The Mission (Part 1)

Welcome to Day 4–the day that blew me away. The Mission District is a predominantly Latino neighborhood, but it is quickly gentrifying. It is named for Mission Dolores, in the northwest part of the neighborhood. I’ll get there on Part 2, but there is plenty to see in Part 1.

Murals of the Mission

I had heard that there were lots of cool murals in the Mission, but nothing prepared me for what I encountered. The murals, created with love, are gorgeous. And I wasn’t expecting how political they are. Everyone should see them to get more of a feel for the real San Francisco than you can get at Fisherman’s Wharf. (Or maybe it’s better to keep them as San Francisco’s hidden treasure.)

Strong indigenous women in a Lilac Alley mural. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Strong indigenous women in a Lilac Alley mural.

Celebrating Nelson Mandela on Osage Alley. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Celebrating Nelson Mandela on Osage Alley.

I'm guessing this artist isn't a fan of GMOs in his food. San Francisco, United States, North America. — I’m guessing this artist isn’t a fan of GMOs in his food.

Loving Rosa Parks on Lilac Alley. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Loving Rosa Parks on Lilac Alley.

Our Lady of Lilac Alley. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Our Lady of Lilac Alley.

Carlos Santana keeps the Mission rockin'! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Carlos Santana keeps the Mission rockin’!

I'm guessing this was a recent Bowie tribute. San Francisco, United States, North America. — I’m guessing this was a recent Bowie tribute.

Isn't she the dainty one! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Isn’t she the dainty one!

Trippy flowers on Cypress Alley. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Trippy flowers on Cypress Alley.

She's pretty cool! San Francisco, United States, North America. — She’s pretty cool!

Tribute to the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Tribute to the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema.

Mural of slain Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Mural of slain Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero.

"Those We Love, We Remember" AIDS memorial mural. San Francisco, United States, North America. — “Those We Love, We Remember” AIDS memorial mural.

One scene from a large anti-gentrification mural. (Note the Starbucks cups and the Bluetooth earpiece while a homeless man sleeps on the street.) San Francisco, United States, North America. — One scene from a large anti-gentrification mural. (Note the Starbucks cups and the Bluetooth earpiece while a homeless man sleeps on the street.)

This mural, titled "Naya Bhinan" ("New Dawn"), depicts Nepalese women taking a stand against oppression. (I bet you weren't expecting a Nepalese-themed mural. I sure wasn't.) San Francisco, United States, North America. — This mural, titled “Naya Bhinan” (“New Dawn”), depicts Nepalese women taking a stand against oppression. (I bet you weren’t expecting a Nepalese-themed mural. I sure wasn’t.)

The 5th panel of a series titled "The Five Sacred Colors of Corn". The series is based on the mythology of the Huichol, an indigenous group in Mexico. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The 5th panel of a series titled “The Five Sacred Colors of Corn”. The series is based on the mythology of the Huichol, an indigenous group in Mexico.

In the Mission, even the utility boxes get into the act! San Francisco, United States, North America. — In the Mission, even the utility boxes get into the act!

I saw a number of murals that featured a place called Discolandia. So I was very excited to see the actual location on 24th Street. It was an iconic record store serving the Latino community for decades. It's now a restaurant, but community activists convinced the new operators to keep the Discolandia signage. San Francisco, United States, North America. — I saw a number of murals that featured a place called Discolandia. So I was very excited to see the actual location on 24th Street. It was an iconic record store serving the Latino community for decades. It’s now a restaurant, but community activists convinced the new operators to keep the Discolandia signage.

St. Peter's Church in the Mission is covered with a mural called "500 Years of Resistance". Commissioned in 1992 (the quincentennial of Columbus's arrival), it honors Native American heritage and resistance to violence and oppression. Next to MLK at the top is the martyred Oscar Romero, whom we also saw a few murals back. In the lower left, Cesar Chavez leads a protest march. San Francisco, United States, North America. — St. Peter’s Church in the Mission is covered with a mural called “500 Years of Resistance”. Commissioned in 1992 (the quincentennial of Columbus’s arrival), it honors Native American heritage and resistance to violence and oppression. Next to MLK at the top is the martyred Oscar Romero, whom we also saw a few murals back. In the lower left, Cesar Chavez leads a protest march.

This is a portion of a large, absolutely stunning mural. It's called "La Llorona's Sacred Waters" after the Latin-American myth of La Llorona (the weeping woman), who sheds tears over the children that she drowned. The mural depicts the struggle of women around the world fighting against environment damage to water resources caused by governments and corporations. San Francisco, United States, North America. — This is a portion of a large, absolutely stunning mural. It’s called “La Llorona’s Sacred Waters” after the Latin-American myth of La Llorona (the weeping woman), who sheds tears over the children that she drowned. The mural depicts the struggle of women around the world fighting against environment damage to water resources caused by governments and corporations.

Gorgeous detail from "La Llorona's Sacred Waters". San Francisco, United States, North America. — Gorgeous detail from “La Llorona’s Sacred Waters”.

"Queer Icons" is a "digital mural" outside Galería de la Raza, an art gallery and artist collective serving the Latino community. The Galería produces a series of digitally produced murals temporarily on display outside the studio. San Francisco, United States, North America. — “Queer Icons” is a “digital mural” outside Galería de la Raza, an art gallery and artist collective serving the Latino community. The Galería produces a series of digitally produced murals temporarily on display outside the studio.

One of the subjects of "Queer Icons". San Francisco, United States, North America. — One of the subjects of “Queer Icons”.

More of "500 Years of Resistance", seen earlier. Here, an indigenous warrior is on a Christian cross. Below, Spanish conquistadors are being held back. San Francisco, United States, North America. — More of “500 Years of Resistance”, seen earlier. Here, an indigenous warrior is on a Christian cross. Below, Spanish conquistadors are being held back.

