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Jeremy Fish has been living and creating art since he arrived in San Francisco to attend art school. He embraces life on a daily basis, making the most of his talents and opportunities.

Currently he is the first artist in residence at San Francisco City Hall. The current City Hall was built after the previous one collapsed during the 1906 earthquake. To celebrate its’ 100 years the San Francisco Arts Commission commissioned Jeremy Fish to create 100 drawing that will be on display at City Hall beginning November 4th. There will be an opening party on November 19th. See details: O Glorious City

G Lewis Heslet of Creative Lives has produced several documentaries about artists. This is their latest documentary just released featuring Jeremy Fish. The story captures his love of life and philosophy of living it.

On this three week journey they follow Jeremy and his trusted van Big Mike up the Pacific Northwest on the tail end of his 2010 summer tour that took him to galleries across Europe and the Southeast United States. Jeremy created unique paintings for each city on the tour, inspired by their heritage, and tells us about his own upbring and love of art as we travel through Portland Oregon and Seattle Washington.

About Jeremy Fish and Creative Lives

Check out other art we have found on the street and find his website and Facebook: Jeremy Fish
Read about art he created around North Beach:
Jeremy Fish in North Beach

Learn more about Creative Lives and watch other videos

The Creative Lives
G Lewis Heslet

Most people have seen the art heart sculptures in Union Square and other tourist and heavy traffic areas around the City. They weren’t always there and they seem to have multiplied.

The hearts made their first appearance in the summer of 2004 as part of a public art project fund raiser benefiting the San Francisco General Hospital foundation. Bay Area artists were solicited to create the art on 131 hearts that were displayed throughout the City for three months. At the end of the period they were auctioned.

The project was so successful that San Francisco General Hospital Foundation has continued to hold a yearly Heroes and Hearts event where they showcase and auction off hearts to businesses and individuals. The proceeds go towards research,education and care at the hospital that is open to all. SF General has an Emergency Room and Trauma Center that benefits all of us.

As of 2015 297 hearts have been created. You can view most of them with the artist name in the Gallery of Hearts. Out of respect to the owners the location of the hearts are not published. It is always surprising and a delight to find a heart tucked away in unexpected places around the city.

Learn more about the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation

Information about San Francisco General Hospital Foundation
SF General Hospital Foundation

Information about the Annual Heart Event
Annual Heart Event

Last year a mural seemed to come out of nowhere on a building by Larkin St in the Tenderloin by BIP, an artist from New Haven.

BiP rose to prominence as a voice in the Yale – New Haven relationship discussion, which is very similar to the Tech – San Francisco conflict. Aside from painting numerous New Haven landmarks, BiP also managed to tag Yale on several occasions, from sneaking inside to spraypaint classrooms to gluing a fake plaque to the side of the Yale Art Gallery, which was then preserved by citizen demand.

After departing New Haven, BiP visited Asia, tagging Hong Kong and painting a legal mural for the Museum of Contemporary Art of Taiwan. He returned to the states to the streets in New York and Detroit and finally settled in the San Francisco East Bay with plans to divide time between international projects and the Bay Area.

While he was in the SF Bay Area he did a crowd funding for a graffiti trip to Siberia. BiP has been traversing the length of Siberia with a backpack, dropping pieces and connecting with local Russian graffiti writers along the way. He bombed with Siberian writers OneRone and Nikita and spent time with the notorious art crew TKND (Taknado) from Novosibirsk.

He is currently painting a 7 story building that was originally commissioned during the Soviet Era to house Vladimir Lenin’s memorabilia, which makes it one of the most bizarre locations for modern street art. Although the museum is funding the mural, they’ve agreed to let BiP remain anonymous by painting only at night, per usual.

BiP also managed to track down CHEKR Crew, including writers BEKN, REOT, DRON, etc. Below is a CHEKR piece from last year on a traditional Siberian house.

You can see more photos of his art
BIP Graffiti

G Lewis Heslet of Creative Lives has produced several documentaries about artists. Several names are familiar on the street. This is their latest documentary just released featuring Richard Colman.

Relentless and driven, Richard Colman creates work that questions the role of power. Perhaps this stems from his early years writing graffiti in Maryland, where his EVER moniker became ubiquitous in the streets. After his friend Roger Gastman asked him for paintings for a book launch he was doing, Richard created his first studio work and was very well received, starting Richard on a lifelong journey to create work that meets his own high expectations. He pushes himself constantly and what the world gains is a incredibly detailed and ever changing body of work that continues to shift and invent due to the artist’s restless nature.

In this episode Creative Lives follow Richard as he creates two knock-out installations at New Image Art in Los Angeles, and Guerrero Gallery in San Francisco.

