Moments captured in 3D miniature by Lisa Swerling. Est 2004.
Dreams of flying, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Dreams of flying, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Projects /

Here, it’s Beautiful

Rare Device GallerySan Francisco2019

About

You know that feeling, of being in the right place, like you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, and the world feels full of wonder and possibility? A sigh, a touch, a tear, a whoop of joy, a deep breath… and the realisation, “Here, it’s beautiful”.

This refrain was the inspiration for my “Here, it’s beautiful” collection, all about where I lived, the San Francisco Bay Area. It was a brilliant excuse to visit dahlia farms, wander through cemeteries, photograph my beloved Point Reyes coastline, explore the endlessly fascinating Exploratorium and visit so many places that had been on my Bay Area bucketlist for years…

The complete collection was exhibited at Rare Device in San Francisco in Spring 2019. For the month before, the Glass Cathedrals were shown in the places depicted (or nearby), to be enjoyed in their natural habitat :) and to encourage exploration.

The map

Many of the “Here, it’s beautiful” Glass Cathedrals were scattered around the Bay Area in the weeks before being collected together for the main show. Each place below showed at least one sparkling diorama… some were rather difficult to find (quite a lot to distract you at the Exploratorium, for example) but that was the joy of the treasure hunt!

The links below lead to more information about each place, although the Glass Cathedrals are no longer housed there.

The Exploratorium, San Francisco
The Marin Museum of Bicycling, Fairfax
The Artstream (an airstream gallery!), Larkspur
826 Valencia Mission Bay, San Francisco
Rare Device, San Francisco
The Moth @ Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
Bloomingayles, Mill Valley
Point Reyes Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point Reyes Station
Creativity Explored, San Francisco
Trouvé, Fairfax
SOBU, Oakland

The collection

All the World’s a StageAll the World’s a StageThe Moth at The Freight and Salvage, Berkeley Creativity ExploredCreativity ExploredCreativity Explored, San Francisco Dreams of flyingDreams of flyingGolden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Flower boxFlower boxAztec Dahlias, Petaluma Freewheelin’ OaklandFreewheelin’ OaklandOakland, CA Ghosts of Sutro pastGhosts of Sutro pastSutro Baths, Point Lobos God’s BackyardGod’s BackyardSan Anselmo, Marin José NuñezJosé Nuñez Land of GiantsLand of GiantsMuir Woods, Marin Only in FairfaxOnly in FairfaxFairfax, Marin Open canvasOpen canvasOcean Beach, San Francisco Shadow BoxShadow BoxThe Exploratorium, Pier 15, San Francisco StardustStardustPerseid Meteor Shower from Mt. Tam, Marin The Golden HourThe Golden HourPainted Ladies, San Francisco The mountains are callingThe mountains are callingJohn Muir, Yosemite National Park The Night GardenThe Night GardenConservatory of flowers, San Francisco The old man and the seaThe old man and the seaChimney Rock, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA These are the daysThese are the daysNorth Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin CA This is what humanity looks like 2019This is what humanity looks like 2019Painted Ladies, San Francisco Together ForeverTogether ForeverMountain View Cemetery, Oakland Travel far, travel lightTravel far, travel lightTamarancho, Marin Treasure HuntersTreasure HuntersTail of the Yak, Berkeley