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Controversial sculpture depicting George Moscone returns to city after 3 decades

A controversial bust of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, who was killed by supervisor Dan White in 1978, is finally being received after three decades.

The sculpture went on display Friday in the city's Museum of Modern Art, 31 years after it created outrage in the grieving city.

The "Portrait of George" was last exhibited in San Francisco in 1993.

"It rocked me back on my heels," said San Francisco MOMA Director Neal Benezra. "It was kind of shocking to me how strong it remained."

Benicia-born artist Robert Arneson created the 1981 piece for the newly dedicated Moscone Center.

"This was a work that I always kind of lusted after because it's among his most important works," Benezra said.

The bust perfectly captures the mayor's toothy smile and lively eyes, but it's the pedestal that prompted outrage and threats of vandalism 31 years ago.

The pedestal includes an imprint of the gun White used to kill the Mayor and supervisor Harvey Milk. Bullet holes also drip simulated blood. A Twinkie painted on the piece refers to White's claim that he was on a sugar high when he committed the killings.

"Mayor Feinstein felt it was not helpful to the psyche of the city," Benezra said.

The piece was returned to Arneson and then went into private collections in San Francisco and Phoenix.

"This changed his life, this changed his work in a profound way," Benezra said. "I think he realized the serious purposes that art can have."

Museum goers said the 31-year-old piece is still powerful.

"I think it's interesting, especially all of the supercharged meaning he's layered onto the bottom of the pedestal," said San Francisco MOMA visitor James Hall.

Marc Salomon, another museum visitor, said he’s glad the piece is finally back where it belongs.

"It was meant for San Francisco and it really needs to be here," Salomon said.

The bust of Mayor George Moscone will be on display at the San Francisco MOMA through the fall.

_{Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:15:06 -0700}

Friends, family hold out hope for missing teen with Fremont rally

The family of missing teenager Sierra LaMar is holding a rally in Fremont Friday night -- one day after the man suspected of slaying the girl made his second appearance in court.

The rally was scheduled to take place at the flagpole at Washington High School, where the 15-year-old attended during her freshman year.

Her father, Steve LaMar, told KTVU he met with sheriff's investigators Friday, who interviewed him again about his daughter.

"(They asked about) Sierra's activity and social media, texting, that kind of thing," LaMar said.

LaMar said it was too painful for him to attend Thursday's hearing where Antolin Garcia-Torres, the man suspected of abducting and killing Sierra LaMar, appeared in court. Steve LaMar said he's seen Garcia-Torres on television, and he said many things come to mind.

"Anger, questions, 'Why?' All those kinds of things," LaMar said.

There's been an effort to uplift the spirits of those who love the missing teenager. Family friend Joanna Isom was originally thinking of planning a vigil Friday, but after speaking with Sierra LaMar's mother, she decided to hold a rally.

"People were giving their condolences and their rest-in-peace-Sierra's, and I was like, 'Stop it, we're not even there,'" Isom said. "But together, we want to convey to the public and the children there's still hope."

Isom's daughter has been spreading the word around campus about the event, which is being dubbed the Faith and Hope rally.

"We want to make this one happy to remember her and remember what kind of person she was and how bubbly she is," said Sierra LaMar's friend, Tatianna Isom. "We want to keep her alive."

The rally was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. where Sierra LaMar's parents are scheduled to speak. A search is planned for their daughter Saturday, starting at 8 a.m. in Morgan Hill.

_{Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:07:53 -0700}

Man beaten and stabbed in motel room after refusing sex offer

A man was stabbed in the chest and robbed in his motel room after he refused a woman's offer of sex for money, a Fairfield police lieutenant said.

The 84-year-old victim said the woman knocked on his door at the motel in the 2100 block of N. Texas Street late Thursday evening or early Friday morning, Lt. Randall Boggs said.

When he refused the offer, a man forced his way into the room, beat the victim and stabbed him in the chest, Boggs said. The suspect then fled with cash stolen from the victim, Boggs said.

Police responded at 11 a.m. today. The victim was stabbed in the chest and arm and was beaten in the face, Boggs said.

He was taken to the NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries, Boggs said.

Boggs said the victim did not call police but was discovered my motel staff when they contacted him about his room rent. The motel staff then called police.

Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfield police at (707) 428-7300 or Solano Crime Stoppers at (707) 644-STOP.

_{Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:06:42 -0700}

News Source: MedleyStory More Local News Stories