My interest in celebrities is zero, and i don’t care who was spotted eating where, what, or with whom. So consequently i should have no interest in Leah Garchik’s column in The San Francisco Chronicle. Well, other than the delicious Public Eavesdropping pullquote featured in every column that captures perfectly our infamous San Francisco Values. Sample: “I was going to give it to a homeless person, but you can never find one when you need one.”
However, mixed with all the blather about actors and actresses whose faces i’ve never seen (or at least never paid any attention to) Ms Garchik frequently tosses in something about the art scene, so i routinely skim her articles. To give her full credit, it was she who informed me that Andy Goldsworthy was completing his Spire in the Presidio in October 2008, and i wrote then about chasing him down on my Segway and stuttering out my admiration, which got me a huge grin and the most memorable handshake of my life. Why memorable? Well, i guess you’ll have to go to the 2008 Journal and read the tale:-)
And now, in her 17 November column, she’s done it again, writing about Andy’s new project in the Presidio, Wood Line.
So i went over there this noon to try to find it. Stopped at the parking lot for the inspirational view point east of Spire and saw nothing, asked a young man who was focused on his sandwich but was left with the impression that he’d never heard of Goldsworthy, asked a guy closer to my age and BINGO. He not only knew about the project but gave me directions. (Wood Line runs parallel to Lover’s Lane and is best seen from West Pacific Avenue at a point about a hundred yards northwest of the Presidio Gate.
Down Lover’s Lane closer to the sculpture there was a charming young docent who was very knowledgeable about Goldsworthy and refreshingly frank that one of her main duties was to discourage folks from interfering with his work by wanting him to chat, pose for pictures, etc.
Best time to see Goldsworthy and the crew of volunteer lumberjacks at work is mornings. Here’s what it looks like so far:
The Master Plan now is to return every sunny morning to photograph the progress.
Better yet, there’s a screening of the stunning 2001 Goldsworthy documentary Rivers and Tides at 7:00 PM in the Golden Gate Club at 135 Fisher Loop on December 1, and an event called “Walk and Talk: From Spire to Wood Line” at both 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on December 11, but you have to RSVP for the latter by emailing presidio@presidiotrust.gov
And oh, if you ever get a chance to see Rivers and Tides, do it.