Decades on, the man who puts the Red Baron in the bay

Tyler Hoares work has been a fixture in the Berkeley and Emeryville mudflats for more than a generation. Photo: Emilie Raguso

For nearly fourdecades, Berkeley artist Tyler Hoare has been adding a bit of whimsy to the East Baywaterfront with his salvaged wood creations: some 30 large sculpturesincluding airplanes inspired in part by Snoopy comics; a submarine, a pirate ship, a viking ship, and a King Tut ship with a gold-painted Egyptian-style figurehead;and, before most of the wood pilings in the waterrotted away, spindly, rustic, 6-foot-tall sculptures Hoare calls his post people.

If youve driven on the freeway toward San Francisco, youve likely seen his work mounted on wooden columns hovering above the water nearBerkeley and Emeryville. His sculptures have been part of the local landscape for more than a generation. And, though they once appeared as a highlight amid towering figures, made from debris and found materials,that definedEmeryville mudflat art, Hoares work has long since stood alone due largely to some geographic luck. As the last artist standing, hes taken the responsibility seriously, and approached it with good humor.

Its been kinda my obligation to entertain the poor peoplein their cars stuck in traffic, and Im glad to do it, the 73-year-old said recently. Usually its the kid in the backseat. Its nice to have something to look at when youredriving along.

His most recent public work, installed nearly two years back with the help of a half dozen friends, involves two sculptures near the Emeryville fishing pier: A begoggledpilot in abright red airplane, modeled after the Red Baron, faces off against Snoopy in his green Sopwith Camel fighter plane, complete with a string of bullets like the punk kids wear that Hoare bought on Telegraph Avenue, and many other distinctive touches. The planes, which weigh several hundred pounds, are about 6 feet tall, and 12 feet long in either direction.

Hoare said that, because of their proximity to shore, he was sure they wouldnt last a week before being pilfered. Instead, the opposite has happened. Someone hung upa small hand-carved sign designating the area the Emeryville National Airport.And Hoare said hes noticed repairs done by unknown others when maintenance was needed.

Hoares most recent installation on the San Francisco Bay, the Red Baron in Emeryville. Photo: Emilie Raguso

Theyve been picking up sculptures when they fall. Sometimes they paint them, he said. My wife and Igo to Chevys to eat, then we walk along and see how its going. Andevery time Igo there, somebodyhas reinstalled something. Theyre being very nice.

He said he likes that kids can reach out from the dock and spin the propeller, and called the interactivity very important. Doors that open, buttons to push, knobs that turn, all of it adds to the fun and keeps the creations from being static.

For Hoare, seeing his sculptures by the pieris a bit of a dj vu. When he first began installing his art on wooden posts in the San Francisco Bay in the 1970s, versions of the Red Baron and the Sopwith Camel were among his earliest pieces.

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Decades on, the man who puts the Red Baron in the bay