Murals in the

By Joshua D Picazo Editor-in-Chief

There is perhaps no form of artwork as accessible as murals. It costs nothing to walk around your neighborhood and take a look at the stories artists present through these pieces.

The subject matter touches on all aspects of the human experience, be it political, familial, religious, and abstract concepts.

A history of La Mission

From the 1940s to the 1960s, the Mission District experienced a new wave of immigrants, mostly from Mexico. With it came bakers, construction workers, and artists. The works and legacies of these artists are most prominently found in the hundreds of murals across this neighborhood known to locals simply as La Mission .

Immortalized in these murals are local musicians like Carlos Santana, religious icons such as La Virgen de Guadalupe, San Francisco activists and much more.

A combination of President Franklin D Roosevelt’s public works programs featuring art and the explosion of Diego Rivera onto the international scene with his frescoes inspired local artists to create their own works within the neighborhoods they live in.

In a city constantly seeing demographic changes and gentrification, these murals have stood the test of time, many dating back 50 years if not more. They are more than just murals, but snapshots of different eras, different people and cultures that have left their mark on San Francisco’s working class communities.

From Clarion Alley to 24th and Mission, very few spaces in this part of the city are left untouched by art.

Muralists see the importance of public art

“The importance of public art is not disputable,” muralist Marta Ayala said. “Even if the art does not make any sense, what brings the art home to our hearts and soul is color.”

“Color carries pure energy and by just being near it or looking at it we receive immense benefits,” Ayala added. “Not only creating public art liberates the artist but it liberates the place where it resides as well as the people.”

“Murals have been around for many thousands of years to share stories all over, and many murals have impacted the world by highlighting different social issues,” said Monica Navarro-Marroquín who has also worked on Mission District murals.

“I think it is very important and Clarion alley is very aware of that for protections of artists rights especially when