Baobab Rising © 2018 Precita Eyes Muralists
Mural Location: 350 Ellis Street, San Francisco, East wall
Dimensions: 58’ x 62’, Acrylic on Stucco
Lead Artists: Susan Cervantes, Eli Lippert, Monica Magtoto, Malik Seneferu, Mel Waters
Mural Location: 350 Ellis Street, San Francisco, East wall
Dimensions: 58’ x 62’, Acrylic on Stucco
Lead Artists: Susan Cervantes, Eli Lippert, Monica Magtoto, Malik Seneferu, Mel Waters
Description
The overall theme of the mural will honor the history, culture and contributions of African Americans and other people of color who have resided in the Tenderloin neighborhood through the years, populations that are frequently forgotten over the course of time. The monumental mural will be a central focus of the neighborhood, beautifying it and giving a visual voice to past and present neighborhood history and heroes.
On Monday, September 3rd, the 350 Ellis Community Mural Design Workshop was led by five Precita Eyes Muralists in collaboration with residents of 350 Ellis and other community members. The themes they wanted to see in the mural included African American experience, positive influences, diversity, housing, disability, seniors, music, Black Hawk jazz club, working people, inclusiveness and radical acceptance, spirituality, the transgender community, and the Asian community.
The participants drew out their ideas around the themes and, with the artists, developed a composition that includes all of their ideas, telling their story. In addition to the themes discussed, their imagery included the Sun, a tree growing out of the community, hearts, roses, TL landmarks, a person in a wheelchair, trade workers, housing, the Black Power fist, Lion Dancers, a pathway into the future of the Tenderloin, an eye to represent the vision the community has, a person in a wheelchair to represent the disabled community, a peace sign, and a protestor.
Mural Description FromTop to Bottom:
At the top of the mural design is the Sun radiating through a Baobab tree, representing the power, resilience, and strength of the Tenderloin and its residents. The Baobab tree and Black Power fist are growing up out of the community. The eye in the tree trunk represents the vision the community has and a pathway to a brighter future for the Tenderloin community. In the background of the sun and Baobab tree, the sky is filled with fractions of light representing the multi-dimensional love and care the Tenderloin community has for San Francisco.
Around the Baobab tree are iconic historic places such as the Compton Cafeteria on the left, where the first gay riots occurred, in the first LGBTQ community. On the right is The Black Hawk jazz club where many jazz musicians jammed and performed. Billie Holiday is portrayed on the left side of the mural, having given her last west-coast performance at the Blackhawk. On the right side of the mural is W. C. Handy, a jazz trumpeter who performed and lived in the Tenderloin. Under the two jazz performers are two of the oldest SRO’s in the Tenderloin: the Warfield and the Ambassador Hotels. Surrounding the hotels are construction workers building new affordable housing for the people in the Tenderloin.
In the foreground are people enjoying the Lion Dancers, celebrating the spirit of the Asian American community in the Tenderloin with many locals participating, including a person in a wheelchair with a peace sign in the wheel and a local elder with a walker. There are people in the background dancing as well as a crowd representing the unified appreciation of the diversity of the neighborhood. On the left, there is a person with a picket sign, representing the history of protest and demonstrations for jobs, housing, and workers’ rights. On the right side is a woman picking up trash and recycling, setting an example of keeping the streets clean. Roses frame the bottom left and right corners representing the love from the locals who have contributed to a better life in the Tenderloin. In the bottom center is a heart shining light in the street, representing all of the love of the community.
On Monday, September 3rd, the 350 Ellis Community Mural Design Workshop was led by five Precita Eyes Muralists in collaboration with residents of 350 Ellis and other community members. The themes they wanted to see in the mural included African American experience, positive influences, diversity, housing, disability, seniors, music, Black Hawk jazz club, working people, inclusiveness and radical acceptance, spirituality, the transgender community, and the Asian community.
The participants drew out their ideas around the themes and, with the artists, developed a composition that includes all of their ideas, telling their story. In addition to the themes discussed, their imagery included the Sun, a tree growing out of the community, hearts, roses, TL landmarks, a person in a wheelchair, trade workers, housing, the Black Power fist, Lion Dancers, a pathway into the future of the Tenderloin, an eye to represent the vision the community has, a person in a wheelchair to represent the disabled community, a peace sign, and a protestor.
Mural Description FromTop to Bottom:
At the top of the mural design is the Sun radiating through a Baobab tree, representing the power, resilience, and strength of the Tenderloin and its residents. The Baobab tree and Black Power fist are growing up out of the community. The eye in the tree trunk represents the vision the community has and a pathway to a brighter future for the Tenderloin community. In the background of the sun and Baobab tree, the sky is filled with fractions of light representing the multi-dimensional love and care the Tenderloin community has for San Francisco.
Around the Baobab tree are iconic historic places such as the Compton Cafeteria on the left, where the first gay riots occurred, in the first LGBTQ community. On the right is The Black Hawk jazz club where many jazz musicians jammed and performed. Billie Holiday is portrayed on the left side of the mural, having given her last west-coast performance at the Blackhawk. On the right side of the mural is W. C. Handy, a jazz trumpeter who performed and lived in the Tenderloin. Under the two jazz performers are two of the oldest SRO’s in the Tenderloin: the Warfield and the Ambassador Hotels. Surrounding the hotels are construction workers building new affordable housing for the people in the Tenderloin.
In the foreground are people enjoying the Lion Dancers, celebrating the spirit of the Asian American community in the Tenderloin with many locals participating, including a person in a wheelchair with a peace sign in the wheel and a local elder with a walker. There are people in the background dancing as well as a crowd representing the unified appreciation of the diversity of the neighborhood. On the left, there is a person with a picket sign, representing the history of protest and demonstrations for jobs, housing, and workers’ rights. On the right side is a woman picking up trash and recycling, setting an example of keeping the streets clean. Roses frame the bottom left and right corners representing the love from the locals who have contributed to a better life in the Tenderloin. In the bottom center is a heart shining light in the street, representing all of the love of the community.