Jasper Priestess @Downtown Los Altos CA ©…read moreThis is one of the public art installations in my downtown Los Altos, a sculpture called Jasper Priestess, created in 2011 by artist Damien Jones. Located at the corner of Main & 2nd Streets, by the U.S. Bank & Posh Bagel, across the street from Le Boulanger. If you'd been to Los Altos downtown, you've likely walked by it many times. City of Los Altos Public Arts Commission installed multiple sculptures around downtown about a decade ago. This is one of them. One can view this artistic creation as a female figure holding her arms up over her head. Damien Jones creates water features and sculptures to highlight stone and water, that's my take on his art. I believe his sculptures are made from high-fired ceramic but you don't have to take my word on it. Take his. He makes private custom designs, water walls, and fountains for private collections if you are interested. He works at his studio in Los Angeles. LOL another LA :-) Artist background in my own words: from the beginnings in engineering and quality control manufacturing, to industrial design, Damien Jones career in designing consumer products seemed well defined. You would be surprised to learn that he designed a cleaner for InvisAlign teeth aligners, and for the Swiffer wet mop. He has left that career for art in 2005, traveled to Thailand and India studying meditation and yoga, building up his desire "to express universal truths through art". Cheers to life! Jasper Priestess Sculpture by Damien Jones created in 2011 @Downtown Los Altos CA Review #678 posted with 2 pictures on January 12, 2022

This is beautiful little spot on Stanford Campus. A true gem of cacti of all kinds. I've been here…read moreabout 3-4xs times now, and it's always lovely to just walk around. It's definitely a beautiful greenery backdrop for photos as I did a photoshoot for a client here a few months ago. We took a bunch of photos here, and then we walked over to the Quad for an outfit change and a change of scenery. We saw *the* Robert Downey Jr. at the Quad that day! That was awesome! :D I usually come here on a Saturday or Sunday and just park at the medical clinic, which is basically right next to this spot.

This review is long overdue from 2020; I for visited this spot in 2016 or so and loved it so I…read morebrought my husband here during the Covid shut down in 2020 and we took a nice walk, it was awesome to check it out, explore the vacations cacti and spend some time in nature. Parking can be difficult. Overall a great and well kept garden e

Sail Sculpture is an outdoor art installation located in the city of Mountain View, California…read more Located on Garcia Avenue, it is the work of artist Burke Rutherford. It is located near Intuit Corporation Building 4. As a side note you never see Intuit bikes abandoned but I digress... Rutherford, who was born in Utah, and moved to California in his youth, studied art extensively in Europe. His work which is primarily seen in North America, ranges from huge outdoor installations to small tabletop designs. Its seems very hard to pin down a particular style and he seemed content to dabble in a vast multitude of them. He passed away at his home in Mexico in 2015 From the artist: 'There is noting more gratifying than to see people, young, old, and even blind, enjoy your work, touching and feeling the sculpture as it truly should be experienced" And indeed, before I did my research, I was compelled to run my hand down the face of one of the triangles. I normally do not do this but I'm happy to see this was his intent. The sculpture consists of three abstract, curved triangles position close together. The effect is very cool, and from some angles you may only see one, or all three, but you are drawn into the symmetry and differences of each piece. This kind of art significantly interfered with my bike ride as I was really reluctant to leave the sculpture. It really drew me in. If I had a lawn chair and a decent pilsner in quantity, I could spend hours just staring at it. Sail Sculpture is really off by itself. There is a variety of activities to do within a few miles, and this is better as a stop than a destination. There is a nearby installation I have already review, Ling The Lang and Buzzcock, so there is more than afew to see int he immediate vacinity. There are also several installations int he immediate area I have not gotten too, so stay tuned

Mitchell Park Library is a lively community center with lights illuminating the outdoor area after…read moredark during business hours. Six shiny stainless steel owl sculptures, by Brad Oldham, are lined up in front of the entrance, greeting visitors. Two kinds of owls are staggered in a row, "whimsy" with a round figure and larger eyes exuding a lighthearted and playful vibe, and "wise" with its wings straight down at its sides, appearing alert and attentive as intended by the artist. The tails are curved enough to be used as makeshift seats (I saw a kid sitting on one of the statues while I was there). The mirror finish of the sculptures ensures those who encounter this beautiful artwork become part of the art as well.

Los Altos History Museum is such a hidden gem! It's tucked right by the Los Altos Library, so…read moreparking is easy and plentiful, which makes it a low stress outing. Inside, there's a rotating art exhibit that makes each visit feel a little different, plus a beautiful model train setup that is especially great if you're visiting with kids. It's the kind of thing that can keep little ones happily entertained for a bit. Admission is free, though donations are suggested, and it feels like a lovely community spot that's worth supporting. It's not a huge museum, but that's part of the charm, it's easy to pop in, explore, and leave feeling like you discovered something special.

I would highly recommend booking this museum in Los Altos for your wedding or any event, really…read more The venue is absolutely stunning for an outdoor wedding and has an indoor section too. We really wanted a cozy intimate backyard wedding vibe and that's exactly what we got here! Huge plus is my husband loves history, and you get free access to the museum for a year with a ton of other benefits once you have an event here + your donation is tax deductible. You also don't need much decor at all due to the natural beauty but we hired a decorator for the arches, stages, and table settings. Lisa will also give you a list of vendors partners you can work with just in case. Overall, she was really amazing to work with and super responsive because anytime we needed to do a tour walk through with vendors or a tour of the venue, she was there. Thanks Lisa for answering all my questions!! You can't go wrong having your wedding here. We had a spring wedding of close to ~200 folks and thank God it didn't rain but summer or even fall would be beautiful here. For photoshoot opportunities there's a ton onsite and a beautiful orchard just steps away from the museum for sunset shots. A magical day indeed.

