Daily Practice 285/365

Title: "A return to the familiar"

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We arrived back home today, very tired but immensely happy about our whirlwind introduction to San Francisco. The garden is winding down here, but there are still the odd bursts of colour hanging on.

Daily Practice 284/365

Title: "Portrait of Zuzka sitting, SFMOMA"

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We had a busy day, walking up the Filbert Street stairs to Coit Tower, having lunch on Pier 39 and then riding the F line over to SFMOMA. Most of the museum was closed for a change of exhibitions (I missed the "New Topographics" exhibit by 1 week), so for a small fee we were able to see the 75th anniversary show on level 2. The room that I found most interesting was "New Figuration", in which abstract artists like Richard Diebenkorn, David Park and Elmer Bischoff turned towards figurative topics. I particularly loved "Adolescent by the bed" by Nathan Oliveira for the way it walked the line between straight figurative work and abstraction. I think seeing this work directly inspired this image of my sister-in-law, sitting on the rooftop garden café enjoying a latte and cake.

Daily Practice 283/365

Title: "Ruth Asawa Sculptures, deYoung Museum"

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The deYoung museum has an office tower with an observation deck that one can take an elevator to have a panoramic view of Golden Gate park, and the city of San Francisco. In the vestibule of the tower, there is a stunning installation of Ruth Asawa sculptures, each of which throws the most amazing shadows. There is something incredibly engaging about the conversation that takes place between the richly coloured sculptures, and the black, graphic shadows that they throw.

 

Daily Practice 282/365

Title: "Insert Quarter to Watch Us Dance"

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While down on Fisherman's Wharf, we wandered into the Musée de Mécaniques, which has a collection of old games and curiosities. These fine gentlemen were willing to dance for a quarter. It was very interesting to see the range of games from this era that were designed to amuse people and part them from their hard earned money. Others that were quite intriguing included "What every married woman must not avoid", and "Don't Fail to See the 'Unknown'? (for adults only)". The museum also had an impressive array of coin operated video games, including Pong.

Daily Practice 281/365

Title: "Bush & Powell Streets, SF"

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Riding the cable cars in San Francisco is an exhilarating experience. There's noise, the sound of the gears and brakes engaging, the smell of the pine brakes on the downhills. I like the representation of motion and light in this image, it captures that first experience of this great city in the evenings.

Another kleine pause

The girls and I are off on a little adventure. Will resume posting on Tuesday.

Daily Practice 280/365

Title: "falling"

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I love the quality of line in this image and the place the image occupies between abstraction and representation.