I like walking. I like public art. I love walking and discovering public art more…read more San Jose has quite a collection of murals and sculptures setup allover the city. Finding these artistic installations just make my day. From cultural centers like Japantown to historic Willow Glen to the bustling Downtown. There's just so much to see. Thank you Annabelle for creating this page.

The SJ Public Art Collection consists of murals, statues, and diverse art pieces that can be found…read morethroughout the city at libraries, parks, theaters, museums, pathways, and even the airport. The one that stands out to me, which I checked out last week, is MY RABBITS, STORIES IN CLAY, a tile mural in the patio of Willow Glen Branch Library, created by artist Nina Koepcke and children of the library. You have to walk through the inside of the library to reach the courtyard. On the ground, colorful artworks portray bunny characters from beloved tales such as The Velveteen Rabbit. This one's pretty hidden, so I'm glad I discovered it. Other noteworthy pieces I've visited and love are A MONUMENT TO THE LAST BARN at Emma Prusch Park, which provides shade and a nice resting area for parkgoers, with benches inside the barn's metal framework, LUPE THE COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH on the Guadalupe Trail, a structure made entirely out of steel pipes, and PARADE OF ANIMALS at Discovery Meadow, randomly placed creatures in a field of grass. It's hard to tell if these are climbing structures for kids or monuments of significance. The rabbit is obviously my favorite part, especially cuz my actual bunnies like to curl up like the pose of this statue. Two others I pass by regularly during my runs are the ALVISO BENCH & MANDALAS at the Alviso Branch Library and DREAMS OF THE SALT MARSH at the Alviso Storm Pump Station. Both of these perfectly reflect and represent the history and beauty of the quaint neighborhood and former city of Alviso. The SJ Public Art Program focuses on community and partnership, and is constantly working on projects to evolve, all of the artwork with a unique story and meaning, many utilized or viewed everyday. There is much to be appreciated.

"As my artist's statement explains, my work is utterly incomprehensible and is therefore full of…read moredeep significance."―Calvin San José has a long line of, shall we say, questionable Public Art (PA) projects; everybody knows about the giant dog turd statue Quetzalcoatl―or as I like to call him Quetzacaca ( goo.gl/lvswBr )―in the Plaza de César Chávez. Let's also not forget the Fallon Statue debacle ( goo.gl/wKEv0g )―and don't get me started on the mangled shopping carts (goo.gl/vbB6NE) passing for a statue on the corner of Alma Ave and Almaden Rd. Need I go on?! So, whenever CSJ does something right I love to point it out. I first read about Ursa Mater (aka Mama Penny Bear) in the Merc from my buddy Sal Pizarro's column. Ursa Mater is a gigantic piece of coin art that was put together by Hayward-based artists Mr & Mrs Ferguson. She first made an appearance at last year's Burning Man festival and is now prominently displayed in Paseo de San Antonio―just east of Plaza de César Chávez, right by Bijan Bakery. The statue of Mama Bear and her two cubs sits at least 10-12' tall and is completely covered in 200,000 pennies ($2,000 worth) to make up the bears fur. It's pretty cool to look at from afar, and even cooler up close. I suggest getting here quickly to check her out, as she will only be on display until the end of May. And then we'll be back to staring at Quetzacaca forever. FOL...

I like to think that these represent the bear on the California flag. The name Ursa Mater…read more Is an excellent play on words by the artist. Ursa Major is Latin for "greater she bear" So Ursa Mater translates roughly to "She bear of matter" ( I only understand a very small amount of Latin so this may or may not be the exact translation). The bear and her cub are made of pennies so it seems the artist's intention was to make a realistic mother bear out of " matter" , hence the name. Also behind the pennies is a concrete core. It's as if these bears have a real fur made out of metal. As the previous reviewer said, there are are a lot of bad San Jose art pieces, but this one is fantastic. Just an edit: it seems to be gone now. Very sad.

