Artwork shines on storefronts

By Robert Romano
Staff Photographer

“Art in Storefronts” puts original artwork by local artists in vacant storefront windows on San Francisco’s central Market Street, the Bayview and the Tenderloin Districts.

It is a pilot project, initiated with the help of the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Office on Economic and Workforce Development and the Triple Base Gallery.

“One of the best parts of this project so far has been working with the various arts organizations in each neighborhood to reveal the strength and richness of these vibrant communities,” said Joyce Grimm of the Triple Base Gallery. “We want the city to be seen as the vibrant contemporary art hub it is.”

Walking down Taylor Street in the Tenderloin, I was amazed by the sheer ugliness of the area. Passing vacant storefronts, some of which have been abandoned for years, I couldn’t help to think of the area as San Francisco’s ghost town.

“These tough economic times have impacted our treasured neighborhoods, leaving storefronts empty or underutilized,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom in an interview with the San Francisco Sentinel.

“Mayor Newsom, very concerned with the effect of the recession on the common corridors, challenged us to come up with a solution. We came up with ‘Art in Storefronts,’” said Luis Cancel, director of cultural affairs for the San Francisco Arts Commission.

It is exciting to see someone has done something about the emptiness of these neighborhoods and filled the spaces with art.

“This initiative is important for two reasons,” Cancel said to the Sentinel. “It transforms vacant storefronts into attractive exhibition spaces and provides greater visibility to the creative community that calls San Francisco home.”

Armed with a camera and a tape recorder, I walked down the nearly empty Taylor Street to look for “Fight For Your Neighborhood” by Chris Treggiari and Billy Mitchell. The installation, located at 144 Taylor St., is colorful, upbeat and really stands out. A mixture of paint and photographs depicts Tenderloin residents standing up for their neighborhood as if to say, “We exist and we will not be swept away. We will be seen.”

“It’s better than graffiti. It’s good to see some artwork that is actually art. I think it’s a good idea,” said Tenderloin resident Gregory Myers.

“Find Yourself in Natural History” a piece by Helen Bayly and Leanne Miller, is a 123 foot long mural on Market Street. It simultaneously depicts two different worlds: The modern Market Street we see today, and the native trees and animals that previously thrived on the same street. The muted colors and predominately grey background make the mural seem as if it was part of the landscape.

Opposite the mural and somewhat hidden by the bright sunlight, is “Don’t Give Up The Ship,” an installation at 986 Market St. “I would rather see some cool art by local artists than advertising,” said a passerby, who had stopped, somewhat transfixed, at the imagery of an underwater Market Street.

“Art in Storefronts” is a brilliant idea, but only scheduled to run until Jan. 31, 2010. However, with public support, it could last for years to come.

“The overwhelming response to this pilot project shows its great potential to grow,” Grimm said.

To find out more, visit www.sfartscommission.org or just take a walk through the ghost towns of San Francisco and see for yourself that art makes change possible.