I don’t know about any of you, but when I think of a shopping center, the first thought that comes to my mind is a giant nude woman statue. And, apparently, that’s also what the developers of the Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae think as well.
The Statue
Located right off of Sir Francis Drake Blvd., at the entrance to the shopping center, is a statue of a nude woman reclining across the ground, eyes closed and head propped up. The statue, titled the “Tamalpais Maiden”, is 17 feet long, 11 feet wide and 5 feet tall. It was created in 1988 by Dennis Patton and made out of Cor-Ten steel.
Origin of Name
The word “Tamalpais” is a Coastal Miwok word that allegedly translates into “sleeping maiden”. However, there is great debate over the translation. Some sources state that the Costal Miwok’s true translation means “west hill”. A great deal of confusion over the translation stems back to a play from the early 20th century, which fabricated a legend and tried to pass it off as a Coastal Miwok tale.
Legend of the Sleeping Maiden
Around 1920, playwriter Dan Totheroh created a tragic love story involving a warrior and a maiden named Tamalpa. Apparently, their love was doomed and she was destined to lay atop of Mt. Tamalpais for eternity. The play became popular amongst the locals and eventually accepted as a real Native American legend.
Final Words
It appears that this statue reflects the play/unreal legend. Because, it’s clear that this woman is resting or even possibly sleeping. It’s also quite possible that this is just a representation of a lady who’s exhausted from shopping all day. Regardless of its true meaning, the statue is a clever ploy to get people to stop and visit the shopping center. If you are in the Greenbrae area, stop by and visit the statue. While you’re at it, get a Jamba Juice too.
Directions
The Bon Air Shopping Center is about 1 mile west of Highway 101 on the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exist.