Mission Mission

If you’re into screen printing, or are looking to get into it, this workshop sounds pretty cool. Plant dyes!

To sign up email grafica@missionculturalcenter.org or get more info at www.missionculturalcenter.org on the internet or 415-821-1155 on the ol’ telephone. But I’m kind of late on posting this, so sign up now.

This is one of those things that seems like it’s supposed to answer something, but really it just brings up a lot of questions.

As I pointed out in 2010, the giant posable wooden artist’s torso lunging out of the front of Flax Art & Design seems to be perpetually trying to take down the motel next door with a variety of art supplies.

Well, now the somewhat gender neutral figure has been dressed for battle.

Maybe people are more into drawing super heroes now that they’ve taken over the multiplexes. Or maybe it was just time.

Mr. Eric Sir noticed the interactive FB wall in Pica Pica, the Venezuelan place on Valencia and 15th.

Interesting approach. I like that they took the internet out of the interactions. Now they could take Facebook out of it and people could just write on a wall!

Related: My new suggested pick up line for hitting on internet people is “Wanna check out my URL IRL?”

Our pal Chris Garcia, soon to be ex-local comedian, stars in this new short as the titular bass instructor giving an . . . interesting lesson to a young musician. Really nice chemistry between these two. Shot in Secret Studios.

Chris is leaving us to move to some other place in California that supposedly has a better film scene, or whatever. His final show up here before moving is July 23rd at The Punchline. I’ve seen him live a couple times, check him out if you haven’t.

I’m not sure where we are in this, but the conversation intrigues me. Partly because it illustrates two different ways to create image using text.

Found on the other side of Market Street, on the wall of the former Go Getter’s Market.

Does anybody want to come up with a depiction of the Egyptian God of Bicycles?

Update: Tina P sends us an image of Bike Ra. Rad, Tina! I’m thinking the ankh is some kind of ancient U-Lock.

It’s old news that Mission businesses would rather pay a muralist to put up an original piece, or in this case branded content, than have to keep buffing tags every morning. It also happens to seem like a good idea to me. As a customer of both Calumet (CF cards and grip rentals) and Sirron Norris (t-shirts) I’m pretty into this design.

(click the image to see it full size)

Norris explains on his blog:

I’m happy to announce a new project I will be starting July 16th 2012. This mural will be located at 2001 Bryant and 18th street in the Mission district.

This mural will be funded by Calumet and will be a collaboration with Precita Eyes and the 3.9 art collective.

My hope with this project, is to reach out to other artists and arts organizations in my community through collaboration. I also want to inspire my interns and give them one of the biggest challenges in their artistic life. On a personal note: this will be one for the books and will push my talent and experience to it’s fullest. I know the team I have at the gallery and the invaluable experience Precita eyes has, will help accomplish this massive undertaking. Keep posted for updates as we move closer to starting.

This is a pretty dense piece, but that’s pretty much what he does best. Norris’s characters are well done, but not really my style, but his building textures are my favorite.

For those of you who feel like the neighborhood gets oversaturated by the same artists (Norris, Reyes, Schoultz, etc.), yeah, that does tend to happen, but in time other things take their place. And I like that Norris is really committed to involving other inspiring street artists, who he probably hopes will one day put their own stamp on their hood.

Update: Our buddy Doc reminded us that today is National Camera Day! I must be operating on some kind of useless ESP! Awesome! Go take a picture of something! But seriously, cameras are rad.

Do you guys ever have that experience?

Last night, in the middle of Pride Weekend, a sizable crowd of proud partygoers danced to music thumping out the window of an 18th Street apartment, blocking the street for cars between Guerrero and Linda. Things seemed mostly joyful, but at one point an SFFD truck came rolling up with bright lights shining onto the street party. The music abruptly cut off, the crowd moaned a loud “Awww!” and with perfect timing the fireman leaned out of the window and exclaimed, “I’m not breaking it up! Just driving through!” The crowd parted in the middle. He rode through and called back “Game on!” The music kicked back in and the crowd cheered.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone.