April 10, 2015

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!

Posted by Denise 6 comments (add comment) Category public art Tags art graffiti murals san francisco

BOUQUETS TO ART

Last March I had another wonderful opportunity to further develop my photography skills. I attended my first “Bouquets to Art” event at the de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. This annual floral exhibition has been a springtime tradition for the last 30 years. It gives floral designers a chance to interpret the permanent works of the museum through their floral arrangements, which are displayed in juxtaposition with the works that inspired them.

That day as I passed through de Young’s Wilsey Court on my way into the exhibit, I was blown away by the magnificent flower chandelier. I found out later that this centerpiece was a creation of Natasha Lisitsa of Waterlily Pond Studio. It was simply stunning.

These pictures are just a sampling of the beautiful and imaginative displays I saw that day. Floral arranging is an art form in itself — this exhibition took it to the next level. It was a pleasure to wander through the museum and discover just how creative these designers could be. I applaud the men and women who brought these captivating interpretations to the de Young. Bravo!