Valencia Collection, Larkspur, CA

Old Emporium Rising, features San Francisco's Old Emporium dome during the renovation of 2004. The classical façade that survived the 1906 earthquake and the glorious rotunda, by which shoppers browsed underneath was called the “greatest mercantile building in the world”, when it opened in 1896. The Emporium was a cultural crossroads for decades by Bay Area residents who met under the dome. Since the beginning of 2004, I observed several phases of the construction. The dome is the main architectural element conserved. It has been intriguing to observe the dome suspended by bars and elevated to 60 feet off the original ground level. I have reflected on ancient dome structures, of how they were built, and the careful detail and function of support. It has been a marvelous gift to meet this dome and share it with San Francisco’s cityscape. I am pleased to observe a building’s metamorphosis, still preserving a 20th century beauty into contemporary time. This dome has been housed inside Westfield San Francisco Shopping Centre since 2006, at its original address on Mission Street, and in between 4th & 5th Streets.

This painting was first exhibited during Araujo's solo show, ON THE EDGE OF DELICATE LINES, July-September 7th, 2013 at Alphaville Gallery, in San Francisco. Old Emporium Rising is featured in Araujo's book publication, SOMA RISING, in 2012 and was later exhibited at the Old Mint, for "Mid-Market Landmarks" Araujo's solo exhibition in San Francisco, January-March 2015. This painting was last exhibited at the Old Mint for "SF History Days", March 2017.