About Richard Colman and Creative Lives

Check out other art we have found on the street and find his website and Instagram: Richard Colman

Learn more about Creative Lives and watch other videos

The Creative Lives
G Lewis Heslet

Going school ain’t what it used to be. Back in the day there was no street art. The only art seen by the lucky ones were the WPA murals painted in 1936 at Washington High School.

In July an all star graffiti team comprised of members of different crews came together and did a HELLA BIG production by the tennis courts at Lincoln High School on 24th and Santiago in San Francisco. Talk about getting creative juices going. Washington High School eat your heart out!

With the current residential and commercial building boom taking place in San Francisco we decided to head down to the Financial District to check out the street art. Mind you we did not go looking for the usual type we post. The Financial District is all about big bucks, big budgets, big building and big ideas. All that means another type of street art – architecture, sculptures and privately owned public space. This is one place where power and creativity come together to create street art that last lifetimes, spans generations and give a sense of stability and continuity.

On this jaunt we focused on sculptures. The Financial District probably has the largest concentration of sculptures in San Francisco. They are on the street, gracing privately owned public space, in office building lobbies and tucked away within buildings. Frequently the sculptures are commissioned when the buildings are in the design phase to enhance the ascetics and comply with a city art building requirement. The artists who create them are not household names, despite the fact their art may be scattered around the globe. Sculptures take time to create, can be expensive to make given many are metallurgic or use other materials that are not readily accessible and may require an investment or access to specialized equipment and facilities to produce.

We found sculptures we have enjoyed for years and a lower number than expected of new ones, given the proliferation of new buildings. A very small cross section is shown to highlight the different sizes, styles and placement. The large sculptures along the Embarcaderro are not shown since that art has high visibility amongst San Francisco visitors and residents. Hopefully you will find enough here to entice you to wander though the area. Sunday is best for viewing since the area is fairly deserted and parking is free. Unfortunately some sculptures like the ones in the Pyramid privately owned public Redwood Park are locked on the week-end.

The art is shown in a proposed circular walk where you begin and end at Sydney Walton Park on Front St at Jackson. The walk ends in the park where there is more art than shown. The Benny Bufano sculpture is an ideal ending sculpture. He was a quintessential San Francisco artist who created almost two dozen sculptures that are reflective of our city culture and scattered by public buildings and parks around the City. A grocery store is across from the park to pick up picnic fare where hopefully you will hear the famous Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill jabber in the trees.

If you want to know more details about these sculptures and others you may want to visit Art and Architecture SF. They document sculptures around the city, including some of these with links to the artists pages. The Embarcadero Center has an extensive collection. You can go to their site for a self guided tour. Embarcadero Center Art Program

A few weeks ago I drove to Ocean Beach to check out the graffiti along the sea wall. Having grown up in the Outer Richmond I have mixed feelings about the neighborhood and rarely go there. As a child I loved walking along the cliffs from Baker Beach to Lands End, bicycling around Golden Gate Park, ice skating at the old Sutro Baths and going to the Fun House at Playland. Memories of being socked in by summer fog wearing winter woolens while others basked in the sunshine and wore summer clothes elsewhere lessen my nostalgia for the neighborhood.

One of my favorite activities was to walk to The Palace of Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park via the steps at the end of California Street. The Museum was free in those days and to Alma Spreckels great satisfaction had no connection to the snobby inferior DeYoung Museum housed in a building originally constructed for an exhibition. (Alma Spreckels who had humble beginnings and was snubbed by San Francisco society commissioned the Palace to house art she acquired, beautify the City and honor the men who died in WWI.)

I would stop on the North East Corner of California and 32nd to admire the Boy Scouts of America post marking the Lincoln Highway route, the first highway that stretched across the United States from coast to coast. The terminus is by the Museum parking lot. Then I climbed the broad cement staircase to the golf course where I made a beeline across the fairways oblivious to the dangers and irate golfers.

Whenever I go out that way I drive Lake Street and cut through Sea Cliff to view my steps. On this trip I was surprised and overwhelmed by their transformation and beauty. They had recently been restored and tiled in a beaux-arts inspired design by local artist Aileen Barr. It was an 8 year community driven project conceived and brought to fruition by Friends of Lincoln Park who worked tirelessly to engage the support and funding of Katherine Delmar Burke School, whose entrance is next to the steps, and others to secure funding and city approval.

I still would never live in the Outer Richmond District and most of the relics of my childhood are gone including the Lincoln Highway marker. However on a beautiful day when everyone is leaving town I enjoy an occasional trek along the cliff and wonder if anyone has a late night rumble in the backseat of their car parked at Lands End. Now there is another reason for others to wonder out that way.

