Ocean Beach, Breeeeeze (Week 05)

I love the beach, I pretty much grew up in the ocean so I was very excited to go to Ocean Beach. After a mere 10 minute drive I was at this gorgeous beach, and that made me very upset. I have been living in San Francisco for 2 years and today was my first visit? The entire area was breath taking and I knew once pressed the "on" button on my camera and took the first photograph, I wouldn't stop (and I didn't).

Upon my arrival to the beach, there is a large sign that not only blocks the beautiful sunlight, it carries a negative message. I didn't like this sign at all, it's basically a warning sign telling you to be careful but the way its worded was dreadful. I felt that instead of being a warning sign it was a sign that stopped you to remind you that you are in real life. I understand that it isn't my decision to make I decided that because everything that you saw was green, blue and beautiful and the breeze was killer it was unreal. Therefore I concluded that this sign is a reality check and so, I was no longer upset by it.

At the beach itself there weren't many textual signs, but there were other kinds. My favorite were people's footprints, they acted as a natural sign of direction. You could follow the footprints but you would probably end up nowhere; you could also look at them all in a big picture and see they all lead to the water.

In no hurry what-so-ever, i went over to the other side to the Beach Chalet to see the murals. In class we were discussing the issue of preserving and maintaining the murals, but that didn't really come into context until I saw them. The murals are beautiful hand painted pictures of San Francisco and its people in the early 20th century. If you take a few steps closer and look at the details on the pictures, the paint and tiles are slowly fading away and breaking. There is so much detailed work that isn't really accounted for and I realized that these murals needed maintaining. 

The issue of maintenance follows if the city would perserve the art works. I think of all the cities in the US, San Francisco is one of the few (if not the only) city that has some sort of culture. These murals are  captures of what the city and the people were at a point in time, a historic time. It is relative to the people of today and San Franciscos youngster to remember things aren't always good but you make the most of it and pick yourself up. Similar to the sign at the beach, these murals are almost like a reality check. I think that is an important sign and message to the people of San Francisco. 

Golden Gate Park: Trees don't need no introductions (Week 04)

San Francisco is home to one of the largest city parks in the nation,  Golden Gate Park. It is very easy to just wander around the park with no purpose but enjoyment, and trust me it will be enjoyed. However in my visit to the park, I was trying to find different things that were given to me on a scavenger hunt list. 

Though wander through the park is easy, find your way around to specific locations, was a little difficult. We struggled through the dense forest that deceives you with its natural beauty, but was actually planted in this plot of land that once was...sand. It wasn't until we recognized the landscape of the flower conservatory that we finally made progress with the hunt. 

Finally I understand what it means to "read the landscape. In fact the whole journey through the park was lead by our reading of the landscape and the buildings we recognized. I was also so in awe of the nature and the beauty of the trees and how they twisted, I felt they acted as signs that told a story about the park. 

Although I did admire the beautiful sculpting of the statues and art pieces, the vandalism really destroys the importance of it. For example when I looked at one angle of this monumental statue(see in pictures below) I thought to myself, wow this man must have been a legend. Then you look at the other side of this "monumental statue" and simple words of mockery destroyed this vision I had of power and superiority that the art piece carries. Thats when I thought of McLaren and why he didn't want to be portrayed in that manner and it was a different perspective but I still respected it. 

The statues may be beautifully crafted, and the signs could be scattered in ever inch of the park, however McLaren is very right when it comes to the landscape. The landscape and nature of the park truly creates a sense of place and tell stories you don't need words for. 

                                                 

Haight Ashbury (week 03)

Haight and Ashbury is the most famous cross street known to San Francisco. The Haight district is the epitome of the hippie age, it holds so much history and art. The art in this area is what draws the people to it. The art is loud, vibrant and speaks to you sometimes it can be dull and holding no message, but still nice to look at. Through my journey in the Haight district I tried to capture a different perspective of the neighborhood.

Back in the 60's Haight and Ashbury was over populated with hippies, drug use and art making. It carries a lot of history and today's capitalist world have successfully managed to take advantage of that attraction point. Shopping in the Haight is very popular and there were so many signs to helped me see that. The clothes that are sold however also act as signs, and symbols of the area.

The doors in this neighborhood weren't just signs but a banner for signs. As I walked through the area trying to capture signs I noticed a lot were plastered on doors. On each door was some form of sign, some telling you what to do others not asking anything from you. Whether the signs were informative or not, I felt doors had a sense of importance in a sense that they kept the area in tact.

Some may say Haight and Ashbury is the counterculture, which means the opposite of whats mainstream and normal in the city. However I beg to differ, I think that the Haight district is the epitome of San Francisco's culture.

Tourists come to Haight and Ashbury and point out its crazy psychedelic signage and art pieces. There is a lot of that but I enjoyed capturing this professional angle of the Haight area where the signage is relevant and meaningful as well as vibrant and beautiful.

Peace, Love & Something else (Week 02)

Signs are plastered all of the USF area, from Fulton street all the way down to Stanyan. There are signs tell you where to (or not to) park, others showing you the way and some with no informative purpose at all. without fail the people of San Francisco have managed to cover every sidewalk, wall, or building with a sign. Of all the signage I came across, this one was my favorite.

As I walked through the spacious and open park, with bikers and joggers zooming past me I stumbled on this sign. The symbols peace, love and something else were subtly dotted on the sidewalk in a now dirty shade of pastel blue. The uneven circles painted on the ground were faded, which makes it clear this has been sitting here for a few years. 

The question of for whom this may have been painted was simply for everyone. This sign is meant for the person walking or cycling by it. It expresses something that I find to be very san franciscan, which is the spreading of peace and love. This sign is so simple yet its message is carried a long way.

This sign creates a sense of place, by the message it sends. whether you're a San Francisco native or far away from home, this reminder of love makes you feel comfortable and safe. The calm shade of blue used to illustrate this kind message helps portray this area as somewhere peaceful. If instead there was negative symbols drawn in a loud color, it changes how you feel about where you are. In a sense signs are also away of reading the landscape and the type of neighborhood that you are in.  

It is very unlikely that this sign was there 100 years ago. But I think this message of peace, love and positivity was developed around the 1960's and has created a culture within San Francisco.

All over the streets of the city are all forms of signage, some open for different interoperation and some share a straightforward message. These signs send messages and communicate to the people around it, making a walk around the USF area a little more exciting!