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Welcome, San Mateo Bridge
Over a hundred business and civic leaders gathered at Bay Meadows this month to celebrate numerous milestones. Among the highlights was the unveiling of “San Mateo Bridge,” a stunning steel sculpture by San Mateo native son and internationally renowned artist Chuck Ginnever. The artwork was acquired by Bay Meadows’ developer Wilson Meany for installation in the community’s newest park, Landing Green.
City officials proclaimed the day “Chuck Ginnever Day” to acknowledge the importance of the critically acclaimed artist whose family roots in San Mateo go back generations. The artist now resides full-time in Vermont. While he was unable to attend the ceremonies, his daughter Chloe remains in the Bay Area and accepted the declaration on behalf of her father.
Wilson Meany’s Janice Thacher speaks at the opening of Landing Green Park.
Chuck’s grandfather moved the Ginnever family from San Francisco to San Mateo after the 1906 earthquake and he started the first UPS service here. Chuck’s father, Charles A. Ginnever, served as the City’s Treasurer and tax collector for 35 years, and his mother served as the private secretary for the Director of Mills Hospital.
Chuck was born in San Mateo in 1931. He was raised in the Hayward Park neighborhood, graduated from San Mateo High School and obtained his A.A. degree from then San Mateo Junior College in 1951. After several years of studying art at various institutions in Italy and France, he returned to the Bay Area to obtain his B.A. at the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco, and then proceeded to Cornell University for his Masters in Fine Art.
Civic and business leaders join the artist’s daughter to cut the ribbon on “San Mateo Bridge”
Chuck said, “It’s an honor to have this sculpture installed in San Mateo, which is where I feel it belongs. I was born and raised in San Mateo, and had my first art instruction while attending schools there.” With his series of works that consists of flat planes, he has described his art by saying, “My work sits motionless and is only activated by the viewer moving around it – only then does it start to perform.”
Internationally-renowned sculptor Chuck Ginnever at the installation of his public artwork “San Mateo Bridge” at Landing Green Park.
Walkscore.com rates Bay Meadows high on the list for walkable locations to live on the San Francisco Peninsula and for good reason! Bay Meadows has a high Walkscore because it is steps from shopping, groceries, parks, Caltrain, a farmer’s market and a few short miles from downtown San Mateo with its bourgeoning restaurant scene. Check out our Mosey suggestions for more places to explore on foot!