Sculpture Show at Gathering Tribes, Berkely

Pennie Opal Plant and Sonny Grant.

I first met Pennie Opal Plant at her gallery called Gathering Tribes in Berkeley, California. I was passing through San Francisco after the Tucson Shows. She liked my work and bought some of my sculptures for her gallery. She suggested that I have a show at Gathering Tribes in April on the 12th & 13th. I quickly agreed and I proceeded to Seattle. I met a few friends from Juneau, Alaska in Berkeley... it was nice to see familiar faces. Indian Rock was so close by, I was so tempted to go there to boulder... best place in the Bay Area to rock climb.

Gathering Tribes, 1573 Solano Ave., Berkeley
On the 12th of April, I arrived at SFO early in the morning, jumped on the BART and went directly to the gallery in Berkely. The weather in the Bay Area was hot... temperatures were in the low eighties. I didn't have time to check in my hotel at Fisherman's Wharf in SF... I went directly to Berkely BART station and took AC Transit to Solano Ave. I arrived at the gallery and it was hot... there was a few people waiting to see me. I proceeded in carving small soapstone sculptures.

Rebecca Haines is the gallery manager when Pennie not there, Rebecca was quite helpful in helping me set up. I sold almost all the sculptures I made the first day at the show... that is always great for me... that people like my art, and I get paid for my work. A day never goes by that I am thankful for the gift the good 'Lord' has given me... and yet it feels like the profession picked me.

Solano Avenue in Berkeley
The show went very well, many people came by to visit and say hello. Most people never seen anyone carve soapstone before so quite a few of them stayed and watched me carve several sculptures. I carved some sea lions, polar bears, some snowy white owls, and a harbor seal. I mostly made several small seals and bears. After the first day of the show, I walked around San Francisco to China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, and of course Union Square area. It was so fun to be back in the 'city.'... the city by the bay. The next day I carved several more sculptures... including a large walking bear. Several people almost bought it... but by the end of the day, Pennie bought it for the Gathering Tribes. I really like Pennie and her partner Michael Horse... it is so nice to meet great people who happen to be 'Native American.' Her staff at the gallery were also really nice, and made me feel right at home there on Solano Avenue. The customers who came by were really interested in my work, and seem to know quite a bit about Alaskan art. It was a fun experience. If you are ever in the SF Bay Area, drop by Gathering Tribes on Solano Avenue... they have a great selection of native art.

View from Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf

I stayed at the Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf... for only $14 more to my roundtrip ticket to SF. It is great using those special travel discount websites on the net. It was so beautiful in San Francisco... it felt good to be back in the 'city'. The city waterfront is so nice, they removed the old viaduct freeway that went along the north waterfront. They replaced it with a boulevard. The sea lions at Pier 39 are fun to see... it makes me feel like I am at home in Alaska. There are about 30 to 40 seals laying on the floats... if you are in the right place, you can smell them. You can hear them from far away, their barking carrys quite a distance in SF.

Union Square, downtown San Francisco

Union Square is in the middle of the shopping district in downtown. On earlier visits, I stayed at Hostelling International, located one block from here. I worked on sculptures on the edge of this square along Powel Street, watching the cable cars go up and down the steep hill. Many people came by to watch me carve seals and bears out of soapstone. I even met people I knew from Vashon Island here. When I travel, I often find myself carving sculptures in the oddest place... like along Powel Street at Union Square. I attract a lot of attention when I carve because many people never seen anyone carve soapstone before. I have often considered myself as Alaska's unofficial ambassador... I tell people of how it is like to grow up in Juneau... tell bear stories... and fishing stories... of the big one that I caught... its true. I also help people plan thier trips to Alaska... to guide them on places to see.

Cablecars going up Powel Street

The Cablecars are leaving the Powel Street turnaround on Market Street. It was close to this spot where I recieved my first 'jay walking' ticket... I didn't even notice the light turned red and I walked across the street... I didn't notice the officier either. Oh well, after I pay it, I want to frame it... maybe get a photo of me and the officier... oh shucks... I feel like such a tourist.

Transamerica Building, Columbus Street

The Transamerica Building at the end of Columbus Street, viewed from the intersection of Columbus, Grant, and Broadway. This part of the city is one of my favorites... North Beach, the Financial District and China Town intersect here. This city never sleeps. There are 5280 restaurants in San Francisco, a city that is 7 miles by 7 miles... a lot of great food. I hope to have a sculpture show at the Images of the North on Union Street in 2009. Yes, I have left my heart here in San Francisco. I used to live here in the 'city'... and back then I thought I would never leave SF. But today I am quite happy that I live in Juneau... to do my art... I can always come back to SF for a visit.