Winged Wisdom's Philippe Becker Joins Presidio Volunteers

Presidio of San Francisco (March 7, 2011) — Artist Philippe Becker will join Presidio Trust volunteers Tuesday, March 8 at 10 am as they pack the letters of Winged Wisdom, the piece he created for the Presidio Habitats exhibition, with fresh straw.

Located along the Presidio’s Park Trail, Winged Wisdom offers three aphorisms inspired by the American robin: resolve conflict with song;” nest from the inside out;” and “adapt to change.” The straw and hay letters wrap themselves in and out of the Monterey Cypress, providing ideal nesting materials for the robin and an unexpected meditation for human passersby. Becker conceived and created Winged Wisdom in collaboration with Brody Hartman, an environmental artist at Philippe Becker Design.

Presidio Habitats is a site-based art exhibition celebrating Presidio nature and wildlife. It began with an invitation to an international group of artists, architects and designers to submit a proposal for a temporary habitat sculpture serving a Presidio animal “client.” From 25 submissions, eleven were selected to be created in the landscape. The projects — diverse in their approach, material and purpose — are featured along trails, paths and roadways around the Presidio’s Fort Scott district. Organized by the FOR-SITE Foundation in partnership with the Presidio Trust, Presidio Habitats runs through May 15.

Philippe Becker is creative director at Philippe Becker Design, a San Francisco firm specializing in branding and product design. Its clients range from local companies like Niman Ranch and San Francisco State University to national corporations such as Disney, Safeway, and T-Mobile.

The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to administer the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park site that is located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The areas overseen by the Trust include expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. The National Park Service oversees the coastal areas of the Presidio. The park comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to the Presidio’s status as a National Historic Landmark District. The Presidio is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.