BAY AREA NEIGHBORHOODS 

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San Francisco's Civic Center in Normal Times
A Photo-Essay
​by  Vivien Zielin

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I thought it would be interesting in these gloomy, challenging times to provide a contrasting snapshot of a familiar City Hall neighborhood activity during normal times, something colorful and cheerful. The whimsical "Fancy Animal Carnival’’ by Hung Yi, came to mind.
     
One afternoon in April 2015, I was taking a shortcut through the Civic Center when a flash of color caught my eye. Walking closer to investigate, I came across some brilliantly colored delightful whimsical animal sculptures.
 
It was a public art exhibition titled “Fancy Animal Carnival’’ comprising nineteen sculptures by Hung Yi, a Taiwanese artist. One of the sculptures, featuring a buffalo with an eagle of peace on top, was made especially for San Francisco.
 
As the exhibition ran for just a short time from April 21 until May 2, 2015, not many people had a chance to enjoy its vivid colors and sense of fun. So here are some photos of the whimsical sculptures.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vivien Zielin was born in England and graduated in history and social studies at the University of Sussex. She was a history teacher in London, worked for an interior design company in Jerusalem, and was the owner of “The China Ware House Company” in Carnaby Street, specializing in fine English made giftware, dinnerware, and quirky teapots. She has worked for media companies on various projects. She has traveled the world. In 2005 she moved to California and became a citizen in 2012. She discovered OLLI at SF State in 2009 and is the Event Organizer for the annual Creativity Celebration. Eyeballing Big Croc: Chasing Dreams Around the World is her first book and was published in 2018.

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