Clarion Alley Mural Project

For more information on Clarion Alley Mural Project, please visit our Website:

www.ClarionAlleyMuralProject.org

The Mission of Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP) is to support and produce socially-engaged and aesthetically innovative public art, locally and globally, as a grassroots community-directed organization based in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Megan Wilson has been a core organizer of CAMP since 1998 and co-director 2001-2005 and 2010 - present. In 2003 she curated, co-organized, and raised the funds for the international exchange and residency Sama-sama/Together, a collaboration between community arts organizations and artists from the San Francisco/Bay Area (USA) and Yogyakarta (Indonesia) designed to foster understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim cultures following 9/11. The book Sama-sama/ Together that chronicled the project, was published in 2006 by Jam Karet Press in Indonesia. In 2015 Wilson participated with CAMP co-director Christopher Statton in the Geneng Street Art Project #3 in Yogyakarta. In 2018 she co-directed and co-organized (with Christopher Statton and Nano Warsono) CAMP's second international exchange and residency project, Bangkit /Arise between artists from Yogyakarta and San Francisco/Bay Area in collaboration with the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. The second phase of the project will take place in 2020. Wilson received her BFA from the University of Oregon and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute.

About CAMP:

Throughout its history Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP) has used public art as a force for those who are marginalized and a place where culture and dignity speak louder than the rules of private property or a lifestyle that puts profit before compassion, respect, and social justice.

Clarion Alley runs one block (560 ft long and 15 ft. wide) in San Francisco's inner Mission District between 17th & 18th and Mission and Valencia streets. Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP) was established in 1992 by a volunteer collective of six residents/ artists who were inspired by the murals of Balmy Alley that began in the early-70's as an expression of artists' outrage over human rights and political abuses in Central America and focused on Central American social struggles.

However, the co-founders of CAMP did not choose a single theme and instead focused on the two goals of social inclusiveness and aesthetic variety. As a result CAMP has produced over 700 murals on and around Clarion Alley by artists of all ethnicities, ages, and levels of experience, with an emphasis on emerging artists, new styles and a social justice framework. Additionally, CAMP has produced large-scale projects off-site and internationally:

• the Redstone Labor Temple Project in the Redstone Building on 16th Street between South Van Ness and Capp Streets in San Francisco. This project includes a series of labor-inspired murals by Aaron Noble, Rigo 97, Susan Greene, Sebastiana Pastor, Isis Rodriguez, Chuck Sperry, Barry McGee, Carolyn Castaño, Ruby Neri, John Fadeff, Scott Williams, and Matt Day;

• Sama-Sama/Together, an international exchange and residency project that took place in 2003 between artists from the SF/Bay Area and artists from Yogyakarta Indonesia - with murals in both locations. Additionally, a 168-page, full-color, bilingual book Sama-sama/Together was published by Jam Karet Press in 2006;

• Roxie Theater Mural Project: In honor and celebration of the Clarion Alley Mural Project's 20th Anniversary in 2012, the Roxie invited artists from CAMP to create new murals in theater's Little Roxie lobby, bathrooms, and storefront window. Artists include: Jet Martinez, Kelly Ording, Bunnie Reiss and Ezra Eismont, Daniel Doherty, Rigo 23, Stev Sechovec, Danny Gotimer, and Megan Wilson.

• Bangkit/Arise, CAMP's second international exchange and residency project with Yogyakarta, Indonesia that took place in 2018 (first phase) and will be completed in 2020. Additionally, a 250-page, full-color bilingual book documenting the project and including essays by participants and cultural critics from both countries is being underwritten by the Asian Art Museum and published in 2021.

Since the project began in 1992 CAMP has received permission from all but two of the building owners on the alley to curate murals on the facades of the structures on Clarion Alley.

As a 25+ year-old project, CAMP has a very limited number of spaces that become available each year for new works; therefore:

• CAMP primarily reaches out to artists and/or organizations that the project is interested in exhibiting and/or working with collaboratively.

• CAMP does accept submissions for new projects; however, please note that preference is given to Bay Area-based artists and organizations due to the need for artists to be available to maintain their spaces.

