This is where my husband starting pulling at me and hiss that I couldn’t just keeping taking photos in a bathroom people were using. Duh? Look at those pipes for the flushing. And the light bulbs. How could I pass this up? Even if I did climb on a stool to shoot it. At least I didn’t take pictures of people in the loo (well, I did take a few shots of rows of feet but I’m not posting them…)
Another detail from the community bathroom that time forgot…
The large community bathroom at Headlands Center for the Arts was an amazing location. Worn down and ever so photogenic…
It was freezing, though, even in the middle of the summer. San Francisco is not a warm place that time of year and Marin Headlands is often more chilly. I would not want to have to shower in a large concrete room so drafty it was almost an open air shower.
I am aware that my family is not always crazy about me being into photography. I wander off, I fall behind, I pose in strange ways to catch just the right angle, but this visit to the Headlands Center of the Arts probably hit a new high of embarrassment for my dear ones.
I swear we had no idea we had wandered into the bathroom. We were just looking around the halls, following the trickle of people and without even opening a door we found ourselves in this amazing room that used to be the toilet and shower facilities when the buildings housed military units. I whipped out the camera and went to work – only to be passed more than once by people in need of these particular toilets…
This small series of images from Marin Headlands are all from the Headland Center for the Arts. It’s an artist community with Artist-in-residence programs, local artists, open houses and lots of different ways to involve people.
This was our first visit and followers of this blog knows how urban decay makes my photographic knees go weak. It turned out the Center was located in old military buildings – amazing place! The best part to be introduced tomorrow…
Apart from a sweeping view of the Golden Gate and San Francisco (when it isn’t shrouded in fog), these are some if the attractions you find right across the bridge:
As you drive across The Golden Gate Bridge you reconnect to firm ground on what’s called Marin Headlands or The Golden Gate National Recreational Area. It’s often foggy and chilly and quite stark but there are quite a few attractions if you know where to look.
There is lots to do and see (other than a great iron bridge) at a leisurely pace in Petaluma. One of our really fun experiences last year was deciding to take a tour of the Lagunitas Brewery.
I’ve done plenty of tours of Carlsberg in my time. A guide takes you around the facilities, you go through the museum and eventually you get to taste one beer for free. Well, this was California… At the appointed time the very large group of people waiting for the tour was packed into the bar (looking like some fraternity house). It took a while as they had to check all the ID’s. Then the guide told us the tasters would be coming up and once he was done handing out samples and telling stories, those who really wanted to were welcome to take a tour of the grounds.
Wonderfully entertaining with me driving from there as Peter got my samples too. Touring the grounds? Nah, why should we? We got what we came for and more so as the guide was a born entertainer. Highly recommended!
This picture is from Petaluma. The town is a bit north of Marin, sort of between the sea and Sonoma Valley and for years, to us, it was mostly the place that hosted the nearest outlet center. But as there is an outlet center we’ve also kept stopping in Petaluma on the way and we are getting more and more charmed by the place.
The film American Graffiti was filmed here because of it’s 50’ies atmosphere. Once you get out of the car and take the time to walk around, you’ll find lots of little shops and in the past years they’ve claimed the area by the water to cafés, the water being the northern part of the bay.
With my love for details I couldn’t possibly pass by this prime specimen even if I had to run to catch up with the family. But what is it?
Karins Fotos 