Out Walking

Manuscript off to potential agent. Audio project in hands of potential sponsor. First draft of second novel is in progress. It's time to take myself for a walk. I choose downtown. 

I started with a visit to an old favorite: a marble gem by Manual Neri that is hidden away in Ecker alley off Second Street and Market. Is she emerging, disappearing, trapped between worlds or just leaning back on the wall? I don't know, which is why I keep coming back.

I wish was able to tell you who did the guerilla paste-up of the baseball player on the wall to the left. I've seen his work on walls all over town, but I'm feeling lazy this morning so you'll have to figure it out. 

Anyway, I could look at Neri sculpture all day, but this time I walked down the side alley to Mission towards First Street and a quiet place to people watch.

Reflecting pool, kinetic sculpture, grove of black bamboo, grass to sit on or tables to study at. This is my kind of place and I was just about to cross the street when I turned and saw this...

 

I laughed out loud! It's an outdoor installation of Ugo Rondinone sculpture. Rondinone is a Swiss artist with a wonderful sense of humor and here he is showing me the hidden faces of the moon. The three heads are enormous and up close they look like hasty constructions in clay. Here's a close-up...

I thought it was going to be hard to top this encounter, so I went up First Street to Market thinking I'd hit my favorite newsstand-chocolate shop and on the way I found this at 425 Market...

and this...

and even a foal!

All more-than-lifesized bronzes by the remarkable Deborah Butterfield who has built horses out of mud, clay, straw, sticks and more. I wish the US would declare her a national treasure. The suggestion of movement and the detail in her work is staggering to look at. In fact I staggered all over trying to get a good angle for a shot. Go see these before they disappear into a crate. Here's a head detail to intrigue you some more...

Today I'm back to the pounding out another first draft. I wanted to get a walk in before the work took over again. In case you're also in the mood for a trip outside here's a link to a useful pdf of urban gardens in Foggyville from SPUR. Enjoy!

Comments

[Janis Tester]

I am homesick.

[Becca]

That's inspiring! Maybe I'll pull out my map of Berkeley paths and stairways this evening, and plot out a new walking route...
and congratulations on all your milestones hit.