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San Francisco 2016, Day 3, Part 2

South of Market (Part 2), Market Street, and Union Square

SoMa (Part 2)

There are more museum pictures ahead, but don’t worry.  I make it out of the museum and spend pretty much the rest of the day outside taking pictures.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (Continued)

SFMOMA is so overwhelming, I guess it only makes sense I break my visit up between 2 blog posts.  (Click here for the beginning of my visit.)

"Wall Drawing 895: Loopy Doopy (white and blue)" by Sol LeWitt, 1999. This work was commissioned by San Francisco couple Doris and Don Fisher--art patrons and founders of The Gap--to be hung by their pool. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
“Wall Drawing 895: Loopy Doopy (white and blue)” by Sol LeWitt, 1999. This work was commissioned by San Francisco couple Doris and Don Fisher–art patrons and founders of The Gap–to be hung by their pool.
The Great Outdoors, SFMOMA style! "The Living Wall" by San Francisco artist David Brenner. This is very reminiscent of the "Vertical Garden" I saw in Bahrain. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
The Great Outdoors, SFMOMA style! “The Living Wall” by San Francisco artist David Brenner. This is very reminiscent of the “Vertical Garden” I saw in Bahrain.
Who doesn't love mobiles? SFMOMA has a whole gallery full of mobiles by Alexander Calder, the creator of the artform. In the center is a large untitled one from 1949. On the right is "Quattro Pendulati" ("Four Pendulums") from 1943. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Who doesn’t love mobiles? SFMOMA has a whole gallery full of mobiles by Alexander Calder, the creator of the artform. In the center is a large untitled one from 1949. On the right is “Quattro Pendulati” (“Four Pendulums”) from 1943.
SFMOMA has extensive photography holdings. The holdings include a fascinating 1866 series of Civil War ruins called "Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign" by George M. Barnard. They make the US look like post-WWII Europe. This one is "Ruins of the Railroad Depot, Charleston, South Carolina", 1866. George was one of the 1st American photojournalists. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
SFMOMA has extensive photography holdings. The holdings include a fascinating 1866 series of Civil War ruins called “Photographic Views of Sherman’s Campaign” by George M. Barnard. They make the US look like post-WWII Europe. This one is “Ruins of the Railroad Depot, Charleston, South Carolina”, 1865. George was one of the 1st American photojournalists.
Untitled portrait of Toni Ferri by Rochester Institute of Technology Professor Andrew Davidhazy, 1970-72. Photographic special effect using a slit lens opening and a rotating subject. Weird! SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Untitled portrait of Toni Ferri by Rochester Institute of Technology Professor Andrew Davidhazy, 1970-72. Photographic special effect using a slit lens opening and a rotating subject. Weird!
"A Little Death", Sam Taylor-Wood, 2002. A silent 4-minute video of maggots devouring a rabbit's corpse. Lunch, anyone? 7 years later, Sam directed "Nowhere Boy", the movie about young John Lennon. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
“A Little Death”, Sam Taylor-Wood, 2002. A silent 4-minute video of maggots devouring a rabbit’s corpse. Lunch, anyone? 7 years later, Sam directed “Nowhere Boy”, the movie about young John Lennon.
"Rich and Poor" by Jim Goldberg, 1977-1985, is a particularly depressing photo series. Jim took the pictures, but the San Franciscan subjects wrote down their innermost thoughts. Jim studied at Day 2's San Francisco Art Institute. Here is the unhappy Countess Vivianna de Blonville, 1982. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
“Rich and Poor” by Jim Goldberg, 1977-1985, is a particularly depressing photo series. Jim took the pictures, but the San Franciscan subjects wrote down their innermost thoughts. Jim studied at Day 2’s San Francisco Art Institute. Here is the unhappy Countess Vivianna de Blonville, 1982.
This vision of unhappiness from the "Rich and Poor" series is brought to you by photographer Jim Goldberg and the miserable Anne Williams, 1979. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
This vision of unhappiness from the “Rich and Poor” series is brought to you by photographer Jim Goldberg and the miserable Anne Williams, 1979.
The 26 sides of Patty! "Patricia Hearst: A thru Z" by Dennis Adams, 1979, printed 1990. The artist culled all of these images of Patty Hearst from newspapers. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
The 26 sides of Patty! “Patricia Hearst: A thru Z” by Dennis Adams, 1979, printed 1990. The artist culled all of these images of Patty Hearst from newspapers.
From the 1977 series "Gay Semiotics" by San Francisco photographer, "Handkerchiefs". SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
