I left my heart in San Francisco

I learned about "Cupid’s Span" a couple years ago, sauntering towards PacBell Park, one San Francisco landmark, and low and behold bumped in to a completely different landmark; “Cupid’s Span.” I must say I wasn't too keen on loving a colossal arrow cemented into the ground. A little cliché maybe? Or perhaps it was my mindset when I saw it that day: a twenty three year old single woman and a hater of public displays of affection. Maybe I had a bitter old maid complex when I saw it, or perhaps the yelp postings online didn't help describing the best time to see “Cupid’s Span” is at sunset with that special person. First impressions are different for every viewer and that is what the artists of “Cupid’s Span” expect. The giant arrow was installed by two Dutch and Swedish artists, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Oldenburg and van Bruggen are notorious for monstrous size, installations that look like they should be at a California Disney Adventure Land. They are best known for public art installations that emulate every day objects.In the past they have done other installations like “Cupid’s Span,” including a matchstick book, saw, torn notebook, flying bowling pins, hammer, dust pan, garden hose, button, umbrella and binoculars. For any person who has walked past "Cupid’s Span", they can not deny the enormity and the overwhelming impression the size can cast upon the viewer. What is comical about this installation and all of the others is the fact that each is at least sixty five feet tall. Who can not laugh at an oversized needle and thread juxtaposed against a quaint, Italian town square in Milan like their installation called “Ago, Filo e Nodo (Needle, Thread, and Knot)”? “Cupid’s Span” was inspired by San Francisco's reputation as the home port of the Greek God of love, Euros. And although it may be more difficult for others, like me, to see this message intended by the artists, it is not hard to become sentimental for any San Franciscan once they become familiar with the background.

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http://www.oldenburgvanbruggen.com/
All Photo Credits: Unknown

Keith Haring at the Moscone Center

As an Art History major I feel obligated to educate myself on the trends and styles of the San Francisco art scene that rapidly changes and evolves. The San Francisco Arts Commission is an amazing resource for finding available and accessible public art in the city. Here is the organization’s description about itself:

San Francisco’s Public Art Program, one of the first in the country, was established by City ordinance in 1969. The public art ordinance provides for two percent of the construction cost of civic buildings, transportation improvement projects, new parks, and other above-ground structures such as bridges, to be allocated for public art. It also provides an allowance for artwork conservation funds and allows for the pooling of art enrichment funds for interdepartmental projects.

I browsed the San Francisco Arts Commission web site and was pleasantly surprised that they map out areas of the city that have commissioned public art. Dividing San Francisco into 12 areas, including the San Francisco airport, they show where each piece is and who the artist is. One of the pieces that was commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission is by Keith Haring in 1998, called “Three Dancing Figures.” Haring’s tri sculpture is standing in front of the Moscone Center. Keith Haring has always been a prominent influential artist in my life. As a twelve year old I used to emulate his iconographic bright, figures in my own art. Later in high school, I played with his cliché ironic sayings to bring about change to coordinate with my own art. I idolized Keith Haring and was happy about the close proximity that I had with Haring’s art now. I love the boldness in his art and the simplicity that draws so much response. He was precise and to the point with his art and drew many followers with the messages his art conveyed. Every person should first research what Keith Herring stands for and check out his public piece at the Moscone Center. There is no other venue that is perfect for showcasing a Keith Haring sculpture, other than the Moscone Center.

Keith Haring, "Untitled" (Three Dancing Figures), Version A, Edition 2/3, 1989, painted aluminum.


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www.sfartscommission.org/home.htm
http://www.haring.com/home.php
http://www.moscone.com/site/do/index
All Photo Credits: Unknown

Defenestration

San Francisco is a melting pot of freaks, geeks, conservatives, liberals, hippies, hipsters and punks. Despite the magnitude of differences, I believe that San Francisco residents all have the shared quality, as pack rats, to hold on to our clutter. We all have issues with throwing stuff away and hoarding our junk in the back of the closets stuffed behind our winter jackets. This notion of getting rid of clutter is liberating and cleansing. And this is a sentiment that Brian Goggin, an artist, expresses through an installation called ‘Defenestration.” “Defenestration” is on the corner of 6th Street and Howard Street. It is eye catching, perplexing and very “Dr. Seussish.” The multi sculptural mural involves couches, tables, chairs, lamps, clocks, bed frames and other various furniture items, bolted to the outside of the building in such a position that they appear to be literally jumping out of the windows. There is something oddly refreshing and comical about a myriad of furniture trying to commit suicide; or from a more positive perspective, escape to freedom. Hence the name, Defenestration, which literally means the act of throwing a thing or a person out of a window.

The installation, put together by Brian Goggin, has a “love it or hate it” reputation. The furniture, draped outside of the building, is humorous and ironic or pointless and silly to some viewers. Goggin has attributed this installation to a feeling of release. He believes that, “The act of 'throwing out' becomes an uplifting gesture of release, inviting reflection on the spirit of the people we live with, the objects we encounter, and the places in which we live.” Maybe this is the reason why many San Franciscans feel indifferent towards “Defenestration.” We all want to live by this example, cleanse ourselves of our clutter but find it difficult at times.

There have been signs pasted to this edifice that tell us it's doomed for demolition and rumors that it will be put on the market soon. And this is all the more reason to stand outside of it, perhaps a street length away, and breathe in its beauty and originality. Perhaps you will also understand the liberating sentiment that Goggin had hoped his installation would inspire or maybe you will just go back to your old pack rat, hoarding ways.

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http://www.defenestration.org/
http://www.metaphorm.org/
All Photo Credits: Unknown