Visit Friends of Friends of Lincoln Park to view a gallery of photos of them in progress and read about the evolution of the project

The Hotel Zetta in San Francisco has scored again. This Viceroy Hotel located next to the San Francisco Center in the heart of the City recently upped the ante with its latest addition to the unique art experience they have created for their guests. From the moment you walk into their hip sophisticated lobby you realize the hotel will be part of your special San Francisco stay.

Where most of the art is visible to the guests in common areas like the lobby, brasserie and guest rooms, this art is behind closed doors where normally guests don’t’ venture yet are encourage to visit at the Hotel Zetta.

Last year they invited Jonathan Matas to paint an 8-story stairwell they recommend their guests use for a bit of exercise. It ends up the murals are so engaging they make eight flights down feel more like one. The murals were so well received by both hotel staff and guests that management decided to paint their other stairwell. Read and see photos of the Jonathan Matas Stairwell

Apexer of San Francisco and New York based Buff Monster were lined up to aid Hotel Zetta in launching and judging a contest to select 7 artists to paint the stairwell. In April artists were asked to submit their artwork on Instagram. One of the finalists would also win a grand prize of $5,000 and a 4 day Viceroy Hotel vacation package. By May over 600 entries were made and the following artists were chosen: Steiner, Deb, Elle, Dirty Bandits, Mike Tyau, Pemex, and Griffin to paint and battle for the grand prize.

Within days a flurry of activity commenced with the entire stairwell being painted in 48 hours with a San Francisco theme. Apexer and Buff Monster also got into the act painting a 4 story outdoor light well and two guests rooms that open onto the well. 1amsf was an art sponsor supplying the spray. There was a grand unveiling reception open to the public where Griffin was announced the winner.

The photos are in the order that the art flows from the roof down. We are showing a sampling to encourage you to visit the hotel to see this stairwell as well as the other. View this one first then have a drink in the lounge or meal in the hotel restaurant then proceed to the other. Go top down on both. The Jonathan Matas stairwell ends at a door to the street. If you moved to San Francisco for a job with a start up suggest your parents and friends stay at the hotel so you can play the games in their playroom and enjoy walking down the steps.

Been down Mission Street in Soma lately? Like any other street in that area it is transforming before our eyes with sleek new buildings. Across from one of the newest is an older building that has been transformed into a work of art on the outside. Inside a different type of art is being created daily.

Last year Oddjob, the establishment that occupies the ground floor, commissioned Never to paint a woe is me owl with lettering by Dirty Bandits saying “Don’t Mind Me” on the side of their building.

Earlier this year Oddjob asked Visionary and famed Burning Man artist Shrine On of Los Angeles to paint the facade with a mural that reflects the beauty of the libations being crafted inside.

From the creators of Big (Jordan Langer), Public Works (Jeff Whitmore), and Jones (Peter Glikshtern) comes Oddjob. A craft cocktail bar in the blossoming SOMA district where you’re offered an extensive drink menu as well as live music, local DJs, and stand up comedy on a monthly basis. They are located at 1337 Mission Street in the dark blue building.

When you walk down Washburn Street to their main entrance, you will see a whiskey barrel in front of their large wooden doors. Walking in, you are presented with two opportunities. Veer right and you have Oddjob; Happy hour Monday through Friday, seasonal cocktail and drink menu, lounge area and Photo Booth with as many photo opportunities as drink possiblities.

Decide to go to the left and you’ll partake in SRO; no menu, adventurous ingredients, limited seating and only one bartender. SRO is a drinking experience. Here you order by telling the bartender what you like and don’t like, how your day is going, how you feel and even what your spirit animal is. After a brief and fun discussion, you should be presented with a handcrafted cocktail that has been created specifically and only for you.

The Midway is also a creation of the owners of Oddjob. The Midway will be a one of a kind space, dedicated to bringing art, entertainment, and education under one synergistic & collaborative roof.

Learn more about Odd Job and artists

See Open Hours and Follow Oddjob on Facebook Oddjob
Follow Shrine on Facebook Shrine On
Follow Never on Facebook Joyfulowls
Follow Dirty Bandits on Facebook Dirty Bandits
Follow Midway on Facebook Midway

There are several street art alleys in the Mission District. Each alley came about for similar reasons – to take back the alleys and return them to the people for their enjoyment. Lilac Alley by Mission and 24th Street is one of them organized by Mission Art 415.

Mission Art 415 was created by Lisa Brewer and Randolph Bowes to support local and international street artists who work in the Mission District of San Francisco by offering supplies and a safe environment in which they can flourish creatively.

