Kathleen from San Francisco

About me Born on an American Army base in Germany, I came to the states when I was six months old and my parents were stationed back home at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, where I spent my entire childhood. Little did I know that the military lifestyle was going to become what inspired me to become an artist. I have been a photographer for most of my life. Whether I knew it o...

Apr 5, 2025

Flights of Fancy San Francisco

Artful stairs

""Flights of Fancy" or the Arelious Walker Stairway in San Francisco is inspired by patterns drawn from various world cultures & is handsomely decorated!"

Exploring the city more often than not turns up completely unexpected surprises. During a trip down Innes Avenue, I happened upon a flight of stairs that is so handsomely and colorfully decorated, I had to not only photograph them, but find out the origins of the art itself.

Their actual name is the “Arelious Walker Drive Stairs”, named after the community pastor and activist Arelious Walker, of the True Hope Church of God in Christ. The artists were inspired by patterns drawn from various world cultures -- namely cloth from Ghana, Native American painted pottery, Central American textiles, Japanese and Indonesian fabrics, Middle Eastern tile patterns and paisley designs from India.

The City of San Francisco Arts Commission actually commissioned the work by Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher for the San Francisco Department of Public Works. There are other staircases in the city that have been created by these two extremely talented women. In particular, there is the 16th Avenue that are 163 separate mosaic panels, one for each riser. Amazing.

Art & culture

About this spot

859 Innes Avenue

US$

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