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Western Screech Owl Habitats (installation view)
Presidio Habitats

Ai Weiwei

Western Screech Owl Habitats

Through the addition of a strategically placed aperture, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei transformed a classical Chinese vessel type into a living environment for the Western Screech-Owl. These elegant and purposefully ornamental habitats evoked a range of associations—the Presidio’s Pacific Rim orientation, San Francisco’s Chinese heritage, and the transmission and transformation of culture through trade.

  • Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines
    Installation Views
Ai Weiwei
Ai WeiweiChinese, born 1957

Ai Weiwei is a Beijing-based artist and activist whose work encompasses sculpture, installation, photography, film, architecture, curation, and social criticism. His art has been featured in major solo exhibitions including Ai Weiwei at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, UK, 2014; Evidence at the Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, 2014; and Ai Weiwei: According to What?, which was organized by the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, in 2009, and traveled to North American venues in 2013–14. Ai collaborated with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the “bird’s nest” stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2015.

Ai Weiwei Website

Top: Ai Weiwei, Western Screech Owl Habitats, 2010 (installation view); photo: Monique Deschaines

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    • New Work by Cornelia Parker
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Field Notes

  • Allison Stone talks Art in the Presidio

  • Art in the Parks and “Home Land Security”: A Partner’s Perspective

  • Q&A with “Home Land Security” Curator Cheryl Haines

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Sanctuary Salon (February 23, 2018)

Sanctuary Salon (February 23, 2018)

Echoing Sanctuary's ethos of plurality, the "Sanctuary Salon" series weaves together the voices of artists whose practices span creative disciplines, including ...

Brendan Fernandes: Safely (2017)

Brendan Fernandes: Safely (2017)

As part of his commission for "Sanctuary," Brendan Fernandes presented a site-specific durational performance that explored themes of reverence and sacred ...

Panel Discussion: Approaching the Rug as a Critical Form

Panel Discussion: Approaching the Rug as a Critical Form

Panel Discussion "Above the Rug: Approaching the Rug as a Critical Form" February 11, 2018 Historically and traditionally, rugs are a medium for cultural ...

Sanctuary

Sanctuary



Sanctuary Salon (January 26, 2018)

Sanctuary Salon (January 26, 2018)

Echoing the ethos of plurality embodied within FOR-SITE's exhibition "Sanctuary," the "Sanctuary Salon" series weaves together the voices of artists whose ...

Sanctuary Salon (December 14, 2017)

Sanctuary Salon (December 14, 2017)

Echoing the ethos of plurality embodied within FOR-SITE's exhibition "Sanctuary," the "Sanctuary Salon" series weaves together the voices of artists whose ...

Twitter

  • It's a full house (er, Chapel) tonight for FOR-SITE's first #Sanctuary Salon https://t.co/ABOANPBfeV
  • Happening now: Free #silkscreening workshops with #SanctuaryPrintShop outside #Sanctuary @FortMasoninSF Chapel https://t.co/4BGs628mct

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  • Before closing out our 5-year “Tree Fall” anniversary, we want to give another shout-out to all the volunteers who gave their time and sweat to making “Tree Fall” possible. 5 years on and we’re still incredibly grateful for their dedication. The installation was tough, but they all jumped into those Tyvek suits, pulled on their gloves, got down and dirty with the clay, and GOT. IT. DONE. #ArtAboutPlace
  • It’s here—day 9 of our 5-year “Tree Fall” anniversary where we get to share the finished work you all know and love! After 72 hours (3 days) the work dried and cracked. The cracking pattern was natural—no scoring, carving, or coaxing on the part of the artist was done to the work (except the impeccable planning and execution of the clay production and application, of course). After about a month, dehumidifiers were installed inside the work to ensure complete drying and mitigate any potential for mold growth. In October 2013, the work was open to the public. #ArtAboutPlace
  • It’s Day 8 of FOR-SITE’s 5-year “Tree Fall” anniversary and we have now arrived at the penultimate step of the installation process—the application of the clay! Once the patties were rolled out and prepped, they were then smooshed (“smooshed” is a technical term, right?) by hand onto the hay/slip base layer. Although a seemingly simple process, it was actually one of the most tedious, time-sensitive, and labor-intensive. Creation of the patties had to be timed carefully to match the speed of application in order to ensure uniform drying. The application itself was back- and shoulder-breaking work that didn’t allow for much rest (again, due to concerns over uneven drying). When at last the entire installation had been covered, a professional plasterer came into provide a final smoothing to the entire surface before it was left to dry and crack. #ArtAboutPlace
  • For Day 7 of our 5-year “Tree Fall” anniversary we’re jumping in right where we left off on Day 6 with the clay patties. Once made, the clay patties were scored, given a light layer of slip, and sprinkled with a dusting of the prepped hair in order to give the patties texture for adhering to the base layer. __ If any of you have seen the recent documentary “Leaning Into the Wind,” the woman in this photo may look familiar. It’s Holly Goldsworthy, Andy’s daughter. Holly has worked closely with her father on many of his projects the past few years, and helped manage the clay work team for “Tree Fall.” #ArtAboutPlace

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Field Notes

  • Allison Stone talks Art in the Presidio

  • Art in the Parks and “Home Land Security”: A Partner’s Perspective

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