Father Boeddeker – Public Art and Architecture from Around the World

Playground Mosaics

Posted by Cindy on June 23, 2015

Jun 232015

Father Boeddeker Park
295 Eddy
The Tenderloin

These little eggs sit in the playground area of the newly revitalized Father Boeddeker Park. They were created by Laurel True of True Mosaics.

Laurel has a degree from School of the Art Institute in Chicago and Parson’s School of Design of New York. She presently is balancing her time between Oakland, California and New Orleans, however, she travels all over the world teaching the art of mosaic.

Laura is also responsible for the Sun Spheres on Ocean Avenue.

Redding School Self Portrait

Posted by Cindy on June 8, 2015

Jun 082015

Boeddeker Park
295 Eddy Street
The Tenderloin

Redding School Self Portrait by Ruth Asawa and Children of the School

The Asawa piece is a tribute to Father Alfred Boeddeker. Boeddeker was the Franciscan priest who founded St. Anthony’s Dining Room and he is the park’s namesake. The 4- by 16.5-foot bas relief wall mural is a portrait of Boeddeker surrounded by children. Asawa was assisted by 100 schoolchildren from Redding Elementary School. The childrens’ images were initially created out of pastry dough, then coordinated into an overall design by Asawa. The piece was originally installed in 1985 and is made of glass fiber reinforced concrete.

Ruth Asawa was a favorite of this author, and she has appeared many times in this site. Asawa passed away in 2013.

Grasses and Wildflowers in the Tenderloin

Posted by Cindy on May 18, 2015

May 182015

Father Boeddeker Park
259 Eddy Street
The Tenderloin

Father Boedekker Park has gone through a much needed and highly anticipated refurbishment. The $9.3 million face-lift to the Tenderloins only multi-use park was long over due. The $9.3 million renovation was made possible with a $4.93 million grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, more than $3.3 million of private contribution from corporate business donors, and funds from The Trust of Public Land, as well as more than $1.7 million of City’s general fund, open space fund, and Parks Bond.

There was already some public art in the park that you can read about here, but the fence by local artist Amy Blackstone, is new.

Amy’s studio is in Hunters Point, and her love of flowers has shown in several pieces she has around San Francisco.

There are four 6X6 galvanized metal panels in the fence.