(Courtesy of @johndomine1)
Bay Area artists Jeremy Fish, Sirron Norris + more put a fresh spin on SF's iconic hearts
31 January 2018
Bay Area artists are pouring their hearts out—again.
The Hearts in San Francisco public art project returns for 2018 with a series of 36 hearts (six large, six tabletop, and 24 minis) designed by 23 artists including Jeremy Fish, Sirron Norris, and John Kraft. These tender creations are on display now through February 13th at Macy's Men's Store in Union Square.
This year's hearts are as diverse as the city itself, with a range of themes and some wildly colorful. Fish worked with his signature skull motif, while Kraft rendered his heart with his own trademark flowers. Others employed welding, mosaics, 3D printing, and LED lights. You can admire them all at Macy's, or even consider purchasing one for a good cause.
Since 2004, the Hearts in SF campaign has benefited the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation; that first year, 131 sculptures were auctioned off, raising nearly $3 million. Today, the hearts have earned iconic status, starring at an annual fundraiser and luncheon (on Feb. 15 this year) on the field at AT&T; Park.
Here are some of our favorites this year.
Gina Teichert's art focuses on sex, consumerism and technology; her heart represents her love for the democractic nature of public art. Titled Outerlands, the piece portrays the SF skyline at golden hour and the succulents that are ever present in the city's west side.
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Francis Liexplores electronics and tech as a medium for art. The three hearts in this series have 3D printed shells and embedded lights to represent the influence of tech in the city.
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Florian Busch uses everyday objects to create relatable art. His heart is an amalgamation of experiences—the openness of the people in the Bay Area, the fog, and the overall beauty of the city, particularly at night, represented by the incorporation of black lights.
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Angelina Duckett's heart, I <3 California, depicts her childhood memory of watching a family of quail wander her yard in Santa Rosa—they strolled through the poppies and finally down the street. Having also survived the NorCal fires, the heart now also represents the love and strength of her family and friends who opened their homes to her.
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Rick Kitagawa's series of hearts represents the geographic phases of SF, from a pre-colonial sandbar to the creation of the Golden Gate bridge to and a modern, tech-dominated town.
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A blacksmith from Syracuse, New York with a studio near Russian River, John Haines created a central wood piece with a skeletal metal structure holding the spirit within.
▲Colleen Gianatiempo's work balances mixed media elements—layers of paint and paper come together in a spontaneous, organic composition.
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