March 31, 2011 – Cesar Chávez

March 2011:

Back in college, I had the privilege of seeing Cesar Chávez speak. It’s a moment that, years later, remains with me. If ever I was in the presence of a saint, it was that moment. Today we celebrate Cesar Chávez Day in California. It’s a holiday that is now celebrated in eight states and destined to become a national holiday — deservedly so. The best way to celebrate is to learn more about Cesar Chávez’s life, his work and the non-violent, struggle for social justice.

¡Sí, se puede! Yes, we can!

March 30, 2011 — Please! Don’t call it Frisco

In October 1968 Sonny Gaspar sent a San Francisco postcard to his parents in Pinehurst, Mass. Somehow, this postcard ended up in one of my I’ll-use-this-for-an-art-project-someday piles. So here it is. Sonny didn’t have much to say. He was staying with his pal Tony Mendoza and could be reached care of the Plaza Hotel at 988 Howard Street. The hotel’s sounds swank, but I doubt it was. There is a new apartment building on Howard Street now. Three weeks after Sonny sent the postcard he said he would be off to Los Angeles. Did he go? Did he fall in love with our City and stay like so many of us have? Was he having a wild time in North Beach? The Haight? Had he let his grow long? We’ll never know. There is so much our imaginations could read into the card. The only thing Sonny was telling mom and dad was, “Please! Don’t call it Frisco.”

March 29, 2011 – Googly Eyes

I have had this little bag of googly eyes for a few years. I knew that I’d find something fun to do with them one of these days. Today is the day. Today is the Queen of Googly Eyes’ birthday. Of course I am talking about Amy Sedaris who has taught us that everything is better with googly eyes. It’s true. Happy Birthday Amy!

March 28, 2011 – Franciscan Manzanita

An important event happened today in American History in 1776. Invoking 1776 might make one assume I was referring to something that happened on the East Coast. But the event that happened on March 28, 1776, occurred right here in San Francisco when Juan Bautista de Anza decided where to built a fort we call the Presidio.

The Presidio was the oldest continuously operated military base in the United States when it was closed in 1995. Since then it has come under the management of the National Park system. While the Presidio played a major role in military preparedness and also in the response to the 1906 earthquake, it never really saw any serious conflict. That was until the Army left. Since then it has been a constant battle over the direction and change the Presidio would take. And being San Francisco, passions and tempers have been high. When I watch the news and see what risks people are going to around the world to overthrow dictators, my fellow San Franciscans screaming about the future of the Presidio seem particularly ridiculous. Public input is important, but a bit of perspective would also help.

When the Presidio became a park, my initial reaction was that it was not a pristine wilderness. And while not pristine, it is great how much restoration has taken place in the Presidio. It’s not the place de Anza visited 225 years ago, but it is a bit closer back to what it was. One of the best discoveries was some hidden, rare Franciscan Manzanita. It had not been seen growing in the wild since 1947. California has nearly 100 species of Manzanita (it’s a personal favorite) and many are endemic and have a very small range. Franciscan Manzanita’s original range was limited to our end of the Peninsula. You can see some in the Arboretum in Golden Gate Park. The location of the Franciscan Manzanita in the Presidio is a secret. The Army may be gone, but there are still some top secret spots.

March 27, 2011 – Bears

A few years back, late one summer I was driving out of Sequoia National Park and saw Bear Crossing signs. And then there he was, a big old bear munching away by the side of the road. Not the most dramatic encounter, but I was exited nonetheless. It was the first time I ever saw a bear in the wild. All the trips to Yosemite, Yellowstone and other parks, and I had never seen one before. But for most of us, we live in places where bears are more likely found in place names then out in the woods. The Bear Valley Trail at Point Reyes is one of my favorite places. It’s been years since any bears have been seen in those parts.

March 26, 2011 - Eschscholzia californica

At the corner of Oak and Steiner there is a small, overgrown patch of garden. It’s unkempt and currently full of very green grass. The other day I noticed a handful of California Poppies in bloom. Nothing more signifies spring in California than the arrival of our state flower. They start turning up everywhere this time of the year. On a good wet year like this, Antelope Valley is one of the best places for the full on fields of poppies experience. But closer by I always like to get out to Mount Diablo in the spring. The trick is to go around the mountain to Clayton and come in on the east side by Mitchell Canyon. From there it’s a long hike to the top if you like. There is no reason to climb if you don’t want to. The best parts are the meadows of poppies and wildflowers on that side of the state park. That is a hike that will take you into the world that inspired Arthur and Lucia Mathews. It’s California Poppies in a pre-subdivision California.

You Art What You Eat!

The saying is “You are what you eat.” In my case, I prefer to say, “You art what you eat.”

Nearly one quarter of the 365 pieces are now done. As the 2011 Project progresses, I am beginning to notice patterns. One pattern is that I paint a lot of food I like. These are just some of the food-based pieces. And to be sure, there will be more.