AM MUSINGS

The Creative Force

7/14/2012

 
Picture
Linolium Block Print
Linolium  block prints reflect the ancient human urge to create images.  The first time someone looked at a footprint in the mud and thought - "What if I . . .?"  (Chris is taking a block printing class).
0 Comments

Public Art

7/12/2012

 
Picture
San Francisco Civic Center
The San Francisco Civic Center Plaza is a great place for public art.  I drive by all the time.  Currently an inflated sculpture of a lotus flower greats the many tour buses stopped at this post card site.  The petals wave in the breeze. 

Last week I walked by and the entire sculpture was deflated. I thought it was being removed.  I was wrong, I think they were cleaning it and it was in its full glory when I walked by again. 
0 Comments

2,000 Years

6/11/2012

 
Picture
Japantown Pagoda and Gandharan Stupa
The Buddhist Stupa was originally a burial mound for relics of the historical Buddha or other sacred objects.  It was topped with a structure similar to the one on the right which is a 2,000 year old miniture stupa from Northwestern India or Pakistan now at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. 

As the stupa form moved to China and Japan, it evolved into pagodas.  This pagoda in San Francisco's Japantown was built 2,000 years after the one on the right and as you can see the top of the pagoda is very similar to the top of the stupa. (I'm getting ready for a presentation this month!)
0 Comments

The Bean

4/30/2012

 
Picture
Like a moth to a flame, people are drawn to this piece of public art in Chicago's Millenium Park.  Called a "bean" because of it shape, it is large enough to walk underneath and the reflective surface mirrors everthing around it.

Everyone takes pictures of themselves.  One of the most engaging scuptures I've seen.
1 Comment

Sri Lanka Mask

4/10/2012

 
Picture
Sri Lanka Mask
Chris banished this mask from the house because she found it too disturbing to see.  Now that I'm studying Asian art, I'm learning the good side of these frightening images.  Frightening images called makaras are often found above doorways of temples.  They serve to mark the transition between the material e world and the spiritual world.  The frightening mask holds at bay and dispels evil -- so actually it is a guardian. 

Why so frightening?  the protective guardian, must be EQUAL to whatever evil it may encounter. 
0 Comments

Asian Art Museum Docent Training

2/23/2012

 
Picture
6th Grade Field Trip Asian Art Museum
The training of future docents became a little more real to me last week.  My assignment was to "shadow" a 6th grade field trip visit to the Asian Art Museum and observe the docents, kids, and parents to see learn what to expect.  I found 6th graders are great.  Their old enough to really engage with the art yet not too old to feel the whole experience is just not cool enough to warrant their attention.  In this photo above they are lining up in front of the museum as the teacher distributes tickets to each one.  Bless public school teachers!
0 Comments

Compare and Contrast

11/28/2011

 
Picture
Left - Bronze Cheekpiece of a Horse Bridle 1000 - 650 BCE Iran: Luristan Region Right - Earthenware Vessel in Shape of a Bull 900-800 BCE Northern Iran
As part of my Asian Art Museum docent training, we're learning different techniques of engaging people with the art.  The latest technique we practiced was "compare and contrast".  By comparing two different objects, it allows people to focus and really look at each one. 

These two objects were assigned to me to present using the compare and contrast technique.  I asked the "visitors" to pretend they were buying these as gifts for two different people and to decide which is the most appropriate for each person. 
0 Comments

Seated Buddha - Sri Lanka 1700-1800

11/9/2011

 
Picture
Seated Buddha - Sri Lanka 1700-1800
Picture
Sideview
As an Asian Art Museum Docent trainee, I had the assignment of giving a 3 minute presentation on meaning of the colored pattern behind this seated Buddha.  The museums curators haven't come to a conclusion as to what it represents as there are several possible interpretations.

One interpretation is that the background is a hood of snakes based on the story of Buddha's 7 week meditation at Bodhgaya.  According to the story, during the 6th week a great rain storm arose and the snake deity rose to form a protecting cape to keep the Buddha dry. 

Others believe it represents fire -- showing Buddha's enlightenment.  Still others believe the pattern shows lotus leaves -- a continuation of a lotus leaf base  -- a common buddhist theseen many times.   I pondered this for a while as the three little knobs at the top and sides certainly could represent cobra heads.  If they were cobra heads, then perhaps the top and back of the sculpture would reinforce that ideal - so I tried to get a glimpse of the back.  Although it wasn't possible to see the back since it is up against the wall, I went up to the side as close as possible.  I was surprised NOT to see a continuation of the knobs as snakes, but a field of  objects that looked very flower-like to me.  My conclusion is the background represents lotus leaves rather than a hood of cobra snakes -- but that's only my opinion.  If you look at the museum's website for the Seated Buddha, you will see a picture of the back that clearly shows a field of flowers.
0 Comments

DeYoung Museum - Golden Gate Park

11/3/2011

 
Picture
At first glance, you might think this was taken at a winery in the California wine country.  The setting seems bucolic, but the photo was actually taken in the middle of San Francisco at the outdoor cafe of the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park.  The new museum design by the Swiss architectural firm of Herzog and De Meuron is a dramatic change from its previous stogy incarnation.   Its dimpled copper sheathing has weathered now and the museum seems to have settled-in. 

On nice days, the outdoor cafe seating is popular and the dramatic overhang frames the sky and space nicely.  On rainy days you can even park in the underground garage and enter the museum directly without getting wet.
0 Comments

Ferry Building Farmers Market Mosaic

10/25/2011

 
Picture
Ferry Building Farmers Market Mosaic
Picture
There are lots of things to like about the renovated Ferry Building.  This small decorative detail above is especially nice.  Timeless in appearance, it could be a detail from Roman times.

Before the San Francisco Bay Bridge was built in the 1930's, the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street was a bustling center of activity  for people coming into San Francisco by ferry.

After the bridge was built, the building slowly fell silent as people stopped taking Ferries.  The building was converted into office spaces and there was a mezzanine built above the ground floor.  The mezzanine was later removed to reveal the skylit space.  The interior and surrounding area is now a Farmers Market featuring local sustainable specialty produce.  Immediately embraced by local foodies, it is jammed on Saturdays when people flock there to shop.  

0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Author

    About

    RSS Feed

    Catagories

    All
    Accessibility
    A D A
    Alex
    Architect
    Architecture
    Art
    Asian
    Asian Art Museum Docent Training
    Books
    Ceramic Tile
    Chinese
    Chris
    Codes
    Colors
    Composition
    Counter Culture
    Design
    Edward Mock
    Europe
    Fashion
    Food
    Garden
    Handrails
    Historical Preservation
    Ice Cream
    India
    In The Realm Of The Senses
    Italy
    Katie
    Leed
    Lighting
    London
    Maui
    May Mock
    Milan
    Miscellaneous
    Mission Bay
    Mock Family History
    Mock/Wallace Architects
    Music
    Neon
    New York
    North Beach
    Oakland
    Paella
    Paris
    Photography
    Pine Street Remodel
    Products
    Restaurants
    San Francisco
    San Francisco Planning Commission
    Shibui
    Soma
    Spain
    Sustainable Design
    Swimming
    The Making Of An Architect
    U C S F

    Archives

    October 2020
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    Blogs I follow
    The Sartorialist
    My Paris
    Design Observer 

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Ahn Mock Musings
    • Recipes
  • Mock/Wallace Architects
  • Ahn Mock Musings
    • Recipes
  • Mock/Wallace Architects