ArtTakes are my mini-posts on art found in unexpected places that is often FUNctional (sculpted bike rack, painted newspaper stand, crafted business signage). Today’s arttake is a follow-up to my first post on bike racks from Feb 2011. Nick on the Town has also posted on fun bike racks around downtown in two installments: Sept…
Serendipity Fountain ~ 400 Q
Although I’m still discovering the numerous art fountains throughout the downtown area, I’m willing to bet that Serendipity by Mark di Suvero would win in the category of “Most Fun Fountain”. Serendipity sits in the park-like area near the entrance to the CalPERS building at 400 Q. The spiraling shape of the top sculpture, the…
von Schlegell Fountain ~ 300 Capitol Mall
What a happy surprise to pass Capitol Mall recently and find water cascading down the fountain at 3rd and Capitol. This 45′ tall stainless steel fountain was created by David von Schlegell whose sculptures were very influenced by his time as an aircraft engineer for the US Air Force (1). Nautical and aeronautical themes emerged…
Proteus Fountain ~ 9th & H
Summer in Sacramento, the perfect time to seek out public art in the form of fountains. A large fountain spraying cool water into the air surrounded by dozens of trees creates a nice respite in the courtyard at the entrance of the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse. The fountain is a 32′ diameter sculpture…
CADA Mural ~ 7th & S
Sacramentans are gardening, biking, walking to work, restoring Victorian homes, and playing with pets and kids on the mural that graces the CADA Maintenance Office at 701 S Street. The figures in the mural are surrounded by trees and Golden poppies (the California state flower), and all of this is overlayed on a colorful grid…
ArtTake: Crafty Signage
ArtTakes are my mini-posts on art found in unexpected places that is often FUNctional (sculpted bike rack, painted newspaper stand, crafted business signage). Today’s ArtTake is a collection of arty/crafty business signage from around town. I’ll apologize now for the quality of many of the photos. The weather was overcast with a lot of glare…
Butterfield Horse ~ 5th and J
The spirit of an old Air Stream trailer lives in this sculpture by Deborah Butterfield. Butterfield has focused her 40-year career mastering her one subject, horses, and she primarily creates her pieces with found objects like wood and scrap metal. Her sculpture at 5th & J was installed in 1983 and is crafted out of…
Midtown Mosaic (4 of 4) ~ 2220 K Street
Part 4 is the final post in the Midtown Mosaic series and focuses on several more sections of this expansive mural which includes the work of more than 60 artists. The project was conceived and coordinated by Sacramento’s Midtown Alley Project (MAP). If you missed them, be sure to start with part 1, part 2,…
Whiskey Wild: Steel Doors and Windows ~ 1910 Q St
Update 7/2012: The steel doors and windows have been removed as part of construction happening on the building in what looks to be preparation for opening another bar here. The lone bar near the railroad tracks at 19th & Q, Whiskey Wild, has been vacant and boarded up for years now. Driving by one day,…
Midtown Mosaic (3 of 4) ~ 2220 K Street
Part 3 of the Midtown Mosaic series focuses on several more sections of this expansive mural which includes the work of more than 60 artists. The project was conceived and coordinated by Sacramento’s Midtown Alley Project (MAP). If you missed it, be sure to start with part 1 and part 2 of the Midtown Mosaic…
