There there

Have you heard that old Gertude Stein quote about Oakland? “There is no there there.” Taken out of context, her statement about being unable to return to her family home (it had been demolished) was turned into a declaration of Oakland’s lack of culture.

Artists Steve Gillman and Katherine Keefer made sure there is a “there”in Oakland, with this sculpture at the Ashby BART station.

And it has nothing to do with home, or with Oakland, but I often find that phrase floating around in my head as I get close to finishing pieces.

The most important thing to me is to have a character whose eyes you can look into. Someone who is there.

Maybe it does have to do with home. The most basic one. Someone who really sees you. I guess for me, that is the there there.