There's lots of dancing going on in this mural. It's dedicated to Chata Gutierrez. She was a legendary salsa DJ, and she championed Latin music being played on San Francisco radio. San Francisco, United States, North America. — There’s lots of dancing going on in this mural. It’s dedicated to Chata Gutierrez. She was a legendary salsa DJ, and she championed Latin music being played on San Francisco radio.

"Carnaval"! One of the most well known murals in the Mission celebrates the Mission's Carnival festivities. Hey, look! There's Discolandia! San Francisco, United States, North America. — “Carnaval”! One of the most well known murals in the Mission celebrates the Mission’s Carnival festivities. Hey, look! There’s Discolandia!

"Roar"! One cool cat. San Francisco, United States, North America. — “Roar”! One cool cat.

I stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant on Mission Street. I wasn't expecting to get live entertainment! San Francisco, United States, North America. — I stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant on Mission Street. I wasn’t expecting to get live entertainment!

Fresh produce at a market on Mission Street. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Fresh produce at a market on Mission Street.

In this interpretation of St. George slaying the dragon, done with a mosaic effect, St. George is (I think) a cat. San Francisco, United States, North America. — In this interpretation of St. George slaying the dragon, done with a mosaic effect, St. George is (I think) a cat.

Watch out for "Da Boss"! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Watch out for “Da Boss”!

Clarion Alley

The murals are all over the Mission. But there are 2 locations that deserve special recognition. The 1st is Clarion Alley, where it really does have the feel an outdoor art gallery. The artwork here gets very political.

Not even Elvis (in the 1st "I") and Madonna (in the "n") are immune from accusations of cultural appropriation in this pointed piece. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Not even Elvis (in the 1st “I”) and Madonna (in the “n”) are immune from accusations of cultural appropriation in this pointed piece.

This mural represents a controversy that arose when some of the hated tech workers kicked neighborhood kids off a local soccer field because they had paid to reserve it. Literally pay-to-play. San Francisco, United States, North America. — This mural represents a controversy that arose when some of the hated tech workers kicked neighborhood kids off a local soccer field because they had paid to reserve it. Literally pay-to-play.

This mural by 2 Iranian-born artists honors the memory of 3 prominent female Iranian writers--Simin Daneshvar, Simin Behbahani, and Forough Farrokhzad. San Francisco, United States, North America. — This mural by 2 Iranian-born artists honors the memory of 3 prominent female Iranian writers–Simin Daneshvar, Simin Behbahani, and Forough Farrokhzad.

Hospitality House, an agency that provides services to the homeless and the poor, sponsored this mural celebrating San Francisco's diversity. It went up just a month before my tour of the Mission. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Hospitality House, an agency that provides services to the homeless and the poor, sponsored this mural celebrating San Francisco’s diversity. It went up just a month before my tour of the Mission.

Violence, sexism, exclusion, and fear didn't hold back the women in the next picture. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Violence, sexism, exclusion, and fear didn’t hold back the women in the next picture.

This mural honors 4 transgender women activists--Mia Tu Mutch, Alexis Rivera, Janetta Louise-Johnson, and Tamara Ching. The mural also honros the Compton's Cafeteria Riot of 1966 that preceded New York's Stonewall Riots by 3 years. San Francisco, United States, North America. — This mural honors 4 transgender women activists–Mia Tu Mutch, Alexis Rivera, Janetta Louise-Johnson, and Tamara Ching. The mural also honors the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot of 1966 that preceded New York’s Stonewall Riots by 3 years.

The Women’s Building

The 2nd mural site in the Mission worthy of special recognition is the Women’s Building, a women-led community center. The mural covering the Women’s Building is the pièce de résistance of the Mission’s murals. But don’t call it a masterpiece! It is the “MaestraPeace”. As you might guess, it was created by women and it celebrates women. But the mural itself is worth celebrating.

Here's the long view of "MaestraPeace", but you need to see it up close to really appreciate it. (And it looks very San Francisco, doesn't it?) San Francisco, United States, North America. — Here’s the long view of “MaestraPeace”, but you need to see it up close to really appreciate it. (It looks very San Francisco, doesn’t it?)

A typically gorgeous detail. This shows an Indian woman with her child. She is painting in the traditional Mithila style of northern India and Nepal. San Francisco, United States, North America. — A typically gorgeous detail. This shows an Indian woman with her child. She is painting in the traditional Mithila style of northern India and Nepal.

On the left, women fight for funding for women's healthcare. On the right, a Mexican healing woman applies traditional medicine. San Francisco, United States, North America. — On the left, women fight for funding for women’s healthcare. On the right, a Mexican healing woman applies traditional medicine.

This detail goes straight to my heart. A local sculptor dances with an ACT UP activist descended from a Chinese ethnic minority group. San Francisco, United States, North America. — This detail goes straight to my heart. A local sculptor dances with an ACT UP activist descended from a Chinese ethnic minority group.

It's easy to run out of adjectives to describe "MaestraPeace". Overseeing the eastern facade is Rigoberta Menchú. Rigoberta, an indigenous Guatemalan activist, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 at 33. San Francisco, United States, North America. — It’s easy to run out of adjectives to describe “MaestraPeace”. Overseeing the eastern facade is Rigoberta Menchú. Rigoberta, an indigenous Guatemalan activist, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 at 33.

I just could not get enough of the Women's Building and "MaestraPeace". San Francisco, United States, North America. — I just could not get enough of the Women’s Building and “MaestraPeace”.

Dolores Park

Had your fill of thought-provoking, challenging, and gorgeous street art for now? Okay, let’s go to the park!

There’s no livelier place in San Francisco on a warm, sunny day than at Dolores Park. Having just gone through a 2-year renovation, it’s looking better than ever!