While performing routine yard work in their Russian Hill home, a San Francisco couple made a startling discovery: a 150-pound limestone sculpture, initially mistaken for concrete, emerged from beneath the soil. Greg Gatwood, using a shovel and then a pickaxe, unearthed the massive, two-foot-wide artifact, describing the moment as “cinematic” as he realized a face was “peering” back at him. His partner, Judy Gittelsohn, an artist herself, was astonished by the find and its impressive craftsmanship, immediately suspecting it might date back to the 1930s and potentially be connected to artists from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) or even prominent sculptor Ralph Stackpole, who taught nearby. The choice of limestone over more expensive materials supports this theory, and the couple believes the statue may have been garden art that was simply lost to time. Their discovery has attracted local attention, including a visit from a 93-year-old woman who previously held a show featuring Stackpole’s work, offering a potential lead in their ongoing investigation into the sculpture’s origins. To aid in identifying the artist and its history, the couple plans to publicly display the mysterious piece at the American Messenger Gallery in September, hoping someone will recognize it.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
