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El Refugio

A place on the web for escapism.

Monday, April 5, 2010

The Beach Chalet #2

Unlike the frescoes inside Coit Tower, the art at the Beach Chalet is WPA era artwork at its best. The frescoes were designed by Lucien Labaudt, and installed in Beach Chalet in 1936.  Here are but a couple of detail shots. For your reference, read the Historical Essay, Labaudt's Inspirational Beach Chalet Murals, by Steven M. Gelber [from "Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in California History magazine, Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2].

There's a brief mention of these frescoes at the SF WPA website.


Planting trees in Golden Gate Park.









The staircase to the second floor features intricate wood carvings, notably a wonderful octopus, an old fashioned diver and other marine-themed monsters created by Michael Von Meyeran. Artistic touches are to be found throughout the building, where even the cast iron grill to the heating system is ornately decorated.  This building also serves as a historic visitor center for Golden Gate Park. It houses two restaurants, one that purports to be a brewery.