Where's the Shopping Diety?
More architectural whimsy. This sandstone sculpture and medallion decorate the entrance to the Santa Barbara courthouse. They represent agriculture and industry, which were historically important in Santa Barbara. These days, agcriculture is all but nonexistent in Santa Barbara itself. If it were carved today, she'd probably be holding a bottle of wine, which is the county's biggest agricultural commodity.
I love the fellow depicted as "industry" inside the medallion. Trains chug in front of him, he sports a winged cap, and he holds a ship in one hand and a fistful of electrical bolts in the other. These days, his left hand would hold a yacht, and the other might have a shopping bag or a plate of fancy grub to go with Lady Agriculture's bottle of wine.
A curious bit of history goes along with these carvings. The sculptor, and Italian named Ettore Cadorin, had moved to Santa Barbara just before the infamous 1925 earthquake, which leveled most of the buildings in town. Having been trained in Venice and Paris, Cadorin was an easy favorite for the contract to do the sculpture work for the new courthouse.
Within days of the earthquake, Cadorin launched a campaign to convince the city that it should be "rebuilt in high artistic style.” Moreover, the city should rebuild “even the houses which are not damaged, but are ugly, and would spoil the whole effect.”
Santa Barbara now advertises itself as California's Riviera, although some argue that the city is excessively vain about appearance. Houses are mostly whitewashed with orange-tile roofs, which adds a homogeneous look to the city. Hot pink or electric blue houses are zoned out of existence. Cadorin would have approved.
Where's the Shopping Diety?
More architectural whimsy. This sandstone sculpture and medallion decorate the entrance to the Santa Barbara courthouse. They represent agriculture and industry, which were historically important in Santa Barbara. These days, agcriculture is all but nonexistent in Santa Barbara itself. If it were carved today, she'd probably be holding a bottle of wine, which is the county's biggest agricultural commodity.
I love the fellow depicted as "industry" inside the medallion. Trains chug in front of him, he sports a winged cap, and he holds a ship in one hand and a fistful of electrical bolts in the other. These days, his left hand would hold a yacht, and the other might have a shopping bag or a plate of fancy grub to go with Lady Agriculture's bottle of wine.
A curious bit of history goes along with these carvings. The sculptor, and Italian named Ettore Cadorin, had moved to Santa Barbara just before the infamous 1925 earthquake, which leveled most of the buildings in town. Having been trained in Venice and Paris, Cadorin was an easy favorite for the contract to do the sculpture work for the new courthouse.
Within days of the earthquake, Cadorin launched a campaign to convince the city that it should be "rebuilt in high artistic style.” Moreover, the city should rebuild “even the houses which are not damaged, but are ugly, and would spoil the whole effect.”
Santa Barbara now advertises itself as California's Riviera, although some argue that the city is excessively vain about appearance. Houses are mostly whitewashed with orange-tile roofs, which adds a homogeneous look to the city. Hot pink or electric blue houses are zoned out of existence. Cadorin would have approved.