Sargent Johnson Tile’s the Maritime Museum

 Posted by on May 11, 2014
May 112014
 

Maritime Museum
Aquatic Park

Maritime Museum Sargent Johnson Tile Mural

This 14′ x 125′ glazed tile mural was created by Sargent Johnson in 1939 with the help of FAP (Federal Art Project) funds. The east end, however, is incomplete.

 When the project began, the building was to be a publicly-accessible bathhouse. However, shortly after it opened, the City leased a majority of the building to a group of private businessmen who operated it as the Aquatic Park Casino, limiting the public’s use of the building. Because of this, Johnson walked away from the project before he had completed this interior tile mosaic.

Johnson has been in this website before here for the slate art piece on the front of the building.

Sargent Claude Johnson*

Sargent Claude Johnson*

Tile Mural at Aquatic Park*

Sargent Johnson

This shows the unfinished section of the mural.

And yes, those two animals are by Beniamino Bufano.

Atlantis and Mu

 Posted by on March 13, 2014
Mar 132014
 
Atlantis and Mu

Maritime Museum Aquatic Park The interior of the museum is painted with a large mural by Hilaire Hiler, These murals depict the mythic continents of Atlantis and Mu.   Many know the story of Atlantis, but Mu is not as well known.  Mu is the name of a suggested lost continent whose concept and the name were proposed by 19th-century early Mayanist, archaeologist, photographer, traveler and writer, Augustus Le Plongeon  Le Plongeon claimed that several ancient civilizations, such as those of Egypt and Mesoamerica, were created by refugees from Mu—which he located in the Atlantic Ocean. This concept was popularized and expanded by James Churchward, who asserted that Mu was once located Continue Reading

Sargent Johnson and Aquatic Park

 Posted by on February 13, 2014
Feb 132014
 
Sargent Johnson and Aquatic Park

Maritime Museum Aquatic Park This carved sandstone entry to the Maritime Museum was done as a Federal Arts Project (FAP) by Sargent Johnson.  Johnson was in this site before for the log. This building was originally a New Deal WPA (Works Progress Administration) building called the Aquatic Park Bathhouse. Construction began in 1936 and the building was dedicated in 1939.  It is a stunning Streamline Moderne style building and a focal point of the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. Both the interior and exterior of the building contain art funded through the FAP. Johnson designed and carved this green Continue Reading

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