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

QUILTS AND COLOR

Last May I attended the HOW Design Live Conference in Boston. Since I had a late afternoon flight on my final day there, I decided to go to the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts Boston) to see the “Quilts and Color” exhibit from the Pilgrim/Roy Quilt Collection.

The “Quilts and Color” exhibition featured close to 60 quilts with vibrant color palettes and attention-grabbing patterns. These works of art were made by women during the 19th and early 20th century, in different areas across America, but mostly from Amish and Mennonite communities in Pennsylvania. They were collected by artists Paul Pilgrim and Gerald Roy over a period of five decades.

The collection showcased both traditional designs and creations from artists who worked outside of standard quilt patterns. It was a visual treat to see the exploration of color theory in the designs of the quilts. I was amazed with the bold, saturated colors used and the innovative effects created within established quilt patterns. I’ve always liked quilts, but this exhibit gave me a new perspective and appreciation for these beautiful and intricate handcrafted pieces of art.