Saturday, August 1, 2015

sad

 

A friend reminded me yesterday that to be creative means that you create “something”.  It isn’t enough to think about it or read about it or look at what others are creating, but you have to do it. I have somehow had a summer hiatus that is blocking that flow, both in writing and in photography. I wonder if it is related to a resistance to change?

It struck me as I looked at one of my favorite buildings this week….the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I have loved this building for its presence on the urban scene, for the glory of its collections and for the many hours I have spent wrapped in creativity within its walls. I have photographed it inside and out. In fact, a Spanish magazine selected one of my SFMOMA photos as one of the best of the year. But, now an enormous new addition is nearing completion to encompass a vast new collection of art, new galleries that will allow much more of the permanent art to be shown, plus expanded and inviting new public spaces. It seems evident to me that the building I loved is now tacked on to an urban behemoth, almost as though an afterthought.

I imagine that I will find new and wonderful things to admire and love in the new structure. However, it seems like I have watched a loved companion relegated to the past. Mario Botta’s 1995 vision of an art space in San Francisco deeply resonated with me. I am sad.


The first photo shows the Botta building as it related to the incredible 30’s Pacific Telephone building of Timothy Flueger. The second show the Botta building coming out the side of the new Snohetta building.