CAMP's Guiding Principles:

1. Visual messaging can provide a powerful vehicle for supporting political, economic, and social equity and dismantling intersectional oppression.

2. Sensitivity and awareness of cultural, racial, economic, migratory, sexual, and gender-related challenges and identities is necessary for CAMP to function as an inclusive organization that maintains space for people of all backgrounds and experiences.

3. Non-commodified public spaces are critical for building and maintaining healthy communities.

4. It is critical to the health and sustainability of CAMP to respect and honor the generosity of the residents of Clarion Alley in their support of the project.

5. Murals and other forms of street art have a long and strong history of helping to build understanding and respect within and among communities.

6. There are multiple sides to every story. Therefore, we prioritize places of alignment and recognize that full agreement is not necessary for collaboration.

The evolution of the project since its beginnings has been one of incredible successes:

The initial transformation of the alley to a space filled with murals - color, as well as the City's first black and white murals with a full range of styles and content - as a collective community effort;

• Over 700 murals created in the past 2 decades;

• CAMP's annual Block Party that has been organized without corporate sponsorship and features live music, street performance, film and video projections, children’s activities since 1998;

• The Labor Temple Project in the Red Stone Building at 16th and Capp streets that includes a series of labor-inspired murals by Aaron Noble, Rigo 97, Susan Greene, Sebastiana Pastor, Isis Rodriguez, Chuck Sperry, Barry McGee, Carolyn Castaño, Ruby Neri, John Fadeff, Scott Williams, and Matt Day;

• The International exchange project, Sama-sama/Together through which six artists from SF (Aaron Noble, Andrew Schoultz, Alicia McCarthy, Carolyn Castaño, Carolyn Ryder Cooley, and Megan Wilson) completed a 6-week residency in Yogykarta, Indonesia and 4 artists from Yogykarta (Arie Dyanto, Arya Panjalu, Nano Warsono, and Samuel Indratma) completed an 8-week residency in SF painting murals, installing exhibitions, and participating in public dialogues. Additionally, a 168-page, full-color, bilingual book Sama-sama/Together was published by Jam Karet Press in 2006;

• Roxie Theater Mural Project: In honor and celebration of the Clarion Alley Mural Project's 20th Anniversary in 2012, the Roxie invited artists from CAMP to create new murals in theater's Little Roxie lobby, bathrooms, and storefront window. Artists include: Jet Martinez, Kelly Ording, Bunnie Reiss and Ezra Eismont, Daniel Doherty, Rigo 23, Stev Sechovec, Danny Gotimer, and Megan Wilson; and

• CAMP's second international exchange and residency project with Yogyakarta, Indonesia Bangkit/Arise. In July/August 2018 five of the artists from the SF/Bay Area – Kelly Ording, Jet Martinez, Jose Guerra, Christopher Statton and Megan Wilson spent 5 – 7 weeks working with the community of Panggungharjo, painting murals and participating in public discussions rooted in a social justice framework. Unfortunately because of greater geopolitical circumstances, two of the Bay Area artists – Shaghayegh Cyrous and Keyvan Shovir were unable travel and to be a part of the first phase of the exchange; however, they are still very much a part of the exchange and will be traveling to Yogyakarta as soon as it is possible. In September/October six of the Yogyakarta artists – Nano Warsono, Bambang Toko, Ucup, Wedhar Riyadi, Vina Puspita and Harind Ndarvati spent 8 weeks in the Bay Area getting to work with our communities here. Sadly, one of the Indonesian artists – Codit - was unable to be a part of the current residency in San Francisco due to greater geopolitics; however, he too is still part of the exchange and will travel to San Francisco when possible. Additionally, a 250-page, full-color bilingual book documenting the project and including essays by participants and cultural critics from both countries is being underwritten by the Asian Art Museum and published in 2021.

• CAMP's support of over 500 artists;

• CAMP receives over 200,000 visitors annually;

• CAMP's ongoing collaborations with our many neighbors and community partners; and

• CAMP's active work in support of social, economic, and environmental justice.

