Interactive Online Art Tour Creates a Walkable Art Route Around CCSF Campuses
By Emily Thorsen
The CCSF Art Tour, created by the Works of Art Committee, lists art five of the eleven City College campuses offer; many of which came from the Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) or on loan from the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC).
The Tour catalogs 45 works of art spread across five campuses, with 27 of these works residing on the Ocean campus. The Tour also indicates which works are in storage; a considerable amount due to construction underway.
One of these works is Diego Rivera’s Pan American Unity. The mural, completed in 1940 but in storage after a stint at the SFMOMA, will be displayed in the new Performing Arts Center estimated the end of 2027.
Architect Timothy Pfleuger was commissioned to design the college’s first library to house the piece but died before its construction. He also designed the Science Hall, Men’s and Women’s Gymnasia, and the Athletic Field.
Other works are in storage off campus, but will also be displayed in new buildings. The Ram, a redwood carving by Dudley Carter will be displayed inside the new Student Success Center.
Sentinels, a bronze sculpture by Aristides Demetrios outdoors in front of the Student Success Center; while on permanent loan from the SFAC. “El Rey, San Lorenzo #1, a stone sculpture by Ignacio Perez Solano from the Frida Kahlo Garden to the new Diego Rivera Theatre on Frida Kahlo Way.
The college started collecting art in 1940 following the Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE). The GGIE was like a World’s Fair held on Treasure Island.
The Exposition was supposed to display Masterworks from Europe; from artists like Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh. When World War II broke out, there was no way for these pieces to be transported from Europe.
Instead, Pfleuger came up with “Act in Action”; where visitors could watch works such as “Pan American Unity” by Diego River and “The Ram” by Dudley Carter created before their very eyes.
“A lot of what was left over came to CCSF. That’s how we got the Diego Rivera mural; although it wasn’t displayed right away”, Works of Art Committee Chair Dr. Barbara Lass said.
The price the college paid to acquire the art varies on the piece. Works such as St. Francis of the Guns outside Science Hall are on long-term borrowing from the SFAC.
Director of Facilities & Planning Alberto Vasquez said, “For the relocation of artwork related to our new buildings, we are required to get approval from the Division of State Architect (DSA). They make sure the attachment or mounting of artwork is safe and secure.”
Many are familiar with Howard’s “Whales” from in front of the original Academy of Sciences. Another sculpture owned by the SFAC; created for the GGIE.
In storage following the Academy remodel, the pair of whales plan to relocate to the Student Success Center.
Another work like this is “The San Francisco Scale Model”; designed by Pfleuger and built by 300 artisans employed during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. Completed in 1940, it is the size of an apartment and represents every structure and space in the city at the time.
Currently, in a Richmond warehouse, students and members of the San Francisco Scale Model Initiative Team envision it housed in the Student Union’s Upper-Level Lounge.
“The model will be visible from the outside and the display will be lit up,” said the San Francisco Scale Model Initiative Team’s own Leslie Simon.
Besides Diego Rivera, a multitude of other famous artists have art displayed here on CCSF campuses. Olmsted’s “Theory and Science” inside the entrance to the Science Hall and Carter’s “The Ram” just to name a few. You may already be familiar with Olmsted’s work from his Coit Tower murals.
Even with all the art CCSF has to offer, Pfleuger’s mission would be for nothing if not noticed by students and other passersby. I approached students for their reaction to public art – do they notice or even care?
Alexa Ellis said, “I care because of the Diego Rivera mural.”
“I notice the statue heads, but not much more art. I do care!”, said Moxie Morrow.
Selamawit Menghistaeb said, “To be honest, sometimes but since I am mostly just going to and from the bus I am mostly not really focusing on it. But maybe if I was looking closer!”
“I am not paying extreme attention to it but I do find it nice that there is a multitude of self-expression here”, said Le’ila Chambers.
- “St. Francis of the Guns” by Beniamino Bufano – sculpture
- “Wyoming Coup” by William Wareham – sculpture
- Science Hall by Timothy Pfleuger
- “The Story of Life and Time” – parts produced in-house, others donated by the California Academy of Sciences – exhibit
- “Theory and Science” by Frederick Olmsted – mural
- “Organic and Inorganic Science”, North Portico by Herman Volz – mosaic
- “Thomas Alva Edison” by Frederick Olmsted – sculpture
- “Leonardo da Vinci” by Frederick Olmsted – sculpture
- Cloud Hall Reading Garden – a collaboration of Women’s Studies, Metal Arts, Sculpture, Environmental Horticulture, and Interdisciplinary Students of CCSF
- “Project SURVIVE” Tree designed by Diana Won, Emerge Studios – painting
- “Hijas de Los Nopales” by G. Billie Quijano – mixed media
- Sundial by August Tiesselinck
- “Organic and Inorganic Science”, South Portico by Herman Volz – mosaic
- “Sentinels” by Aristides Demetrios – sculpture
- “Bighorn Mountain Ram” by Dudley Carter – carving
- “The Beast” by Dudley Carter – carving
- Roger Baird Gallery, previously in Conlan Hall
- “Song of the Spirit” – designed by Susan Cervantes of Precita Eyes Mural Arts and painted by CCSF students – painting
- “Constellation” by Ann Carter – glass spheres
- Atrium Benches by Kent Roberts – sculpture
- Rosenberg Library Exhibits
- “Pageant of the Pacific” by Miguel Covarrubios – paintings
- “Faces” by Alan Brooks – plaster molds
- “Sculpture Deck” by Jacques Overhoff – sculpture
- “Bicentennial Wings” by Jacques Overhoff – sculpture
- “Uptight” by Jacques Overhoff – sculpture
- The City Arts Gallery
- Gallery Obscura
- “El Rey, San Lorenzo #1” by Ignacio Perez Solano – sculpture
- “Pacifica” by Ralph Stackpole – sculpture
- “Pan-American Unity” by Diego Rivera – mural
- “Honoring Japanese-American Students of WWII” by Sansei Japanese-American City College faculty artists – mixed media
- “Aztec Calendar” by Carols Valenzuela and Alex Garza – mural
- Mission Center cases
- “El Futuro es Nuestro” by Emanuel Paniagua – painting
- “Educate to Liberate: Lessons in Community” by Miranda Bergman, Jane Norling, Susan Cervantes, and many volunteers – mural
- “Building Our Dreams” by Carole Fitzgerald and students – painting
- John Adams Center Library Exhibitions
- “Lijiang River” by Michael Kenna – photographs
- “Chinese girl and poem” by Arnold Genthe, Han Yu, and Mak Ming Chan – photograph, poetry, and calligraphy
- Scholars’ Rocks – naturally occurring rocks
- Chinatown/North Beach Center Library Exhibitions
- “Our Work Life” by Oscar Melara, Kate Connell, and the Labor Archive and Research Center at San Francisco State University – mural
- “Working Iron” by Joe Blum – photographs
- Pacific Island Tapa Cloth – tapa cloth