I wasn’t going to write anymore about our trip to San Francisco. I still need to cover the trip to Alcatraz, though, and working on the StreetcarArt.com project got me thinking about something I had seen while in the city by the bay, as it’s called.
You see, there was also a public art project in San Francisco, called Hearts in San Francisco. It’s been over since 2005, when most of the hearts were removed from around town and placed with their owners. There are a couple left, like the one above in Union Square. It was just today, going through the pictures, that I actually read the plaque.
Yep, that’s Tony Bennett’s, Mr. “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,”‘ heart that he painted and presented to the city to kick off the project.
There’s more on “A Streetcar Named Inspire” at StreetcarArt.com. The first streetcars are being placed, including Dennis Procopio’s “Hands Across the Water” at 909 Poydras.
SF is beautiful city full of people willing to make it even more beautiful. Love it!
Wow, I had no idea Tony Bennett was a painter as well as a singer. On the other hand, many people who are creative in one field also are good at other creative fields. Thanks for posting the public art stories. I enjoy viewing the photos.
P.S. I miss the photo of pelicans you used to have at the top of your blog page. It was so wonderfully Louisiana. On the other hand, the new photo is also wonderfully Louisiana–and I guess it’s unique, whereas one might see a group of pelicans in lots of places other than Lake Pontchartrain.
I am going to have to start taking a walk around the city this weekend and check these out!!
That heart is fantastic. Seattle did something similar at one point, I think they used pigs….
I think the streetcars look rather coffin like..
Karen, you are in good company. The artist who painted the streetcar pictured in this post said, “Looking at the stark white model streetcar, which is about 6′ long, I thought immediately of a casket. Somewhere in my mind I decided I’d incorporate a face and the insinuation of a body on the top along with the hands, perhaps to allude to a wake…”
You can read more of what he had to say here.
Pete, I’ve tagged you for the SIX UNSPECTACULAR QUIRKS meme. Although we don’t “know” each other much–I’ve commented a couple of times on your blog, don’t know whether you’ve read any of mine–I did read all of your archives a few weeks ago and find you have lots of interesting things to say. I think memes are a fun way for bloggers to communicate about themselves. So, if you’re up for meme-ing, check out my blog and see my list, which I posted today, then post your own on your blog. If you don’t wish to participate, that’s okay too–memes can be big time-wasters, too.