CAMP's Community Support:

In addition to our mural work, CAMP has been very active in the community through participation in public presentations about public art and its role in social activism, including panels and presentations at Intersection for the Arts, the Commonwealth Club, Southern Exposure, San Francisco Art Institute, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, USF, and at the Cemeti Art House in Yogyakarta Indonesia. CAMP organizers Aaron Noble and Megan Wilson participated in the Penny Stamps Distinguished Visitors Program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor to present CAMP, work with students individually, and provide consultation on developing a mural program to a group of community members in Detroit. Noble and Wilson also taught a public art course at the San Francisco Art Institute through the Painting Department that used CAMP as the framework and studio for the class. CAMP organizers Aaron Noble, Rigo 23, and Permi Gill participated in the public planning process of the 1998 BART station renovation at 16th and Mission Streets. In 2010, CAMP was a featured presenter at the de Young Museum as part of the series Street Art San Francisco: Mission Muralismo. In 2012 CAMP members Antonio Roman-Alcala, Jean Yaste, Jet Martinez, and Megan Wilson presented the work of CAMP at an event organized and hosted by Shaping San Francisco. In 2015 CAMP co-directors Megan Wilson and Christopher Statton participates in the Geneng Street Art Project #3 in Yogyakarta Indonesia, organized by Ruang Kelas SD. The theme of the project was "Gemah Ripah Loh Jinawi," which translates to a critique of the unprecedented levels of development and displacement, impacting farmers and the natural resources in the areas surrounding the city of Yogyakarta. Wilson and Statton were two of the 30+ artists to paint murals on the facades of the homes in the farming community of Sewon.

As part of our 20th Anniversary in 2012 CAMP artists painted the lobby, bathrooms, and created a window installation at our community partner, the Roxie Theater. Additionally, the Roxie hosted an evening of shorts from CAMP over the previous 20 years, including early footage from the first year of CAMP, filmed by Fiona O'Connor, narrated by Rigo 23.

In addition to the direct community, CAMP draws over 200,000 visitors annually to the Alley to view our murals. CAMP also hosts an annual Block Party in October that has consistently brought over 1,000 people to the celebration, which features new murals, live and DJ music, film and video projections, and more.

Changes To The Neighborhood Over The Past Three Decades:

Over the past thirty years, San Francisco’s Mission District has radically changed. Especially since the first dotcom boom in the late nineties, the neighborhood has seen its rents increase tenfold. The average rent for a 1-bedroom in 2019 is $3,690. Additionally, many longtime small businesses have been forced out by rising rents and the district has been hit by an epidemic of resident evictions.

Sadly CAMP has also been greatly impacted by the extreme gentrification of the Mission District since the late nineties. What started as neighborhood-based project committed to diversity and inclusion, is now a magnet for lots of folks hoping to profit off of the image that CAMP has created - from the developers and real estate agents who use CAMP as a selling point for the "cool, hip Mission experience," to those who use the space for fashion shoots, to corporations hoping to include the "gritty urban street art" image to sell their products, to any number of paid tours by folks unrelated to CAMP, spreading misinformation about the project, artists, and murals.

CAMP itself was evicted from our warehouse at 47 Clarion in 2000 to make way for new condo lofts. In addition to its long history as a space for artists, including Terry Riley, Steven Arnold, and the Cockettes, 47 Clarion was the original office and studio for CAMP. We were then evicted from our garage on the alley in 2005.

Many of the artists who once lived in the neighborhood have also been displaced due to the outrageous and unaffordable hikes in rents to the area and the eviction epidemic. It's been truly heartbreaking to watch so many people who have spent years working hard and investing in the community be forced to leave because, while they have plenty of creativity, energy, and love for the neighborhood, they don't have enough money to keep their homes, small businesses, and community-based organizations.

Moving forward, CAMP will continue to be a force for those who are marginalized and a place where culture and dignity speak louder than the rules of private property or a lifestyle that puts profit before compassion, respect, and social/economic/environmental justice.

Please visit CAMP’s Website to make a donation to the project:

www.ClarionAlleyMuralProject.org

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!