//Glossary magazine inaugural exclusive//REVIEW AS PICTURES: DAVID IRELAND. Smithsonian Falls, Descending a Staircase for P.K. @ San francisco Art Institute

Glossary is honored to inaugurate the magazine with our first art review featuring an
*Exclusive* Review in Pictures of David Ireland's Smithsonian Falls, Descending a Staircase for P.K., originally installed April 8–May 9 in 1987 at San Francisco Art Institute.

Glossary visited the SFAI Walter and McBean Galleries during installation on January 8th, 2016 to witness this historic work while it was being made - apropos of Ireland's conceptual maxim: "You can't make art by making art," he said.

For Ireland, daily routine oftentimes became epic ritual, thus melding life with the act of creating. Objects and art became fused with daily activities, transforming the banal into poignant memories/stories/gestures, replete with meaning grounded in their seemingly incidental making. For our inaugural review Glossary witnessed the installation of Smithsonian Falls with Ireland's objectives in mind. We are humbled to photograph this monumental and ephemeral piece to share it with you.

David Ireland
Thursday January 14, - Saturday March 6, 2016
Walter & McBean Galleries. San Francisco Art Institute
The piece is now being reinstalled in conjunction with the restoration of Ireland's iconic/stunning 500 Capp Street (The David Ireland House).

The last layers of the staircase intervention are being poured to finalize a process that began mid-December. The top coat will be a smooth layer of fine concrete over the rough vermiculite/concrete foundation. Getting the perfect consistency was key, dependent on the mixture setting time before pouring. The base of the stairs is spreading. . . .

Also on view is Angel Go Round (1996), temporarily relocated from diRosa in Napa, where it is part of their permanent collection.

Ireland seemed to be present in all of the mundane tools & materials resting about the scene; the objects unclear whether they were part of the archive, or part of what was taking place.

Special thanks to curators Constance M. Lewallen and Hesse McGraw, cinchpr., & SFAI installation staff Robin Beard, Kaitlin Trataris and Oliver Holden. All images January 8, 2016, Leora Lutz & Glossary Magazine, courtesy of SFAI Walter and McBean Galleries and the estate of David Ireland.