through the looking glass: Mission Street Art

Standing in line, waiting to pay the discounted weeknight admission at a MOMA, I was skeptical of what the shiny museum had to offer. Modern art is pretty hit or miss with me, but I set to work convincing myself: the price of admission during Thursday's closing hours is only $9 and surely it’ll be worth at least that much. SO much disappointment! Especially in comparison to the glorious day I’d just spent, weaving through San Francisco’s Mission District, in complete awe of the colors and artwork splashed on sides of buildings, in alleyways, on sidewalks, streetlamps, and so many obscure corners. It was like walking through a Where’s Waldo of art. I tried so hard to see it all, but it was never ending, a new discovery at every turn, whether massive and imposing, or tiny and tucked away behind overgrown weeds. With my eyes fat from the feast, I dragged myself away from this magnificent neighborhood, which I learned, has the highest density of street art in the world, feeling incredibly satisfied and yet still wanting. I came, I saw, and I did not conquer - that is perhaps the best part - experiencing, with the knowledge that there is much left to explore.

Mission’s art scene is a reflection of the community’s diversity, deriving its mixed flavor from Mexican muralistas (influx of Mexican immigrants during the 1940s-60s, and of Central and South American immigrants and refugees during the 80s and 90s, brought Mission its strong Latin character), the public art pieces born from the Work’s Progress Administration of the 1930s (FDR initiative to inspire pride in national and local history through art, which brought funding to San Francisco for many building and mural projects), graffiti, and alternative comics. The artwork, ranging from murals to posters and stickers to graffiti, are an assorted expression of community, pop-culture, defining moments in history, political statements, and celebration.

If you look closely enough, art is everywhere in Mission; Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley however, boast the most concentrated collections. The art in Balmy Alley dates back to 1972, while the Clarion Alley mural project began a decade later. This was my attempt at putting Mission’s street art into words. Now I’ll shut up and let my camera do the talking.

"Untitled" by Zio Zigler

"Enrique's Journey" by Josue Rojas, 2010
On the journey of immigration, inspired by Sonia Nazario's book, Enrique's Journey.

Bethany Center, Mission's tallest mural at 8-stories

googly eyes

wish I had a ladder so I could climb up for a closer look at this comic strip

"Untitled" by Zio Zigler, 2012

"Bird" by Ian Ross, 2012

"The Five Sacred Colors of Corn" by Susan Cervantes & Mia Gonzalez, 1990
The colors guide Huichol shamans (NW Mexico) in communication with deities of the north, south, east, west and through the center reaching upwards from Earth to sky.

"Dragons of Paradise", 1998

"New Dawn" by Martin Travers, 2002
Nepalese women, standing together against injustice

"Things Fall Apart", on the AIDS epidemic, by Janet Braun-Reinitz, completed 2004
"Things fall apart, the center cannot hold, mere anarchy is loosed upon the world" -The Second Coming, Yeats

"Disappeared But Not Forgotten" by Carlos Madriz, 1998
On the faces of revolution

beware of dog

"After the Storm" by Tina Wolfe, 2008
On the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Photographs attached to mural contributed by Mission residents.

"Indigenous Eyes: War or Peace" by Susan Cervantes, 1990

"Mission Makeover", 2012
An unfinished piece, a reflection of the ever changing Balmy Alley and Mission community.

"Victorian: Defensor de la Mission" by Sirron Norris, 2001
In support of Latino business owners and residents and the preservation of original Victorian-style homes in the face of gentrification and increased cost of living brought on by the dot com boom and hipsterism.

Close Ups from the Victorian, above.

"Lu the Wanderer" by Carlita Wo, 2011

Top: "500 Years of Native Survival" by Irene Perez, 1991. "Coyolxauhqui has something to say". Coyolxauhqui is the Aztec Goddess of the Moon.
Bottom: Untitled by Garth Tompkins-Viera, 2000. On police brutality and pollution in the environment.

Artist unknown.
Tribute to Michael Jackson appeared shortly after his death in 2009.

"100 Years of Mexican Cinema", collaboration, 2006

http://www.whatis-theplan.org/ > Site no longer available :(

Hmm... http://outerbody.org/

Russell Means (Nov 1939 - Oct 2012): Sioux native, actor (Last of the Mohicans, Pocahontas), political activist who attracted international media coverage for the American Indian Movement

Inside Dog Eared Books

Inside Dog Eared Books: art on the walls, used books on the shelves

Outside Dog Eared Books

"MaestraPeace" on the Women's Building, collaboration by 7 female artists, completed 1994, restored 2012

"Generator" by Andrew Schoultz & Aaron Noble, outside of vintage furniture store, The ApartmentExcellent article on the artist and the Generator: http://www.sfweekly.com/content/printVersion/317744/