RON HENGGELER

The Masonic temple at 1111 California St. was built in 1958, across the street from Grace Cathedral. It still holds administrative offices for the Masons of California Grand Lodge, as well as a Masonic library and museum.

Inside, it has a unique mosaic window designed by artist Emile Norman. The mosaic depicts a variety of natural themes as well as the professions. It contains gravel and soil from each of the 58 counties in California.
KQED is free streaming Emile Norman: By His Own Design this month in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their Truly CA series.
The film covers in depth, the creation of this mural by Emile and Brooks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Ovh7Rn2MU

The 38x48' mosaic mural by California artist Emile Norman depicts the history of Masonic heritage in California. It's made out of everything but the kitchen sink - thousands of bits of metal, parchment, felt, linen, silk, natural foliage, veggie pieces, shells and sea life, and stained glass. The mural also has a frieze made up of gravels and soils from the 58 counties of California and the Islands of Hawaii.

A detail from the 4-story tall mural by Emile Norman.

Emile Norman and his life-partner Brooks Clement

A detail in the bottom right corner of the mural with the names of the artist and his partner.
Emile Norman stopped working and called 911on September 24, 2009. He died peacefully at the age of 91.

Earlier this year, I became a part of this project at the Masonic.
Forty of my own photos, and historic photos from my collection of vintage images, have been chosen to decorate the walls.
These two photos show some of the 40 photos, printed 40 x 60 inches on aluminum, as Dave and I unpacked them at Masonic for the first time. August 2014

One of my photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches that will be permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

Another of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

Masonic Auditorium during the renovation. July 2014

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

The auditorium of Masonic with scaffolding during renovation.
June, July, and August 2014

The auditorium of Masonic with scaffolding during renovation.
June, July, and August 2014

The auditorium of Masonic with scaffolding during renovation.
June, July, and August 2014

The building's façade features an Emile Norman war memorial sculpture, of four 12-foot-high figures representing the branches of the armed forces.

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

A detail from the 4 story tall mural by Emile Norman

The lobby of Masonic with scaffolding while cleaning and renovating the mural
July and August 2014

The lobby of Masonic with scaffolding while cleaning and renovating the mural.
July and August 2014

It has a several large sculptures representing the four branches of the Armed Services on its outside wall. There is a frieze representing a gigantic tug of war between good and evil forces.

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

From my collection of historic photos. . .Nob Hill in 1924
One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

A detail from the 4 story tall mural by Emile Norman

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

A detail from the 4 story tall mural by Emile Norman

One of 40 photos, printed on aluminum 40 x 60 inches, permanently displayed at Masonic Auditorium

Emile Norman: By His Own Design is a portrait of the self-taught California artist, Emile Norman, who worked with a passion for life, art, nature and freedom that inspired him through seven decades of a changing art scene and turbulent times for a gay man in America.
KQED is free streaming Emile Norman: By His Own Design this month in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their Truly CA series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Ovh7Rn2MU

Or on KQED's web site at: http://video.kqed.org/video/2365317266/

For a schedule of upcoming shows at Masonic Auditorium, click here.
http://sfmasonic.com/