Ocean View Branch Library

 Posted by on December 16, 2011
Dec 162011
 
Ocean View Public Library
345 Randolph, San Francisco

The front of the Ocean View library is adorned with two marvelous sculptures on either side of the door.  It was done out of cast Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete with integral color.

The left panel shows a young tree, with landmarks of the old Oceanview District, some still standing and some now gone, in the background.
The artists are husband and wife team Mark Roller and Colette Crutcher.  According to Colette’s website it was made under the auspices of the San Francisco Arts Commission for the new branch library in the Oceanview District, at Randolph and Ramsell St., near the southern boundary of the city. Neighbors from the area had petitioned the City for a new library in this sadly neglected community. They wanted aspects of the history of their neighborhood to be included in the artwork.  Colette and Mark have been in this website before and will be featured in the future as well.  Not only are they friends of mine, but they are a vital part of the public art scene in San Francisco.
The panel on the right features a mature tree and a representation of the present/future of the District. Both trees bear fruit adorned with letters and symbols representing the languages and traditions of world culture

The round circles are letters from various alphabets around the world, the one on top is Thai, the one on the bottom is cyrilic.

Ocean View Branch Library was the 15th branch established in the San Francisco Public Library system. The first Ocean View Branch Library opened in 1903 on Broad Street near the corner of Capitol Avenue. The new Ocean View Branch Library, at 345 Randolph Street, was opened on June 7, 2000. It was the first branch building to be built in San Francisco since 1969. The San Francisco Bureau of Architecture designed the two-story building. The cost of the building was $2.5 million. Private funds were raised for the equipment and furniture within the branch.

Mission District – 24th Street Mini Park, San Francisco

 Posted by on July 1, 2011
Jul 012011
 
24th and York

This is another mosaic by  Colette Crutcher, this time, in collaboration with her husband, Mark Roller and friend Aileen Barr.   The park is at 24th and York in San Francisco.  It is a wonderful little mini park in a terrific part of the Mission District. This giant mosaic statue of the Mesoamerican snake-god Quetzalcoatl and it’s playful fountain is the focal point of the park.  Quetzalcoatl started as a concrete structure and then was covered with broken commercial tile, and hundreds of handmade tiles.
The park used to be a neighborhood eyesore, filled with pretty scary folks just lounging in the park, but thanks to a million-dollar 2006 beautification project, the 24th & York Street Mini Park was transformed into an urban oasis.
Across the street is the vintage St. Francis Soda Fountain, where you can get milkshakes and sandwiches like when you were a kid, or just hang out and wait for the strolling ice cream carts to come by.
This part of town is covered with murals, thanks primarily to Precita Eyes.  Precita Eyes was established in 1977 as an inner city, community based, mural arts organization.  I will be coming back to them from time to time as I explore the murals in this neighborhood over the next few days.
All of Quetzalcoatl with the fountain running.  This is one of those fountains, that turns itself on and off and surprises you, but it is so warm in this part of town, that it is often welcoming.
Most of the walls in the park are covered in murals. Many of them by Michael Rios, who designed many of Carlos Santana’s album covers in the 1970’s.  Carlos Santana and Rios grew up in the neighborhood and Rios still lives there.
These three pieces are pierced steel.  They remind me of pierced steel lamps you find all over Mexico, but I could find nothing about them, nor who made them.
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