative and inspirational works of contemporary art. He is a pioneer of hope and optimism painting murals with powerful images and full of culture. With the Mission and SOMA district walls as his canvas and his efforts to empower the local youth, Twick is dedicated to giving back to the community that raised him. In 2004 Precita Eyes gave him the opportunity to teach a graffiti mural class, Honored and inspired has been teaching youth workshops ever since.
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The Eel: Eliciting Ethereal Light by VeeV DesignThe eel explores relationships between physical environment and human sensation. Traversing the spectrum from corporeal to ethereal, the eel responds to external stimuli by emitting both heat and light with ranges of color intensity. The eel is clearly solid matter. Yet – at times – it appears intangible and diffuse.
According to their vast, and fascinating website: Raveevarn began her design education in Bangkok, Thailand, at Chulalongkorn University. She continued her graduate studies in both Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Raveevarn received The Arthur Wheelwright Traveling Fellowship Award from Harvard University in 1996 and the LEF Foundation Grant in 1999.
Raveevarn is now an Associate Professor in Architecture Design at University of California at Berkeley. She is also a visiting professor and serves as a design critic at numerous academic institutions both in the States and abroad. Most recently, she holds a visiting professorship at University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Both of her design and academic work have been exhibited and published widely in the US and abroad.
The sculpture lights up, and in that context the title makes considerably more sense. To see pictures of the sculpture in the night go here.
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Moor by Russell Baldon“Simple chairs-fastened but movable-the same situation as the ships that once used the bollards”.
I must admit, this one so struck my fancy. The use of that gorgeous and immense bollard and the wonderful play on words were just perfect for this type of exhibit.
Born and raised in California, Baldon was a partner in his family’s wooden toy business before moving to San Francisco in 1984. After receiving his undergraduate and graduate degrees, he has studied and worked with some of the country’s leading studio furniture makers, including Garry Knox Bennett, Gail Fredell, Kim Kelzer, Thom Loeser, and Wendy Maruyama. In 1999, he helped to form a co-op studio in Alameda, California, where members pursue many commissioned and speculative furniture and sculptural works in a 5,000-square-foot wood and metal shop.
Since 2000 Russell has taught in the Furniture Program at CCA and additionally at Laney Community College.
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Floating by Valerie Gnadt
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Benches by The Bay by Leslie Bruning“Designed to look like varied sizes of the Shovelnose Guitarfish, a species of the shark family living in the San Francisco Bay, these benches are meant for a human family to sit upon.”
According to Bruning’s website: Leslie Bruning was born in Syracuse, KS and raised in Nebraska. After studying at Graz Center in Austria, he graduated with BA-Art from Nebraska Wesleyan University. In 1970 he was awarded a MFA -Sculpture from Syracuse University. He is currently Chair of the Art Area of Bellevue University, Bellevue Nebraska.
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Kissing Bench by Kent Roberts
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According to Oliver DiCicco’s website: Oliver displays the versatility of a renaissance artist. He is a multi-talented designer who is at the same time sculptor, fabricator, scientist, engineer, and musician. The mix of playful curiosity, technical capability and aesthetic sensibility required to accomplish his broad range of work is astonishing.
After perusing Oliver’s website, I couldn’t agree more, his range of work truly is astonishing.
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Safe Harbor by Jefferson Mack“Public seating for humans and bicycles, an essential for re-creation, personal development, and civilization. Reflect on values overlooked in your modern life.”
According to Jefferson Mack’s website he has been involved with the metal arts since 1990. Aside from architectural products, Jefferson Mack Metal features increasingly complete lines of furniture, lighting, fire and hearth accessories, as well as works for public commission.
*“The Bracket Collection” by Pallet Studio provides dignified seating for anybody in mundane and over looked spaces.
The Pallet Studio artists are Michael Wlosek, Lukas Nickerson and Andrew Perkins. According to Michael Wlosek’s Facebook Page he studied architecture at California College of the Arts and is from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
According to Lukas Nickerson’s website: “I am interested in existing within the confluence of old century craft and modern technology, starting in the present and exploring the past; investigating what isolation from the modern world can bring back to the 21st century city.” He is a wonderful furniture designer.
According to Andrew Perkins website: “Born and raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Andrew now calls San Francisco his home. Designing and building locally with organic and recyclable materials is central to his work. However, Andrew strongly believes that sustainable design is foremost about the quality and emotional longevity of the object. Andrew strives for this core principle by combining his experience as a cabinetmaker with a world class education in design. He knows that if the idea isn’t present than the object will not persist.” He too is an accomplished designer and furniture manufacturer.
