The Bay Area once had a vibrant boxing scene, with matches attracting world-class champions and contenders to venues in some of the best (and diciest) neighborhoods.
The state-of-the-art William Penn Mott, Jr. Visitor Center, the new gateway to the Presidio, has just opened. It contains a wide array of multimedia experiences and engaging exhibits for the public.
By Paul Duclos
Published: March, 2017
The Bay Area once had a vibrant boxing scene, with matches attracting world-class champions and contenders to venues in some of the best (and diciest) neighborhoods. The “sweet science” has been eclipsed by the more brutal (and vulgar) sport of mixed martial arts, but you can still see splendid amateurs take to the ring for three-round bouts on our college campuses.
Founded in 1916, the UC Berkeley Boxing Club (Cal Boxing) is the longest continuously established collegiate boxing program in the nation. Cal Boxing athletes compete in intercollegiate boxing events as members of the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA), sanctioned by USA Boxing. Cal Boxing welcomes new student athletes with or without experience and strives for its boxers to reach their full potential.
Its chief mission, say team spokespeople, is to inspire confidence and character through mastering the art of boxing, and to develop leaders and champions in and beyond the ring with respect, hard work and passion. Today, Cal Boxing is recognized as one of the top collegiate boxing programs in the nation.
Bay Crossing readers who wish to see the club in action are invited to attend the Northern California Boxing Association’s West Regional Tournament at the University of Nevada-Reno Friday through Sunday, March 16 to 18. For more details, see calboxing.weebly.com.
New Presidio Visitor Center
What was once the nation’s premier Army post, the Presidio, is now a vibrant 1,500-acre national park—but there hadn’t been a front door to the Presidio experience until now.
The state-of-the-art William Penn Mott, Jr. Visitor Center, the new gateway to the Presidio, has just opened.
The center, filled with many engaging exhibits, is designed to be a destination for people of all ages. According to spokespeople, it is a “platform for discovery”—using video, engaging exhibits, interactive tools and knowledgeable staff to help visitors uncover a wide array of multimedia experiences.
The new visitor center is housed in a refurbished historic guardhouse in the heart of the park with views overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.
New Rodin Exhibit
Marking the centenary of Auguste Rodin’s death in 1917, the Legion of Honor now presents a completely new installation of its extraordinary Rodin holdings in Auguste Rodin: The Centenary Installation.
Approximately 50 objects in bronze, marble, and plaster—all from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s permanent collection—will be presented in a new context. The exhibition will examine the artist’s celebrated life and influential work—from his early days courting controversy with sculptures that bore unexpected levels of naturalism—to his later renown and lasting influence.
Auguste Rodin: The Centenary Installation is part of a worldwide series of major Rodin projects and will provide Bay Area audiences a significant opportunity to examine and recontextualize the legacy of the artist known as “the father of modern sculpture.”
“Our Rodin holdings are one of the finest and most significant collections in the United States,” said Max Hollein, director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums. “This exhibition will surprise visitors and inspire dialogue about Rodin and his impact on artists working today. It is a must-see for anyone who thinks there is nothing left to learn about this towering figure in the history of modern art.”
Together with the bronzes and marbles, the Legion of Honor has one of the most comprehensive Rodin collections in the United States. On the occasion of this exhibition, an extensive scholarly catalogue—the first to document these collection highlights—was produced by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Auguste Rodin: The Centenary Installation is curated by Martin Chapman and will be on view at the Legion of Honor from January 28 to April 9. At a recent press reception, Chapman noted that Rodin “was first and foremost a keen observer. Perhaps that was because his vision was bad when he was growing up. He had to pay close attention to everything.”
The artist was not only plagued by bad eyesight, said the curator: “His personal life was not always something to celebrate. He was a complicated man.”
Follow Paul Duclos’ Cultural Currents online with his blog at: paulduclosonsanfranciscoculture.blogspot.com
