Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Beniamino Bufano

1898 - 1970

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 13, 2015

1. Beniamino Bufano Marker

Inscription.
Hand of Peace, 1967

Born in Italy, Beniamino Bufano immigrated to the United States when he was three years old, and settled in San Francisco in 1915. A popular figure of the San Francisco art scene, Bufano was well known for his signature Modern style and large-scale sculptures. Bufano's work can be found throughout Northern California. Hand of Peace is a testament to Bufano's lifelong pacifism, and a classic example of the artist's interest in universal and humanitarian themes. Burnished copper, stained glass and inlaid mosaic tile address the necessity of diversity, and the challenges of achieving global nonviolence.

Owned by the Chang Family, this artwork was generously loaned to the City of Walnut Creek in 2014.

Erected 2014.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Peace. A significant historical year for this entry is 1967.

Location. 37° 54.118′ N, 122° 3.612′ W. Marker is in Walnut Creek, California, in Contra Costa County. Marker can be reached from North Broadway south of Civic Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek CA 94596, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Walnut Creek Library (within shouting distance of

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this marker); City Park & Walnut Festival (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); War Veterans of Walnut Creek Viet Nam Memorial (about 400 feet away); City Hall 1951 & American Red Cross Building (about 400 feet away); City Hall 1981 (about 500 feet away); Carnegie Library (about 500 feet away); Reinharts's Building & Clock (about 500 feet away); El Rey Theatre (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Creek.

More about this marker. The marker and its accompanying sculpture are located on the north side of the Walnut Creek library.

Also see . . .
1. Proposed Site for Benjamino Bufano's Hand of Peace. Excerpt from the City of Walnut Creek's city council agenda item (May 1, 2012) recommending the installation of the sculpture: "Born in Italy before the turn of the 20th Century, Bufano arrived in the United States at age three. He came to San Francisco in 1915 to work on a sculpture for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Bufano taught at the San Francisco Institute of Art, but was let go in 1923 for being too modern. He later taught at the University
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 13, 2015

2. Hand of Peace and Beniamino Bufano Marker
The marker is visible here at the edge of the sidewalk.

The sculpture was installed on the library grounds in June 2014, having previously been installed in 1967 in the Quail Court office park in Walnut Creek. The sculpture is on loan to the city for 25 years.
of California, Berkeley. Bufano was well-known and popular, and often made San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen’s columns. His signature style is modern, with smooth, rounded, semi-abstract figures, animals or simple shapes. Bufano’s best known work was typically large-scale and monumental, many of which have mosaic tile work. Bufano died in San Francisco in 1970 three years after he installed his art in Walnut Creek.... Bufano’s works are prominently displayed in San Francisco (North Beach and Fort Mason) and throughout Northern California, and make up the backbone of the Mondavi Winery’s outdoor sculpture installation. His works are also featured in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, as well as at John Hopkins University, where a sculpture garden has been designed specifically to compliment and showcase Bufano’s work. (Submitted on December 13, 2015.)

2. #519 Hand of Peace. A 2-minute audio clip about the Hand of Peace, presented by Walk Walnut Creek. (Submitted on December 14, 2015.)

<i>Hand of Peace</i> - Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 13, 2015

3. Hand of Peace - Detail

The inscription across the top reads, "The Children of the World Shall Inherit the Hearth".

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2015, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 13, 2015, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.