Butternut is a public art installation location on the ground of the Stanford University medical…read moreCenter. It is the work of artist Deborah Butterfield. This is the 3th or her Horse series that can be found on the Peninsula with the other being in the Cantor, and of all places in the middle of nowhere in Mountain View. Deborah Butterfield began sculpting horses back in the 1970's. She started with sticks and clay, but soon progressed to scrape metal. She later moved on to cast bronze. She selects individual pieces of wood and then creates the bronze cast. The wood/bronze is then used to create the horses. A native of San Diego, California, her art can be seen in museums around the country. From the artist: ""The lines of the branches do not simply outline the forms of horses, they create the contours through an accumulation of simple or energetic lines that seem to build up from within. This is three-dimensional gesture drawing, and the result is both skeletal and muscular." The sculpture at first glance appears to be driftwood with all of its detail, but when you touch it and feel the cold hard metal its shocking everything even though I know what to expect. There is a stark simplicity to the sculpture as a whole from a distance, but the intricate details of the casting and the complexity the small shapes form are shockingly complex. The sculpture is about 40 feet from the sidewalk and up a slight hill. There is nothing around and I have to admit I spent a good 30 minutes enjoying both the relative quiet and the sculpture from different angles. I am always fainted by the works. Cast in bronze, they really look like driftwood. Despite being somewhat skeletonized, they appear to be alive. Up close the intricate detail reveals itself. Each angle brings a new view and you can find yourself gazing at it for a long time. Butternut as noted is close to the new Stanford Hospital. In and of itself it is not a destination, however, given its proximity to the Cantor, and numerous other art installations, it is best part of a multi stop trip.

This is an easy-to-miss horse sculpture, made of bronze and metal with the simple appearance of…read moredriftwood pieced together into a lovely work of art. A similar art piece can be found at the Cantor Arts Center as part of a series by the artist, Deborah Butterfield, however Butternut, named after its color, is easier to access and view right in front of the Stanford Hospital, with tables and seating in the vicinity as well. Free self parking (up to 2 hours) is available in the Pasteur Visitor Garage, hidden underground. I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but the sculpture is worth some attention if you're in the area.

Scott Griffin tries really hard to make this shoe both Customer as well as dealer Friendly! He's…read moreoffered Tiny live auctions that are fun as well as announcing the options for the show like food delivery times and catalog and live Coin viewing for major upcoming Auctions. Given a tough time in the Coin market the effort deserves an A+!!! Thanks Scott !

The largest and best attended show in Northern California ...since 1978…read more The Santa Clara Expo spans 50,000 square feet in the beautiful Santa Clara Convention Center. Held since 1978, the Santa Clara Expo receives outstanding attendance. There are over 1,000 dealers and 5,000-8,000 public attendees each show from around the world. The expo also provides a venue for Dealers, Mints, Collectors, and Numismatic and Philatelic Organizations to gather, do business, market new products, present educational exhibits. Representatives of the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild along with many other prominent authorities in their collectibles fields are featured speakers at educational forums and club meetings. In conjunction with every Santa Clara Expo you are sure to find Multi-Million Dollar Auctions by Superior Galleries, Seminars by eBay Seller Programs Consultant, Troy Thoreson and The United States Postal Service.

Miwok is an outdoor art installation located on the Stanford University campus. The sculpture…read moreresides on the grounds of the Medical School. Miwok is the work of noted artist Mark di Suvero. In 1941 with the outbreak of World War II di Suervo and his family immigrated to San Francisco from Shanghai, China. Here in the U.S. he attended both U.C. Santa Barbara, and U.C. Berkeley to study Philosophy. He turned to sculpting at U.C. Santa Barbara after he realized he would not be able to make a signification original contribution to Philosophy as a whole. (Ironically he did get a BA in Philosophy from Berkeley). He then journeyed to New York to continue to focus on sculpting. He is well know for being a devote abstract expressionism and since the late 60's has used this style to create massive outdoor installations with an industrial feel to them. Created in 1982, Miwok is one his more detailed works as many of his tend to be much more minimalist. While its use of steel I-Beams seems somewhat crude, the actual intial impression belies a much more complex creation. Quite thought provoking you are rewarded with multiple impressions from many angles. As with many art installations on the Stanford Campus this is better part of a large tour than an destination. It is close to the Cantor Art Museum, The Discovery Walk, the Main Quad, and other individual art Installations.

