This terra-cotta figure dreams alone here on the cornice of a building, high above 4th Street in Santa Monica. Draped in classical garb, smiling serenely, who is she and what is it she holds to her breast?
Is she Minerva goddess of wisdom, and is it an owl in her arms? If she is, she is quite appropriate for the theme of "single", since Minerva of all the gods was always a single woman.
But in fact, she has many sisters - she and sixteen other blue terra-cotta goddesses grace this building. Once the Lido Hotel, it was built in 1931 by architect Harbin F. Hunter, and it is designated a landmark by the City of Santa Monica. The vertical lines and streamlined figures are beautiful examples of Art Deco design.Click any photo to "embiggen."
6 comments:
She is so handsomely elegant...love the shade of blue and maybe it marks the beginning of the receiving of awards! ...and maybe not, but one begins to think about awards in and around Cali this time of year! Great single photo...I'd love to read more about her.
They are gorgeous and rather re-assuring up there guarding life in Santa Monica.
This is the beauty that I think newer buildings just can't compete with.
Old buildings rock! Love the history that goes along with this one.
That is lovely- I really find the little flourishes that decorate older buildings to be enchanting.
How incredible! This makes me think I should zoom in on some buildings in D.C. the next time I go into The City.
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