From the 1977 series “Gay Semiotics” by San Francisco photographer Hal Fischer, “Handkerchiefs”.
From the 1977 series "Gay Semiotics" by San Francisco photographer, "Handkerchiefs". SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Also from Hal Fischer’s 1977 series “Gay Semiotics”, “Keys”.
"Filipinos Cutting Lettuce, Salinas, California" by famed Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange, 1935. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
“Filipinos Cutting Lettuce, Salinas, California” by famed Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange, 1935.
"Nude on Dune" by California photographer Edward Weston, 1936. It's funny how I never expected this to be from the '30s. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
“Nude on Dune” by California photographer Edward Weston, 1936. It’s funny how I never expected this to be from the ’30s.
This one is sort of fun. It's an untitled 1989 bronze by Joel Shapiro. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
This one is sort of fun. It’s an untitled 1989 bronze by Joel Shapiro.
The inside view of SFMOMA's famous sky-lit cylinder. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
The inside view of SFMOMA’s famous sky-lit cylinder.
Abe. Honestly. Technically, it's "Anesthesio" by Ed Paschke, 1986. (I really can't explain the connection between Lincoln done in neon colors and anesthesia.) SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Abe. Honestly. Technically, it’s “Anesthesio” by Ed Paschke, 1986. (I really can’t explain the connection between Lincoln done in neon colors and anesthesia.)
One of Diane Arbus's typically cheery photos: "Untitled (24) 1970-71". There was controversy over how much consent her mentally disabled subjects could give. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
One of Diane Arbus’s typically cheery photos: “Untitled (24) 1970-71”. There was controversy over how much consent her mentally disabled subjects could give.
Display of modern furniture design, including a copper armchair by Donald Judd (designed 1984, fabricated 1998) and hand-carved and laminated walnut "Edition" chair by Jack Rogers Hopkins (designed and fabricated 1969-73). SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Display of modern furniture design, including a copper armchair by Donald Judd (designed 1984, fabricated 1998) and hand-carved and laminated walnut “Edition” chair by Jack Rogers Hopkins (designed and fabricated 1969-73).
This one is really cool! "Quantum Cloud VIII" by Antony Gormley, 1999. A 3-D work made of steel bars. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
This one is really cool! “Quantum Cloud VIII” by Antony Gormley, 1999. A 3-D work made of steel bars.
Rotten to the core! "Geometric Apple Core" by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, 1991. This was a husband-and-wife effort. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Rotten to the core! “Geometric Apple Core” by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, 1991. This was a husband-and-wife effort.
Andy does Bobby! "Robert Mapplethorpe" by Andy Warhol, 1983. Robert died from AIDS 6 years later, just months before a traveling exhibition of his work created a nationwide controversy. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Andy does Bobby! “Robert Mapplethorpe” by Andy Warhol, 1983. Robert died from AIDS 6 years later, just months before a traveling exhibition of his work created a nationwide controversy.
I love how '60s this one is! "Student" by Bay Area painter Wayne Thiebaud, 1968. Wayne also did "Girl With Pink Hat", seen in Part 1. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
I love how ’60s this one is! “Student” by Bay Area painter Wayne Thiebaud, 1968. Wayne also did “Girl With Pink Hat”, seen in Part 1.
Don't expect these wooden flowers to have a lovely scent. "Large Vase of Flowers" by Jeff Koons, 1991. Jeff is the master of kitsch as art. (But don't tell him I said that!) SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
Don’t expect these wooden flowers to have a lovely scent. “Large Vase of Flowers” by Jeff Koons, 1991. Jeff is the master of kitsch as art. (But don’t tell him I said that!)
I took this picture in a darkened room that had a strobe flashing intermittently to create an effect on a spinning chrome globe. "Melter 3-D" by Takeshi Murata, 2014. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
I took this picture in a darkened room that had a strobe flashing intermittently to create an effect on a spinning chrome globe. “Melter 3-D” by Takeshi Murata, 2014.
From the roof deck of SFMOMA, the really cool Art Deco Pacific Telephone Building, 1925. It was the tallest building in San Francisco for 2 years. SFMOMA, San Francisco, United States, North America.
From the roof deck of SFMOMA, the really cool Art Deco Pacific Telephone Building, 1925. It was the tallest building in San Francisco for 2 years.

