Location: 24th and Florida Streets SF, Mission District, St. Peter’s Church Rectory
Description:
The repair, restoration and maintenance of the mural, “500 Years of Resistance”, is be led by the original internationally acclaimed Salvadoran artist Isaias Mata in collaboration with Precita Eyes and mural restorer Aureliano “Yano” Rivera. The 21 year old, 40x8 meter mural – the brainchild of the late Father Jack Isaacs -- is painted on the rectory of St. Peter’s Parish Rectory at the corner of 24th St. and Florida St. in San Francisco, California, and is an integral part of the “cultural corridor” that celebrates and preserves Latin culture, art and history. It is one of the most beloved and visited murals in San Francisco.
In 1992, the late Father Jack Isaacs conceived and commissioned the mural, “500 Years of Resistance” in collaboration with resident artist, Isaias Mata. At that time, Father Isaacs was pastor of St. Peters’ parish, one of the largest Spanish-speaking immigrant parishes in San Francisco, located in the heart of the Latin Mission district. Father Isaacs believed deeply in the power art and beauty to heal and to inspire. He especially sought to create a public reference point for young immigrant youth caught in cycles of poverty, anti-immigrant sentiment, and rising gang violence and for the broader community.
Father Isaacs and Isaias Mata aimed to depict the Conquest from the perspective of the indigenous and victims of empire, then and now. At the same time, the priest and the muralist sought to celebrate and honor the faith and resilience of the people and their descendents in the face of overwhelming violence. They viewed the mural as a powerful counterpoint to the negative cultural narratives dominating popular culture and as an offering that could spark the imagination and provide alternative reference points of identity and possibility, especially for youth.