Colma to Fresno - I Love Cemetery Artwork!

I love cemetery artwork.  If there are any of you that have visited Colma, California you will understand what I am talking about.  When I was little, my grandma often did what she called the cemetery rounds.  We would go to Olivet Memorial to the Columbarium where my great grandparents ashes are, as well as visit several others.  We would always stop at the Seamen's Memorial (for all the sailors that have died in San Francisco Bay) and I would place flowers there.  What happened during these trips was to become a life long obsession with the carved headstones, mausoleums (little houses) and figures.

Cemetery statuary from the turn of the last century is truly a lost art form.  The Italian Cemetery in Colma is a wonderland of beautiful stained glass windows and fantastic angels and other beings.  SO when I go out of town anywhere, I always like to take a look at the local cemetery to see what may be there.

Another of my favorite cemeteries for artwork is at the Old Belmont/Calvary/Mt. Ararat in Fresno, California.  I was inspired the last time I visited Fresno in 2009 to go to the Calvary Cemetery, in particular, and take some photos.

I couldn't resist the temptation to play in pastels with this one.  There are tons of photos I took from that trip and hope to start playing with.

THE CRUCIFIXION

oil pastels

Calvary Cemetery, Fresno, CA

2009 copyright Louise Ann Stowell 

If you ever get the chance to go to San Francisco, go south past Daly City and visit San Francisco's official necropolis.  San  Francisco has not permitted any burials within the city limits since before 1930,as  property was being deemed more valuable than to serve as graveyards.  So all (hypothetically speaking...they still find bodies from time to time at the old sites...disturbing to the neighbors, golfers and park goers!  Pretty funny in a black humor sort of way! :)  ) the cemeteries were moved to Colma.  My great grandfather worked in the Masonic re-location and I have a photo of him in the Masonic working.  Grisly, I know.

Anyway, these fantastic artworks are waiting to be seen and photographed.  Take a bunch of flowers from Paul's Floral and maybe place one or two at favorite grave sites or at the place of a loved one. And don't forget to look up some of San Francisco's famous departed, one of which is the legendary Wyatt Earp!