It’s been just about a month since Michael Christian’s ‘Flock’ migrated from SF Civic Center back to the East Bay where the sculpture will be readied for permanent installation at the di Rosa Preserve — a 217 acre spread featuring three galleries and a 35 acre sculpture garden at the base of the Sonoma and Napa Valleys.

On the first day of the de-installation, when we were gathered around the back of the truck for lunch, we witnessed a homeless man pulling up with a shopping cart. He stopped just short of us and sifted something out – it was one of the signs originally placed at the base of the sculpture, which read, Please to not Climb or Play on the Sculpture. He had fished it out of the garbage and put it back on site where it belonged, and that pretty much said it all. Here was this homeless man tending to our ‘Flock’, taking pride in the bit of civic space that he inhabits, and contributing to the success and longevity of the exhibition. Out of gratitude we fixed him a sandwich and sent him on his way with a soda and some nice lemon cookies.