Manifest Destiny! is a temporary rustic cabin occupying one of the last remaining unclaimed spaces of downtown San Francisco --- above and between other properties.
The project is a commentary/critique on the unwavering perseverance of San Francisco’s early settlers. During the mid 19th century, as the eastern United States became over-crowded and expensive, the West offered limitless possibilities for those willing and able to make the journey. The drive to seek new possibilities and establish a better life at any cost is the conceptual motivation for this project.
The tiny cabin can be seen affixed to the side of the Hotel des Arts, floating above the restaurant Le Central like an anomalous outgrowth of the contemporary streetscape.
Using a nineteenth-century architectural style and vintage building materials, the structure is both homage to the romantic spirit of the Western Myth and a commentary on the arrogance of Westward expansion.
The Building of the Cabin and Installation:
The interior space of the house can be seen day and night through the curtained windows, a lonely beacon in the city's dense landscape, and an incongruous, haunting vision from below.
The installation will remain in place and be slowly transformed by the elements through October 2012.
Manifest Destiny! is a temporary site specific installation in San Francisco, California by artists Mark Reigelman and Jenny Chapman with Structural engineering by Paul Endres. The project was commissioned by Southern Exposure and funded by the Graue Family Foundation. It is on view through October 28th, 2012.
images and information courtesy of artists Mark Reigelman and Jenny Chapman