Over 10 years ago Lisa Brewer and Randolph Bowes gathered support from the community in several alleys (Lilac, Cypress, Osage and other locations in the Mission District) to have the “backdoor” of their properties become a public gallery for local residents and visitors from all over the world. They are passionate about this project. Periodically they host block parties. On a daily basis it is a part of their lives as they reside by the alley and are a part of the community.

Lilac Alley @ 24th Street in San Francisco[/caption]

This year Mission Art 415 is going all out presenting Meeting of Styles on September 18th, 19th & 20th 2015 on Lilac Alley. Jim Prigoff author of Spraycan Art who is in the video below will be there with an artist panel and be available to sign his books at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.

There will also be food, live music, painting and vendor tables. There are still artist and vending opportunities available
Interested? Contact
Lisa: 415.505.7222

We have shown you art in the alleys for the past five years. The art comes alive in the following video with soundbites from the community who make the art happen. While some art you see in the video is still up, Mission Art 415 is all about constantly changing it up.

Check out some the art we have shown you in the alley over the past five years. Art on Lilac Alley

All cities have utility and news boxes on sidewalks scattered around town. They vary in size, shape, number and ownership. Frequently they are painted different colors depending upon who owns them. They make good targets for tagging, stickers and paste ups. Every city tackles the graffiti situation according to the scale of the problem within their community. The solutions can be applied citywide or by neighborhood and or ownership and be reactive or proactive, generated by owner, government, neighborhood and business associations, art organizations and even individuals.

In the San Francisco Bay Area several communities have tackled the problem by making the boxes art canvases. Walnut Creek, Berkeley and Oakland have established programs for some of their boxes. In 2013 we wrote about the Kono neighborhood boxes in Oakland conceived by the Kono CBD and the Streets Alive environmental sustainability themed boxes in downtown Berkeley conceived by an individual and administered by Earth Island Institure a non-profit environmental organization.

Recently photo contributor Josh Brotheim who is based in the Peninsula brought the San Jose Art Box program to our attention. This is a citywide initiative that was organized in 2011 by Tina Morrill a then graduate student at San Jose State. Inspired by boxes she had seen in Edmonton, Canada she singlehandedly orchestrated the program devising a plan that would not cost the taxpayer any money. Under the name of Art Box Project SJ the first box was painted in September, 2011 in front of the old Andy’s Pet Shop at The Alameda and Julian Street. It was a dog on a leash with the master. That box was subsequently repainted. There are currently 78 pinned on Google Maps. The sky is the limit. There are 600 or so potential boxes.

Initially Tina approached Cherri Lakey of Anno Domini Gallery and Phantom Galleries with her ideas and solicited support from neighborhood associations. When she had some synergy she approached the City of San Jose for permission to paint on their boxes, which they granted.

The process begins with an available city owned box and a sponsor be it an individual, business or neighborhood. Cherri Lakey vets and recommends artists to Tina. Tina Morrill turns around and presents the artists to the potential sponsors and discusses design concepts. The selected artist has a free hand in creating the art that is shared with the neighborhood for approval with possible tweaks in the design. No letters and political statements are allowed. The artist pay for the supplies and is given a small stipend depending upon the scope of the project.

Learn more about Art Box Project

Artists who are interested in participating: email info@PhantomGalleries.com.
For more information or to participate: artboxprojectsj@gmail.com

Find the location and artists pinned on Google Maps: Art Box Google Map
Follow the Art Box Project on Facebook and see photos of the boxes: Art Box Project FB

Photographer

All photography by Josh Brotheim.
See photos of other boxes by Photographer Josh Brotheim: San Jose Art Box Project
Follow Josh Brotheim on Instagram: streetartsquirrel

Paris based Polish artist Yola was in San Francisco September 2012 pasting up art around the Mission. While here she met Alfonso and Eleanor. He was a poet and a revolutionary, she an ex-nurse, studying genetics for fun. Eleanor passed away in May this year and Alfonso in December 2014. They cared about each other very deeply till the end. This paste-up is a celebration of their lives and love.

There is not a lot of wheat paste activity in San Francisco compared to other cities like New York and Paris. Consequently, when we talk with people who do not follow street art they are unfamiliar with the terms wheat paste and paste up. For those of us who see wheat paste on the street, the process of creating the art and pasting it up is not entirely known since it is mainly a midnight activity. This video shows the end of the creative process after the art is blown up and printed on a large format printer. Hopefully it gives clarity.

Lovers – paste up in Islington – making of from Jola Kudela on Vimeo.

About Yolart

Photographs courtesy of Yolart
See other classically inspired art by Yola and read the interview: Yola on Streetartsf
Visit her website: Yolart