Year of the Mission

Mission San Miguel Arcangel

missionbird — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:57:20 +0000

My favorite Mission exterior and chapel combination so far. Mission San Miguel Arcangel is the only mission with orginal church interior. This is remarkable for many many reasons. First, this mission had no resident preist for 38 years, so it was cared for by the congregation from 1841-1879, and the didn’t paint over the interior as many other well-meaning Mission caretakers did.

I loved that the front of the chapel burst with so many colors, light blues, golds, pinks and greens. I loved the triangle, eye, cloud and golden rays above the altar. When I researched a bit about this particular Mission I found that the art left on these walls is in fact legendary, not only because it still remains in it’s original form after all these years, but because a painter Esteban Munras, from Barcelona, settled in Monterey and designed this impressive artwork.

Here are (mostly) my pics from San Miguel Arcangel. The chapel pic I took was pretty awful so I copied one from the Mission’s website: http://www.missionsanmiguel.org/

12 Hours on 24th @ Valencia, by Mission Local

missionbird — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:36:21 +0000

Ever wondered what you would see if you spent a whole day on a corner of the Mish? Since many of us could not, Mission Local did it for us… Check out their photo essay here: http://missionlocal.org/2010/12/12-hours-on-24th-and-valencia/

Mission complete: All 21 Missions visited in 2010

missionbird — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:12:07 +0000

I had a goal to visit all the CA missions this year, and I did it! With the help and support of Amber and family and friends of course. Sadly, our camera broke about 3 missions into the project, and with all the expenses of getting married and the honeymoon, etc, we still haven’t replaced it. So my vision for this project, which included lots of images had to be adapted. I aimed to get a pic in front of each mission with the camera phone, and emailed images to myself as I went, deleting so I could snap more photos. Some of the pics didn’t attach to the emails, so… there are a few images without my visage. Ah, well… I still plan on writing about many of the missions, and what stood out about them, but that part of the project can blur into 2011 a little. Anyhoo, enjoy, here is the end of the year post with a photo representing each mission excursion.

La purisma mission bull! Ole!

missionbird — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:04:38 +0000

Mission la purimsa. Last one!!!

missionbird — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 23:49:11 +0000

Santa Ines mission

missionbird — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 22:46:14 +0000

Santa Barbara Mission

missionbird — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:11:07 +0000

Mission Buenaventura

missionbird — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:12:14 +0000

San fernando mission courtyard

missionbird — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:50:43 +0000

San fernando mission.

missionbird — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:21:08 +0000