“Putting an end to a small controversy over a 1970s ‘folk art’ fountain near Union Square, revised build plans for Apple’s new San Francisco retail outlet specifically show that the water feature will remain, to be nestled in a flight of steps leading up to the store’s rear entrance,” AppleInsider reports.
“Apple presented the new plans to San Francisco city officials on Monday, with Mayor Ed Lee said to be ‘happy’ that the company was able to work with city planners to keep the fountain almost exactly where it stands today, reports The San Francisco Chronicle,” AppleInsider reports. “The installation will be moved slightly, though the change is not thought to be noticeable.”
AppleInsider reports, “Lee was initially impressed with Apple’s initial proposal in May, but was forced to reconsider after a Chronicle article by design critic John King caused a minor controversy over the fountain’s disappearance in plans submitted by architect Foster + Partners.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Media-maunfactured “controversy.” That pile-o-yak eyesore ought to be nestled into the nearest landfill.
Related articles:
Apple must modify Union Square store plans in order to save fountain – June 28, 2013
San Francisco mayor rethinking Apple store plan over bronze fountain – May 30, 2013
Apple plans modern new flagship retail store for San Francisco – May 16, 2013
Apple’s new Downtown Los Angeles store to save the unique African flavor of LA’s world class skid row.
“African flavor”… what a bizarre statement. Is that a racist sentiment? Or what am I missing?
99.9999% of Skid Row in LA is black. Illegal Immigration at work.
Skid Row is filled with illegally immigrated africans? Where are they coming from?
Describing something as “bizarre” that is not bizarre in any way, shape, or form is an Alinsky tactic.
We can see right through you, “Heard Instinct.”
No you can’t.
What The Heck Is The Alinsky Method? http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Educate/alinsky_method.htm
Huh, I learned something. Actually, I thought TM’s first comment to be mildly racist (in particular the ironic quotation marks – most Americans suffer from ironic deficiency) and his second comment most certainly racist. In sum, TM’s comments (and indeed your’s) fall safely into the bizarre being, “strikingly out of the ordinary: as . a: odd, extravagant, or eccentric in style or mode . b: involving sensational contrasts or incongruities.” [www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bizarre]
Thank you for your insight. NO irony intended or meant.
I read that and wondered what oreo had to do with anything.
Badly worded. Where the oreo came from?
People never live in SF will never understand why this “thing” is very important to few selected group of citizens. Here in SF, both Environmentalists, Weed-Lovers, and Art-Lovers ** OWN ** SF just like the way Samsung own South Korea.
Personally, I have no opinion about this “thing”. I am happy that both sides able to reach some sort of compromise and moving on. I can not wait to visit the new Apple store!!
I understand. I’m just jealous.
Jealous of the Apple Store, not the fountain. As MDN indicated, it is hideous, but that’s a matter of politics. If ever you need an example of what “compromise” looks like, that’s a great picture.
I understand your SF pain
I live in a sea side resort where the ‘weed lovers’ have taken over.
The City council was debating whether to give out FREE BONG pipes (seriously!, it was supposed to reduce hepatitis and mouth infections!)
For a city of 80,000 they built 8 giant homeless shelters: with free barber, dental, medical and PRIVATE ROOMS with laminated wood floors and CLEANING STAFF! they bought a 5 million dollar hotel to house 20 people (the price does not include Reno costs from hotel rooms to apartments, the hotel was so expensive because like I said this is resort city )…
the property taxes etc are so high working people are fleeing in droves. Stats show per capita it has twice the number of homeless than depressed areas in cities (due to the lux accommodations). Next to the food kitchen near my home which serves 200-300 meals a day, a McDonalds closed down because it can’t find staff (like I said working people can’t live here).
right now the city is upgrading the sewer system for $1 billion (for a city of 80k remember) to ‘save the orcas’.
Sounds like Santa Cruz 🙂
I don’t suppose you would name this town.
Nope I will not name this as more ‘homeless’ will bus in.
on TV on interviews some of the homeless bussed all the way from the East Coast.
recently I saw a TV news report of some of these ‘homeless’ complaining about the free breakfast being served to them, they were complaining on TV that they weren’t being served ‘healthy ‘ foods and a ‘vegan choice’.. That particularly morning they had eggs, pancakes, muffins and danish, milk, coffee and juice.. “Homeless” in a liberal resort are different! (I taped that segment to show my wife!)
and the billion dollar sewer project is so extreme that even the ‘greenie’ environmentalists at the close by oceanic institute in the area university says it’s unnecessary overkill.
The mayor used to be head of the homeless association and still is ( conflict of interest be damned)…. Hundreds of these ‘homeless’ dudes now residents vote for him. The beach front is lined with million dollar homes — people who don’t care about property taxes and they also support the mayor as now that they are retired millionaires they want to be ‘socially conscious’, it’s the ‘in thing’ . It’s only the poor working stiffs who have lived there for generations who are suffering and there not too many left as many as i’ve said have fled. Various public transport options including a multi million light rail system is being discussed to get in workers to serve the area , workers who can’t live there anymore.
and before people think I’m some sort of whacko conservative I’m an artist who has ‘liberal’ leanings who moved into this seaside resort twenty years ago. Bought tiny house and built it up with a neighbour and my own hands.
but the extreme liberal edge today has gone crazy (just like the extreme conservatives) — common sense has disappeared.
I thought not.
I’m glad they’re saving the fountain. MDN’s take is really offensive. I assume whatever nameless philistine writes the art critiques for MDN has never actually seen this fountain and just doesn’t like public art in general. This is a very dramatic work of art when you see it in person. The photo accompanying this article really doesn’t do it justice. It’s a site specific piece – created for its location. We need more public art in our cities and efforts to preserve existing artworks should be celebrated, not challenged.
Apple and their architects should be commended for finding a way to fit the fountain into their plans.
Just because it is art, doesn’t mean it’s not ugly or that people don’t appreciate public art.
I walk past that hideous fountain every day.
The real art will be the architecture of this flagship Apple Store. The “folk art” fountain will only detract from the architect’s vision. It is an anachronism that would be better off moved to a different site.
For some reason, when I see that sculpture, I always think of Lara Croft, Tomb Raider.
Looks like a pile o shit to me!
I’m glad it was saved. She has art all over the San Francisco Bay Area. I met Ruth Asawa at the opening of her permanent wire sculpture exhibition at the De Young Museum several years ago. Like Bene Bufano, she’s a local Art Treasure. She also has a permanent collection at the Whitney and the Guggenheim Museums in New York.
You should have asked her if she thought it was ugly.
MDN also thinks anything Antoni Gaudí made should also be in a landfill. Stick wu=ith Apple news, you’re not an art critic
Everybody is entitled to their opinion though.. It’s Apple news.. Whose store is being built?
I first saw this thing when we went to SF on a family vacay and stayed at the Hyatt, which these steps lead to. Even then, I thought it looked “plunked” there and didn’t really fit. I say get rid of it!!!!!!
Fountain is very nice and interesting artwork.
Stairs ceramics are butt ugly in this context, creating the awkwardness of the installation.
The fountain is cool. Chill.