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This piece is high up on a retaining wall. The chair is by Brian Goggins and is very similar to his Defenestration Piece running South of Market.
The description that accompanies the piece is “Fortitude” A submarine chair transforms our perception of space and objects. This “submarine chair” is a chair found on WWII submarines known to be “fashionably indestructible”.
People in submarines eventually need to sit down, and in 1944 aluminum company ALCOA collaborated with the U.S. Navy on the purpose-built 1006 Chair, also known as the Navy Chair or Submarine Chair. The design brief had at least one interesting bulletpoint: The chair had to be “torpedo-proof.”
The resultant super-strong chair is still in production today, manufactured by aluminum chair company Emeco.
Emeco even teamed up with Coca-Cola to make the chairs from recycled plastic.
Fresh Paint has a mural on the adjacent building as well as in Chinatown.
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This mural in the Haight Asbury district was dedicated to the rich history of the Haight Ashbury. It focuses on the elements born from the Summer of Love, and the movement sparked in 1967 towards a more peaceful society. It is located on the corner of Haight and Shrader, just half a block from the epicenter of the Summer of Love and where shows were played in the park.
The wall was rendered as 4 large psychedelic posters, the 3 to the right pay homage to the 3 big elements of the time: Peace, Poster Art, and Music. Each poster design gave nods at original 70’s posters, adorned with the lettering styles reminiscent of Victor Moscoso, Wes Wilson, Rick Griffin, Alton Kelley & Stanley Mouse. Just like back then, aesthetics were mixed, like photorealism, cartooning, illustration and a heaping spoonful of aerosol techniques.
The poster on the left are the signatures of the painters, integrated in a psychedelic poster art background. It is a way to tie the mural in with more personal roots of the artists, and showcase the legacy of illegible lettering styles.
The work was done by Lost, Satyr and Wes Wong of Fresh Paint. This crew is responsible a great dragon mural in Chinatown.
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Painted by Sam Flores, these were commissioned by the eight owners of the building. They replaced murals done by small children in the same places, and while we all know it is important to encourage children in their art, I saw the originals and these are such a massive improvement to the area.
A New Mexico native, Sam Flores’ mythology is populated with costumed urchins and lithe beauties swathed in flowers; he is a painter of masked child-heroes with oversized hands. Flores’ subjects convey a melancholy power, resisting the gaze of the onlooker as if they alone understand how the world can be so painful and so beautiful at the same time.
This is what they look stitched together, you can see they really do tell a story.
This labyrinth is at Land’s End in San Francisco, on the Coastal Trail. Created by Eduardo Aguilera in 2004, it is a hike to get to but well worth the trek. The easiest hike is to park at the Palace of the Legion of Honor and walk towards the ocean. You can also park at the 48th and Point Lobos parking lot above the Cliff House and walk towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
Once you start walking you are heading towards Mile Rock Beach. There is a small sign at the top of the hill that says Mile Rock Beach but no sign to the labyrinth. At this point you start walking down towards the ocean. It is a very steep climb down, but the stairs are very well constructed. Take your time and enjoy.
Eduardo grew up in Baja California, Mexico and came to the US in 1966. Living in southern California until 1983 he moved to San Francisco, operating his own auto detailing business. After watching a show on PBS about labyrinths and making a visit to Grace Cathedral he went from enjoying labyrinths as a visitor, to wanting to create them. Tying a core theme of “peace, love and enlightenment” to his creations, he began building labyrinths in December of 2003 and having them prepared in time for Equinoxes and Solstices. This labyrinth was built on the Spring Equinox in 2004. For the 2004 Winter Solstice Eduardo lit the Lands End Labyrinth with luminaries. For the 2005 Spring Equinox the Lands End Labyrinth was set ablaze. If you go to Eduardo Aguilera’s website you will see photos of the labyrinth on the Equinox and also that it has changed quite a bit since its original creation.
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Dancing Sprites by Henri Leon Greber – Bronze – Circa 1900This statue sits on the California Street side of Huntington Park on the top of Nob Hill. It was donated to the city by Mrs. James Flood in 1942. It is owned by the San Francisco Arts Commission.
Henri Léon Greber (1855-1941) was a French sculptor, and this work of his is a group of three nude children holding hands in a circle. A ribbon of cloth drapes around the children. They are dancing with legs uplifted. The bronze sculpture stands in the center of a round concrete base which is in the center of a fountain basin.
The Flood family made their money in the gold and silver fields and Mr. James L. Flood piled up millions as one of the “Bonanza Kings.”