Market Street

You’ll be thrilled to know I finally made it out of the museum and got back out on the street to take plenty outdoor shots.  I spent some time in the vicinity of Market Street–south of, north of, and on.

The spectacular Garden Court in the Palace Hotel. The Palace Hotel opened in 1909, replacing the previous Palace Hotel, destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. President Warren G. Harding died in his room on the 8th floor in 1923. San Francisco, United States, North America.
The spectacular Garden Court in the Palace Hotel. The Palace Hotel opened in 1909, replacing the previous Palace Hotel, destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. President Warren G. Harding died in his room on the 8th floor in 1923.
The Palace Hotel's Pied Piper bar, named after the beautiful painting by Maxfield Parrish. The painting was commissioned for the new hotel's 1909 opening. San Francisco, United States, North America.
The Palace Hotel’s Pied Piper bar, named after the beautiful painting by Maxfield Parrish. The painting was commissioned for the new hotel’s 1909 opening.
Looking down Market Street to the Ferry Building. Market Street was laid out in 1847. For a time, it was the widest street in the country. The width came in handy when San Francisco became a boomtown once the gold rush was on. Market Street runs 3 miles, from the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero to Twin Peaks. San Francisco, United States, North America.
Looking down Market Street to the Ferry Building. Market Street was laid out in 1847. For a time, it was the widest street in the country. The width came in handy when San Francisco became a boomtown once the gold rush was on. Market Street runs 3 miles, from the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero to Twin Peaks.
A rainbow flag flying proudly on Market Street. It must be June in San Francisco! The annual SF Pride Parade marches down Market Street every June past hundreds of thousands of spectators. San Francisco, United States, North America.
A rainbow flag flying proudly on Market Street. It must be June in San Francisco! The annual SF Pride Parade marches down Market Street every June past hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Back to SoMa

I had a little more exploring to do in SoMa before finishing up the day north of Market Street in the Union Square area.

The waterfall at Yerba Buena Gardens' Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The artificial waterfall is the largest fountain on the West Coast. San Francisco, United States, North America.
The waterfall at Yerba Buena Gardens’ Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The artificial waterfall is the largest fountain on the West Coast.
A photo of MLK giving his "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington. San Francisco, United States, North America.
A photo of MLK giving his “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington.
Quote from a speech MLK gave in San Francisco in 1956. San Francisco, United States, North America.
Quote from a speech MLK gave in San Francisco in 1956.
Inside St. Patrick's, directly across the street from Yerba Beuna Gardens. The congregation may not be as Irish as it once was, but the colors still are! San Francisco, United States, North America.
Inside St. Patrick’s, directly across the street from Yerba Beuna Gardens. The congregation may not be as Irish as it once was, but the colors still are!
St. Patrick's magnificent organ. San Francisco, United States, North America.
St. Patrick’s magnificent organ.
The Old U.S. Mint, built in 1874 because the original mint building couldn't keep up with the growing needs of booming San Francisco. This is where I started off on Day 1 2 months earlier. The Barbary Coast Trail begins on the sidewalk directly out front. San Francisco, United States, North America.
The Old U.S. Mint, built in 1874 because the original mint building couldn’t keep up with the growing needs of booming San Francisco. This is where I started off on Day 1 2 months earlier. The Barbary Coast Trail begins on the sidewalk directly out front.

Union Square

A few blocks south of Union Square, there's always a cast of characters to entertain the tourists waiting to board the cable cars at Hallidie Plaza, last seen along the Barbary Coast Trail on Day 1. San Francisco, United States, North America.
A few blocks south of Union Square, there’s always a cast of characters to entertain the tourists waiting to board the cable cars at Hallidie Plaza, last seen along the Barbary Coast Trail on Day 1.

Much to the chagrin of local supporters of the South, Union Square got its name during the Civil War in honor of the Union Army.  Today it’s all department stores and grand hotels.  I returned to San Francisco’s plaza de luxe near the end of Day 3 after having popped by on Day 1 while traipsing along the Barbary Coast Trail.

