URBAN “ARTSCAPE” – SAN FRANCISCO

Even though there are many hills in San Francisco, it is still a very walkable city. Walking allows you to see things like colorful street art that you might miss if you were driving or on public transit. These photos are from a day spent wandering through the Mission District, which is home to a vast amount of vibrant murals.

I have always been intrigued with outdoor murals and commissioned graffiti art in urban settings. These types of paintings can enrich a neighborhood by transforming buildings into works of art and help prevent tagging that is often seen in major cities. San Francisco has many anti-graffiti programs in place and organizations which promote public art to help beautify the city. The StreetSmARTS program is one such project.

Overall, it was a fun day spent in a colorful “outdoor art gallery,” taking pictures of canvases that included private garages, fences, doors, sides of homes, businesses and public structures. It was very interesting to view this type of creative expression with themes ranging from cultural heritage to social political statements. And, one of the best parts of the experience was that it was FREE!

AZULEJO = POLISHED STONE

One thing you can say for sure, is that the Portuguese know tile — it is everywhere there! On a recent trip to Portugal, I was fascinated with the use of tile, not only in churches and ornate palaces, but also in ordinary houses, park seats, fountains, shops and even in metro stations. Tiles are not only used as decorations, but also as functional parts of the buildings themselves.

I learned the word for tiles is “azulejos.” Although many would assume the word is a derivation of azul (Portuguese for “blue”), the name actually comes from the Arabic word az-zulayj, roughly translated as “polished stone.”

While in Lisbon, I visited the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (Lisbon’s Tile Museum). There I was able to see the development of tiles in Portugal from their beginnings to the present. The museum has five centuries (yes I said five!) of decorative ceramic tiles, which trace the history and production of the art form. There is also a conservation and restoration department, which can be viewed as you stroll through the museum.

I found all of the tile I saw unique and lovely in its own way — whether portraying dramatic, historic scenes or simply serving as ornamental street signs, nameplates or house numbers. Of course, one of my most treasured mementos I brought back from my trip was a decorative tile!