the Mission

big corporations are using murals for their financial benefits,” said muralist Keyvan Shovir, who has two murals in Clarion Alley.

Organizations work to preserve murals

The San Francisco Arts Commission says it would be impossible to count how many murals are in the city due to many being on private property but many websites and blogs show exhaustive lists numbering in the hundreds.

Precita Eyes for example, founded in 1977 works to preserve these murals in the Mission and lists a dozen murals created in just the period between 2020 and 2021, during the COVID pandemic. This shows how even during global crisis’ the need for murals perseveres.

“Every one is unique with unique stories in our lives. We have a creative state of mind.also We have a logical state of mind. So tap into the creative mind we should find on our way.” -Keyvan Shovir

“I like to answer this question with a quote from Attar-e- Neyshapoori,Attar is one of the most famous mystic poets of Iran,” Shovir said when asked what he hopes people take away from his murals.

“His works were the inspiration of Rumi and many other mystic poets. هر چه در فهم تو آید همان بود مفهوم تو” “your concept is what you could understand(based on your capacity and understanding and your wisdom),” added Shovir.

“What I’m hoping is that each individual based on their life experiences and their knowledge about what is happening around them , could have empathy and understanding of these issues.”

“Also celebrating their name and their life and spreading their name.this people lost their life because of these issues such as police brutality,women rights and human right.what we need is change.”

“Say her name. Mahsa Amini. Woman , Life , Freedom.”

“In Lake’ch means ‘I am another yourself,’” said Ayala.

“It was meant to be a window for the people to look thru and see nature and to take care of our planet. There are two women made of rocks meaning to hold the trees down to prevent deforestations, there another mountain in the back ground of a woman sleeping and part of her is Caracol the Astronomy site the Mayans had near Chichenitza...”

Ayala’s mural found on 3rd and Mission street, in the middle of the urban densely populated neighborhood offers a look into the nature we often miss living in the city.

“The mural was also intended to be at kid eye level, that is why the animals. The rocks on the right hand side are peyote bulbs and at the bottom a waterfall with the entire Mayan calendar sprockets. It is said that if you look at them , molecular DNA gets awaken to bring us back to the beginning so that we remember our true origins and recuperate our power.” us back to the beginning so that we remember our true origins and recuperate our power.”

“CAMP is a living narrative of the struggles, victories, and visions forward of and for our communities and sharing our stories in real time,” said Megan Wilson of the Clarion Alley Mural Program.

“The work also provides a powerful vehicle for supporting social/political justice and dismantling intersectional oppression. The space is accessible and open to the public 24/7, creating an environment that is unique and always changing, reflecting the changes happening in our greater world,” added Wilson.