The Sunday SF Chronicle--Public Art Honoring Women, Maya Angelou in Particular

Heather Knight's column today, Sunday, July 21, headed "Concrete movement on Angelou statue," reports that there are still only two statues representing real women (as opposed to goddesses and mythical creatures) among SF's 87 public statues.  They are Dianne Feinstein in City Hall and Florence Nightingale outside Laguna Honda Hospital. 

But Supervisor Mark Farrell (briefly our mayor) introduced legislation in 2017 for the city to increase female representation in the pubic arena to 30%  (no date given).  That means women in elected position, on corporate boards, on street signs (like Frida Kahlo Way) and in statues. 

Mark Farrell's legislation also called for a statue of Maya Angelou to be installed outside the SF Main Library.  (Interesting Fact:  Maya Angelou attended Washington High School, the site of Arnautoff's controversial mural.) 

One hundred eleven artis have resonded since the Arts Commission sent out a call for artists in November.  She doesn't say who was on the selection panel, but they chose three finalists who've now submitted their proposals for the Angelou statue.  The Arts Commission will make the selection committee's August 9 choice the official selection on September 9 of this year, but it won't be installed until December 31, 2020.  She points out that this process from start to finish will have taken 3 1/2 years, almost as long as building the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Since SF hasn't progressed towards the 30% real women goal--only one new statue has gone up, and that was of Gavin Newsom--some are proposing Nancy Pelosi or Alice B. Toklas. 

I'd like to suggest a statue of Barbara Lee (even though I know she represents Berkeley, not SF) in front of the War Memorial, where the charter of the United Nations was signed in 1945 to "maintain" (?) peace and security.  Today's Chronicle also has an article on how Barbara Lee was the sole vote against the "blank check" Congress members gave to President Bush (and following presidents) to wage war.