Blog

Baldessari’s Glass Panels at UCSD

 

John Baldessari is one of those artists who seems to work in nearly every realm one can imagine — painting, photography, film, video, sculpture, installation, performance, you name it. The one medium I’ve never really associated with him is glass; and yet I was recently reminded of the glass panels that he created in 2001 for the entrance of the Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego. The man indeed does it all!

One inspiration for this work apparently was Lorenzo Ghiberti’s famous bronze doors (“the Gates of Paradise” per Michaelangelo) for Florence’s Baptistery in the 15th century, which depict Bible stories in high relief, imparting moral lessons to all who passed through them. Baldessari’s approach, of course, is highly contemporary and offers lessons primarily in the form of thought-provoking prompts. The Geisel Library is a wonder of a building, designed by Modernist architect William Pereira, with a later expansion by Gunnar Birkerts. In considering the doors of entry, Baldessari decided to incorporate the whole lobby into his design.

 

Baldessari’s READ/WRITE/THINK/DREAM at UCSD (via Stuart Collection, UCSD)

 

Naturally, my favorite feature of Baldessari’s work here are the vibrant glass panels that grace the entry’s automatic sliding doors. The panels transform continually, if fleetingly, as the doors open and panels overlap, mixing the colors. Ever multidisciplinary, Baldessari also created eight 10-foot glass panels on either side of the doors that feature photographs of UCSD students standing atop shelves of books. As the university observes, “They become part of the architectural structure – like a Greek temple using the figures as columns, the books as their bases.” Above the entry read the words, “READ / WRITE / THINK / DREAM,” directly prompting contemplation as we move into the space.

Entering in, additional interior glass panels embody photographic images of the Southern California landscape (palm trees, the beachfront); instruments of learning (pens, pencils); and more UCSD students. Eucalyptus wood benches by Roy McMakin offer real students a place to sit with the work – indeed, to read, write, think, and dream.

Once again, this work is a great example of an immersive lobby environment, one that truly invites guests to enter into the character of the space. If you ever find yourself in San Diego, it’s well worth a visit.