‎"What’s something cool about this city?“
"The street art scene. Street art is sometimes regarded as vandalism and urban blight. But in San Francisco it’s considered part of life’s rich tapestry, a reflection of the Bay Area’s colorful history, radical politics and diverse population. Ever since Diego Rivera picked up a paintbrush to create his first SF mural in 1930, the city’s sidewalk artists have viewed walls as oversized canvases, and in recent years the artworks have spread beyond their Mission district heartland to other parts of the city.”
“And how long have you lived here?
"I’ve lived in SF since September of ‘97.”
“How has it changed in that time?”
“The city has changed a lot. Urban environments are supposed to get torn down and rebuilt. The Mission and China Basin are by far the places that seem to have changed the most. The Embarcadero and around the Giants Ball park have changed dramatically too. Other changes: way more bikes, less rain, more younger people, less economic and racial diversity, way more tech gazing, and higher prices for everything.”
“And how does street art reflect those changes?”
“More murals, graffiti alleys, and public art have sprung up since 1997. More of it is far flung, though I have always found stencils all across SF. It appears to be more accepted by the current influx of new San Franciscans. The City spends millions to eradicate the smaller graffiti but I haven’t seen any difference. I used to be the only guy in a stinky alley with a camera and now there are dozens in these alleys snapping away. Since moving to SF, street art has blown up across the world, and SF now has a place for traveling artists to hit up. Didn’t see that too much back then, though BANKSY came through here in the early 2000s.”