Marine Firemen’s Union

 Posted by on April 14, 2014
Apr 142014
 

240 2nd Street
SOMA East of 5th

Marine Firemens Union Headquarters

The Pacific Coast Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association often referred to as the Marine Firemen’s Union is an American labor union of mariners working aboard U.S. flag vessels. The Marine Firemen’s Union is an affiliate union of Seafarers International Union.The union was formed in San Francisco, California in October, 1883 by firemen on coal-burning steamers.

Marine Firemen's Union Headquarters

The building that holds this bas-relief was opened in 1957.  Sculptor Olof Carl Malmquist designed the exterior bas-relief depicting marine firemen at work in a ship’s engine room.

Olof Carl Malmquist

Olof Carl Malmquist (1894-1975) was born in Wallingford, CT on October 26, 1894. Malmquist studied under Lee Lawrie at Yale and continued on a fellowship at Rome’s American Academy. After settling in San Francisco in 1922, he provided architectural embellishments on many public buildings in northern California. He contributed greatly to the sculpture on Treasure Island for the Golden Gate International Exposition of 1939.  He died in San Francisco.

Olof Carl Malmquist

I want to especially thank the authors of a wonderful book The San Francisco Labor Landmarks Guide Book, that was the only place I was able to find the artist of this historic piece.

Electric Substation and the Art World

 Posted by on September 7, 2012
Sep 072012
 

8th and Mission
SOMA

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 These two bas-reliefs in cast stone, titled Power and Light, sit on the 8th Street side of the Pacific Gas and Electric Mission Substation.  The building was designed in 1948 by William Merchant.  The sculptor was Robert B. Howard.

William Gladstone Merchant was a San Francisco architect who trained in the offices of John Galen Howard and Bernard Maybeck. Merchant obtained his architectural license in 1918 and from 1917 to 1928, worked in the office of George W. Kelham. Merchant opened his own firm in San Francisco in 1930, designing a number of commercial buildings in San Francisco. From 1932-1939, he was the consulting architect for the San Francisco Recreation Commission; he was also a member of the Architectural Commission of Golden Gate International Exposition (1939). William G. Merchant & Associates was the successor firm to Bernard Maybeck.

A sculptor and painter, Robert Boardman Howard was born in New York City on September 20, 1896, the son of Mary Bradbury and architect John Galen Howard.  At six years of age Robert Howard moved to Berkeley, CA with his family.  Upon graduating from Berkeley High School, he studied art at the California School of Arts and Crafts under Xavier Martinez. He moved on to the  University of California and studied under Worth Ryder and Perham Nahi, and with Kenneth Hayes Miller at the Art Students League in New York City. Howard was married to highly successful artist Adeline Kent, from Kentfield, California. He died in 1983.

 On September 16, 1964, San Francisco artist Mary McChesney interviewed Robert Howard.  Howard speaks of his background and education; his early paintings and sculptures; his involvement with the Federal Art Project in San Francisco; Coit Tower; and his opinions of federal support for the arts, you can read the transcript here.

Howard worked on many public projects in his lifetime, including Coit Tower. One highly recognizable piece is in the Mural Room at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

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