At the center of Union Square is the Dewey Monument, which "commemorates the victory of Admiral George Dewey and the American fleet over Spanish forces at Manila Bay, the Philippines, on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War." The trident represents Admiral Dewey and sailors of the U.S. Navy. The wreath honors President William McKinley, who was assassinated during the time of the monument's construction. San Francisco, United States, North America.
At the center of Union Square is the Dewey Monument, which “commemorates the victory of Admiral George Dewey and the American fleet over Spanish forces at Manila Bay, the Philippines, on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War.” The trident represents Admiral Dewey and sailors of the U.S. Navy. The wreath honors President William McKinley, who was assassinated during the time of the monument’s construction.
Art for sale on Union Square. San Francisco, United States, North America.
Art for sale on Union Square.
In 2004, 131 artists left their hearts in San Francisco in 2004 as a fundraising project. This one, "America's Greatest City By The Bay", was painted by none other than Tony Bennett. San Francisco, United States, North America.
In 2004, 131 artists left their hearts in San Francisco in 2004 as a fundraising project. This one, “America’s Greatest City By The Bay”, was painted by none other than Tony Bennett.

Maiden Lane

Loaded with chic boutiques, narrow Maiden Lane runs east off Union Square. At first glance, this Maiden Lane address looks somewhat plain. But it's architecturally significant, having been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1948. San Francisco, United States, North America.
Loaded with chic boutiques, narrow Maiden Lane runs east off Union Square. At first glance, this Maiden Lane address looks somewhat plain. But it’s architecturally significant, having been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1948.
A Frank Lloyd Wright doodad on the exterior of the building. Frank designed the building for the V. C. Morris Gift Shop. It is noteworthy for having an interior circular ramp that was the prototype for the celebrated ramp he designed for the Guggenheim in New York, which opened over a decade later in 1959. San Francisco, United States, North America.
A Frank Lloyd Wright doodad on the exterior of the building. Frank designed the building for the V. C. Morris Gift Shop. It is noteworthy for having an interior circular ramp that was the prototype for the celebrated ramp he designed for the Guggenheim in New York, which opened over a decade later in 1959.
I was stunned that I was able to get such a good picture of the interior of the building (currently unoccupied), with a clear view of the circular ramp and other mid-century embellishments. San Francisco, United States, North America.
I was stunned that I was able to get such a good picture of the interior of the building (currently unoccupied), with a clear view of the circular ramp and other mid-century embellishments.

Theater District

West of Union Square–where the Union Square neighborhood begins to blend into the more downscale Tenderloin–is San Francisco’s Theater District.

San Francisco's theaters were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The Geary Theater, one of the first to be built after the earthquake, opened in 1910. Here is beautiful decorative detail at the front entrance. San Francisco, United States, North America.
San Francisco’s theaters were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The Geary Theater, one of the first to be built after the earthquake, opened in 1910. Here is beautiful decorative detail at the front entrance.
Brightly colored window dressing in the facade of the Geary Theater. San Francisco, United States, North America.
Brightly colored window dressing in the facade of the Geary Theater.

Veterans Alley

Union Square had pretty much transitioned to the Tenderloin when I unexpectedly came across Veterans Alley.

Veterans Alley is a block-long alley covered with murals painted by veterans and addressing matters of concern to veterans. I was excited to come across this as I hadn't heard of it and it wasn't on my itinerary. San Francisco, United States, North America.
Veterans Alley is a block-long alley covered with murals painted by veterans and addressing matters of concern to veterans. I was excited to come across this as I hadn’t heard of it and it wasn’t on my itinerary.
A powerful message to end Day 3 with. San Francisco, United States, North America.
A powerful message to end Day 3 with.

Veterans Alley was a prelude to what was in store on Day 4.

[Factual information is primarily gathered from Wikipedia, so you know it must be true.]

Related posts:

San Francisco 2016, Day 2, Part 1 San Francisco 2016, Day 4, Part 2 The 2016 BSFBB Awards The 2017 BSFBB Awards

Comments

    • Billy says

      Thanks Jim! My favorite day, Day 4, is coming up next. I’ve still got a lot to do on it. It’s wind up in the Castro. Happy New Year!

      Reply

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