Douglass Playground
26th and Douglass
Noe Valley
This mosaic, done in 1987 by Lois Anderson, is on the side of the Douglass Playground Clubhouse. Tile, glass, metal, buttons, jewelry on fiberglass, and wood corresponds to the architectural details or emblems found on many neighborhood buildings.
Her obituary, which ran in the San Francisco Chronicle on January 10, 2004 reads:
“…a Marin artist known for her bejeweled assemblages, died of cancer at her Mill Valley home Sunday surrounded by friends. She was 77. Ms. Anderson was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and received her bachelor’s degree in 1949 from Wisconsin State University. In 1960, Ms. Anderson received a master’s degree from UC Berkeley and moved to Marin County.
There she became known as Lotus Carnation and was a prominent figure in the Mill Valley countercultural art scene. Her work was displayed at the Unknown Museum, a gallery for ’60s-inspired artists.
In 1999, her piece “The Throne” an old armchair transformed into a glittery, regal sculpture, was displayed at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art during its “Far Out: Bay Area Design 1967-73” retrospective exhibit of psychedelic art. “In the ’60s, they called us gluers,” Ms. Anderson told The Chronicle in 1991. “Now we’re assemblage artists.”
In addition to being an artist, Ms. Anderson worked as a Marin County librarian for 30 years. The Chronicle’s article said there were “three faces of Lois: By day, she is a mild-mannered librarian; night, she’s a wild artist; and weekends, she rummages Marin for the bits and pieces that will turn into art or her furniture.”
She considered herself an accomplished thrift store shopper and was often found picking through items at Goodwill stores or local flea markets.
Journalists and friends marveled at her Mill Valley cottage, which The Chronicle called a “cross between Gumps’ Christmas windows, the Sistine Chapel and Woolworths in the ’40s.”
She also created a grand altar in her living room after the National Endowment for the Arts awarded her a grant in 1978. Her proposal for the grant consisted of two sentences: “I always wanted to make an altar. But I don’t have the time or the money.”
Many of her pieces are owned by celebrities and art collectors. The rest of her collection will be permanently displayed in the Oakland Art Museum’s new wing for visionary art.
Friends said Ms. Anderson was an important fixture in the community. Her parties were warm and fun affairs, and her home, with two beloved cats, reflected her lively and spiritual character, they said.
“She was warm, wonderful and fun to be around,” said friend Pamela Nichols. “Her home was filled with her magnificent art, flowers, Buddhas and her fabulous self. ”
Gorgeous piece. Almost a celtic cross. But I don’t remember my wife doing this. Oh, maybe the artist is a different Lois Anderson. 🙂
Yes, this does refer to a different Lois Anderson. I am one of her executors. The Altar referred to here was recently sold at Clars Auction gallery in Oakland, presently on exhibit in one of the picture windows at The Ed Roberts Campus on Adeline at the Ashby Bart Station, across from the Sunday Berkeley Flea Market. I have just received three of her major works from the Oakland Museum, her Venus, a tryptych Chinese Screen and a wonderful plaque of Cowboys on the Moon. And one of her other executors has gathered the few other remaining pieces of her art not already spoken for. We are considering selling them, as appropriate. Thank you for posting about this wonderful woman. We miss Lois and appreciate it when others also bring her fine life and art to light.
She sounds like she was a wonderful person – full of character!
Nice piece. And I prefer “gluer” to “assemblage artist” myself.
It sounds like she had a full life. I love the colors of her mosaic!
meant to ask for new posts…thus this second post. thank you, again.