Frank Brangwyn - Muralist Early 20th C10/19/2011 Detail I was attracted to these 8 large murals in the Herbst Theater in San Francisco's Civic Center because of their warm vibrant colors. This one is titled "Primitive Fire" by the artist, Frank Brangwyn. When I was looking at the history of the building, I noticed construction started in 1930 and I thought it was strange because the murals didn't look as though they came from that time period. I did a little research and discovered the paintings were actually painted at least 15 years earlier for display in the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and later re-installed in the Herbst Theater. If our're there for an event, be sure and take a look before leaving.
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The Great Departure10/17/2011 The story of the Siddartha, the historical Buddha is a fascinating one. Pictured above is a carving at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco titled, "The Great Departure". It was predicted that Prince Siddartha would either become a great king, or if he left the palace, a great religious leader. His parents tried to shield him from experiencing the real world of both joys and sorrows, by preventing him from seeing anything cruel or sad. They failed and Siddartha left the palace and went on to become a great religious leader and the founder of Buddhism.
This scene shows Siddartha leaving the palace without his parents' knowledge. The gods help his escape by lifting up the hoofs of his horse so the sound would not alert others of his departure. This image of the "Great Departure" is one of the earliest depictions of this story. As part of my studies to become a docent at the Asian Art Museum, I'm studying Indian art. The Hindu God Ganesha is an auspicious symbol and believed to be the remover of obstacles and often found at the entrances to temples.
According to the Hindu stories, Ganesha is the son of the Hindu God Shiva and his wife Parvati. Shiva cut off his head by accident, but restored him to life by giving him the head of an elephant -- elephants being symbols of fertility and plenty. This lively sculpture is particularly nice with the curve of his trunk echoed by the curve of his dancing body followed by the curve of his hands. His holds an upraised weapon to cut away obstacles, a bowl to sweets to feast upon, and his broken tusk - broken in a battle with a demon. Dore Alley Sculpture9/16/2011 Saw this around the corner from our office on Dore Alley. I posted a blog on the Mock/Wallace website discussing how we designed a studio for another large metal sculpture artist near Penngrove, CA. Check it out.
SFMOMA is planning a major expansion to the 15 year old building designed by Italian architect Mario Botta. The main lobby of the building features an oculus skylight with an open stairwell ascending the oculus. The idea of a round skylight was a major theme of Botta's work during the 1990's and several of his buildings featured a variation of this idea. Church of San Giovanni Battista in Switerland Botta's Church of San Giovanni Battista in Switerland shown in this drawing to t he left shows a how the same idea was applied to a church. Nervous Novitiate8/20/2011 19 August 2011: Today I climb the stairs to an unknown future. I feel like a nervous novitiate about to enter a monastery and start a new life - excited and apprehensive at the same time. I start the three year long training program at the Asian Art Museum. Most of the 60 of us are unfamiliar faces to each other, yet in the course of three years, we will be comrade in arms.
If I start talking about Asian Art a bit more on this blog you will know why. Homage to Edward Hopper8/8/2011 Detail from Edward Hopper's NightHawks I snapped this photo at Bar Jules and when I looked at it, I thought of a Edward Hopper painting of people staring vacantly in a restaurant. These two people are at separate tables and both seem lost in thought in their own worlds. In my mind, the person inside looks out at a light that shines on a world that he wishes he could be part of (actually I cropped the other person out of the photo - but that wouldn't be as interesting). New Bohemia Signs - Handmade8/3/2011 Bohemia Signs just moved from the corner of Harrison and 11th Streets to 9th Street near Folsom. Whenever I walk by I look into the shop hoping to see someone hand painting a sign. In a age when almost everything is done digitally, it's nice to see someone still cultivating their "hand".
They also do gold leaf lettering on glass and other things. Check out their website here. The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin located at 2325 Union Street on the South-West corner of Union and Steiner Streets is one of my favorite buildings in San Francisco. Whenever I drive by I always take a look at the entry courtyard. Dating from 1891, it survived the 1906 earthquake. The interior is contemplative and restful with dark woods and luminous stained glass - a small intimate space. The location of the altar pictured above was originally the entrance off Steiner Street. The entrance was moved to the opposite end of the building to a courtyard off of Filmore Street (see below). I think the move was a good idea. The entry sequence through the courtyard is welcoming and provides a gathering place before and after services. Click on the photos below for a larger view.
San Francisco Art Institute7/20/2011 I was driving down a steep hill and saw this. No, not a hilltop village in Europe, but the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) hidden away on Russian Hill. Built in 1926 by the architectural firm of Bakewell Brown. It boasts a mural by Diego Rivera and many prominent artists have taught there. San Francisco Art Institute. A 1969 addition was completed by the architect Paffard Keatinge Clay. The addition is a good example of 1960's brutalist architecture of the time and complements the existing building. The rooftop plaza have magnificent views of San Francisco. Paffard Clay was an apprentice for Corbusier in Paris and his influence is clear in this addition. As I've blogged before, Paffard Keatinge Clay was a architecture instructor at UC Berkeley. You can see that blog by clicking here. AuthorCatagories
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