Great work- talented artist and super hard working. Pleasure to work with…read more Looking forward to much more work ahead. Happy to talk if need be for recommendations

"In working with Morgan, there is nothing that didn't go the way that I thought it would. I…read moreappreciated is how efficient she is - she guided me through the process pretty quickly, and all our communication was spot on. It was such a great connection, so natural. Everything about it was easy, and the whole team was amazing. I start every morning by looking at the murals. I take a breath, look at it for 5 minutes, and then I can go into my office and work. The kids are still hanging out by them at every recess, they enjoy them as a part of their life every day. I didn't expect that parents would walk up to me constantly to thank me. That was a great surprise. One lady cried in my office, 'it is so beautiful!' The school just became instantly better! I would recommend Morgan for every reason -- for the process, experience, the result. She goes above and beyond."

This is an easy-to-miss horse sculpture, made of bronze and metal with the simple appearance of…read moredriftwood pieced together into a lovely work of art. A similar art piece can be found at the Cantor Arts Center as part of a series by the artist, Deborah Butterfield, however Butternut, named after its color, is easier to access and view right in front of the Stanford Hospital, with tables and seating in the vicinity as well. Free self parking (up to 2 hours) is available in the Pasteur Visitor Garage, hidden underground. I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but the sculpture is worth some attention if you're in the area.

Butternut is a public art installation location on the ground of the Stanford University medical…read moreCenter. It is the work of artist Deborah Butterfield. This is the 3th or her Horse series that can be found on the Peninsula with the other being in the Cantor, and of all places in the middle of nowhere in Mountain View. Deborah Butterfield began sculpting horses back in the 1970's. She started with sticks and clay, but soon progressed to scrape metal. She later moved on to cast bronze. She selects individual pieces of wood and then creates the bronze cast. The wood/bronze is then used to create the horses. A native of San Diego, California, her art can be seen in museums around the country. From the artist: ""The lines of the branches do not simply outline the forms of horses, they create the contours through an accumulation of simple or energetic lines that seem to build up from within. This is three-dimensional gesture drawing, and the result is both skeletal and muscular." The sculpture at first glance appears to be driftwood with all of its detail, but when you touch it and feel the cold hard metal its shocking everything even though I know what to expect. There is a stark simplicity to the sculpture as a whole from a distance, but the intricate details of the casting and the complexity the small shapes form are shockingly complex. The sculpture is about 40 feet from the sidewalk and up a slight hill. There is nothing around and I have to admit I spent a good 30 minutes enjoying both the relative quiet and the sculpture from different angles. I am always fainted by the works. Cast in bronze, they really look like driftwood. Despite being somewhat skeletonized, they appear to be alive. Up close the intricate detail reveals itself. Each angle brings a new view and you can find yourself gazing at it for a long time. Butternut as noted is close to the new Stanford Hospital. In and of itself it is not a destination, however, given its proximity to the Cantor, and numerous other art installations, it is best part of a multi stop trip.

I am very happy to recommend Madsen in downtown Los Altos. The gallery is well curated by Amy with…read morea great selection of art and artists. I selected a perfect piece for my home. Thank you Amy you were a dream to work with.

Madsen Gallery has a fantastic range of contemporary art and the owner is helpful, without being…read morepushy. The exhibits change regularly, worth the time to see what's showing and the prices are competitive. Highly recommend!

Avatar is a memorial honoring Steve Unangst who was the chief city zoning planner for the city of…read moreMountain View when he passed away in 1987. A plaque at the foot of the statue reads "To recognize his contributions to the design of our community". The artwork was created by L.C. Shank, and portrays a tall figure releasing a bird into the sky, perhaps symbolizing freedom. A simple yet uplifting monument worth checking out at Eagle Park.

This isn't just an art exhibit, it's a whole experience! The setting here is like a jungle, full of…read moreplantlife and fallen leaves, with different stone sculptures, wooden carvings, and totem pole artworks almost camouflaged among the tree trunks and branches, displayed underneath the shade, and benches situated randomly within the forest of art. In 1994, Anthropology grad student and researcher, Jim Mason, organized a project to have a group of artists, aged 27-74, coming from 6 different villages in the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea, to create the beautiful sculptures at Stanford University. The landscaping and plants of the garden were organized by other entities. The artwork is based on Kwoma and Iatmul mythology and stories of creation, the center of the garden created in the likeness of "spirit homes". Two of the pieces, The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, were inspired by the Rodin sculptures on campus bearing the same names, but tell their own stories. The history and design of this sculpture garden are fascinating, and the natural environment and overall maintenance of this exhibit make it an appealing place to visit. It's even a desirable area of campus to hold school events (they had just finished such an event when I visited this past Sunday). Also, free parking is available at Stanford on the weekends.

Its a very cool outdoor installation located on the Stanford campus. T They sculptures are spread…read moreout and all have interesting descriptions of the culture and the art. This is a perfect COVID activity as its not crowded, everything is spread out and its outdoors. Mask up and keep your distance and its all good. There are at least 12 other art installations nearby as well as the Student Union and main bookstore.