Today started out with a visit to St. Ignatius Church located at 650 Parker Ave San Francisco, CA. My girl friend Lucy had a Great-Grandfather and a Grandfather who were famous painters. Today we saw 5 of her Great-Grandfathers fresco's in St. Ignatius.
We sat through Mass...I have not been to a Mass since the Priests started facing the people and talking in English...and there was lots of singing today...and they had communion as well. That part felt very uncomfortable for me, but I survived! I felt uncomfortable because it seemed that everyone was getting up to take communion...and we sat there looking very out of place.
The church was stunning! SERIOUSLY crazy ... so much money poured into the building... obscenely beautiful! Donation boxes next to the candles...the art...stunning art! And organ music. So much to take in.
Her cousin (I believe that it is her cousin) Gene put on a presentation about the artist, his paintings, and some information about the family. Wow...fascinating! Even a story about Pancho Villa's solders coming to Candelario Rivas, their Great-Grandfather, and taking him back to their headquarters in order for him to paint Pancho Villa!!! The fear! The excitement! The solders wanted him to ride a horse, but he was fearful and wouldn't do it because he didn't know how to ride. So they gave him a burro and he packed his art supplies and they walked him to the headquarters!!! His wife was frightened and sent a maid to watch what was happening and to tell her ... the maid came back and told her he was sweeping the floors. Not understanding that he was cleaning up after the days work!
After he returned home, the soldiers came back because Pancho Villa wife did not like her eye brows and wanted him to change it in the painting! How hysterical! So he HAD to go back! Can you imagine! His nerves were shot!
Here are the photos from the day. More to come later.
To see some art go to these websites, this one is on Candelario Rivas done by Gene. And this website is on Jose his son. Also put together by Gene! I have been so lucky to have viewed a lot of their work IN PERSON! YUMMY! Such rich family history! I felt so honored to be there! And wished I had that much information on my family!
A funny story about Gene today...when I was introduced to him I went to shake his hand and he grabbed me and it was too late he embraced and kissed me thinking I was family! Giggle...he said half way to the embrace he thought "Oh shit" I don't know her! Giggle....what a sweet man though! I told him my family were huggers and kissers and we would have embraced him as well! But it is a great story to tell! He invited me to go with Lucy to Seattle to visit him and his wife Anne, to see his collection and also his gallery of HIS artwork! I am excited about that...we are going to go!
So if you have a chance to see these fresco's in the church...go and see them!
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