William Gordon Huff and the Golden Gate International Exposition of
1939-1940
For the Golden Gate International Exposition, held at Treasure Island
in San Francisco Bay in 1939 and 1940, California artist
William
Gordon Huff created
several monumental works. Most prominent were the four great statues surrounding
the central Tower of the Sun, representing Science, Agriculture, Industry,
and Art. In this photograph, Huff can be seen assembling the statue
representing Art -- note that she carries an ancient Greek theatrical mask.
Also note the small model for the large sculpture, on the right.
Huff also created a number of caryatid-like human figures that "stood guard"
over the entrances to buildings. These figures recall the kore
(maiden) statues of archaic Greek art.
On the left, Huff surveys rows upon rows of
his creations. On the right, one of his figures can be seen in place,
watching over an archway.
Huff can be seen here putting the finishing touches on the sculpted head of
a prehistoric long-horned bison, Bison latifrons, for the
Museum of Paleontology's exhibit
at the Exposition. He created
a large number
of dioramas, sculptures, and drawings for the Museum.