This metal and wooden sculpture, by Pete Beeman, is located in front of Fire Station #3 in Palo…read moreAlto. The beautiful artwork has graphics of firefighting tools and accessories etched into the stainless steel surface and giant open hands stretching out from the back, representing the care and helping hands of firefighters in the community. It can be used as a seat, AND it's movable... the most unique bench I've ever encountered. Not to mention how it sparkles in the sunlight. Tip: don't try to move it with your butt or you'll get splinters. Instead, use the side crank to glide the wagon along the track. Perhaps if you're visiting Rinconada Cultural Park (adjacent to the fire station), come check it out.

When Palo Alto first decided to build a new bike overpass/bridge, many residents griped. The…read moreinitial designs were a bit gaudy and overpriced. Eventually, the city decided upon a revamped simpler design that was more aesthetically pleasing. To compensate for the simplicity of the bridge's design, a great spot on that bridge was included that would allow a bit of "art" on the bridge that actually directs pedestrians and bicyclists to the nature surrounding them. This is a great spot to stop if you're walking, running or cycling along the Adobe Creek Loop Trail, San Francisco Bay Trail or simply heading over to the bay, Shoreline Lake or any of the tech offices located nearby. Baylands Vignette allows you to look at the natural beauty rather than the vehicles flying up and down the 12 lanes in this part of Highway 101. You can see the ponds, sloughs, Bixby Park and, of course, the San Francisco Bay (and all of the hills and mountains across the Bay). You can also get a great view of flights landing at the Palo Alto Airport as well as Mt. Diablo in the distance too. You can park in the small lots near the eastern base of the bridge. However, most people simply stop here when traveling along the trails. It's a great and peaceful stop in the heart of the Silicon Valley's hustle and bustle.

Baylands Vignette is a public art installation located in the City of Palo Alto, California…read more Located on the Eastern approach of the new Adobe Creek Pedestrian / Bike Bridge and is the work of Mary Lucking. Lucking, a Phoenix, Arizona resident, strives to link the art she creates to help community understanding of the environments in which they live. Her art can be found in a variety of public spaces and range from large to small installations. From the author regarding this work "I wanted to create a space for people to stop and rest, that reflected the feeling of being down in the marsh, surrounded by grasses, ripples, stones, birds, and insects. The centerpiece of the site are three cast-aluminum sculptures that can be used as seating for a short rest. Organic-shaped and featuring textures from the grassland, the smooth surfaces beg to be touched. Part water-smoothed stone, part hand-polished old tableware, they both full of familiar references, and also very strange. The pieces will be installed when the bridge is completed this Spring, and will be surrounded by a cut-steel fence that will feature 5-feet-tall silhouettes of the bayland grasses, giving visitors the feeling of being nestled down in the marsh." The artwork blends in seamlessly with the bridge to which it is attached. The reed structure rings a balcony and draws attention to the natural beauty of the marshlands beyond. The metallic nature of the reeds provide a start contrast to the marsh. The three orbs provide a vignette highlighting the diversity of the baylands. This art installation is easily accessible to those using the bridge or the Adobe Creek Trail. In addition it is close to multiple segments of the Bay Trail; at large, Byxbee Park, and numerous other baylands attractions. That being said there are no nearby services etc and this is better part of a larger trip as opposed to a discrete destination

Desire is a public art installation located in the Willow Glen District of San Jose. It is one of 3…read morepieces purchased as part of a downtown beautification effort. Desire, created in 2014, is the work of San Jose artist Jeff Owen. From the artist "My sculptures combine the past and the present. I have a deep affinity toward the materials I work with, a wonderful sense of emotion, feelings, and dreams for what the material was once used for and now what it will become in my hands. These feelings direct me on my path. My processes emerge with patterns. Taking one piece of steel; adding to it, deleting from it, constantly discovering the metal's unique appeal. When a sculpture encompasses all of my creative energy, it is finished. My technique is brute force, decide-at-the-moment. The interesting shapes of metal; the patterns, textures, and grains; all entice me. I am fascinated with form. My aspiration is to create sculpture that is completely unique; that no one has done before. I resist conformity and mass production. My art is as individual as I am." The sculpture is both complex and simple with the rust of the corten setting off the red orb in the center. Desire is best part of a larger trip and there are plenty of shops and restaruants in easy proximity to it.