“Choreography of Steel” is how Architectural Digest describes the work of kinetic sculptor George Rickey (1). This piece by Rickey on the corner of 6th & J can appear, at first glance, to be another simple, static sculpture on a downtown corner. Stop and look for a moment, and you will see that the two…
Midtown Mosaic (2 of 4) ~ 2220 K Street
Part 2 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 read part 1 of the Midtown Mosaic series. Click on any…
Midtown Mosaic (1 of 4) ~ 2220 K Street
The Midtown Mosaic mural is truly an art mosaic, with over 60 different artists’ work spanning an 80’x10′ alley wall. The project was conceived and coordinated by Sacramento’s Midtown Alley Project (MAP). MAP was started by local artists Kristina McClanahan and Clare Bailey (1), and the group collaborates to bring beauty and culture to the…
Flash Mob Dance
I dig Flash Mobs. Watching them never fails to elicit a big grin. Truth be told… I sometimes get a little teary eyed, but who wouldn’t watching Christmas Food Court Hallelujah? Of course, I have yet to see a zombie flash complete with fake blood or a mob of naked folks streaking the streets, so…
Amaneceres de Sacramento ~ 16th & L
Nine beautiful sunrises (amaneceres) radiate energy along the facade what could have been an ordinary parking garage building. From the corner of 16th & J, the 16′ high cut steel grille arches, called rajas, extend down each block (1). The artpiece is called, Amaneceres de Sacramento, and it was created by Victor Mario Zaballa, an…
Impermanence
Everything changes. This wall has no mural. Last time I saw this wall, it was graced with a wonderful mural, but yesterday when I visited to take photos and get a closer look, I found this blandly painted wall. In December, Shaun Turner painted an intricate and interesting mural along this wall next to the…
ArtTake: Arty Bike Racks
ArtTakes are my mini-posts on art found in unexpected places that is often FUNctional (sculpted bike rack, painted newspaper stand, crafted business signage). Bike-rack-art pops up all around downtown Sacramento; from silly and simple to beautifully sculptured. I’ve collected 5 so far and I’m sure there are more to come. Photos of the most elaborate…
Nine16 Mural ~ 32nd & Folsom
Update 7/2012: Sadly, Nine16 closed up shop and the mural has been painted over. Stephen “Vaquero” Williams created this mural for Nine16 Skate at 32nd & Folsom (http://nine16skateshop.com/ or http://www.nine16.net/). Nine16 is an independent skate/barbershop owned by local skaters, Bobby Ingle and Todd the Barber (1). Tom Sorci was also an original cowner but was…
SMAC Art in Public Places Program
Since 1977, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC) has managed the Art in Public Places (APP) program. The APP program “includes a collection of more than 400 permanently sited works of art integrated into Sacramento’s built and natural environments. More than 80% of these artworks are by local and regional artists” (1). The funding comes…
Resurgence Mural ~ UCD Med Center
“Resurgence” is a three-story mural comprised of handmade, hand-carved terra-cotta tiles with glaze finish (1). The piece (roughly 32′ high by 18′ wide) was created by Yoshio Taylor and commissioned by the UC Davis Medical Center for the main lobby of their Surgery and Emergency Services Pavilion. Taylor spent 18 months and 9,000 pounds of…
