Precita Eyes Muralists
Murals 2017-2018
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
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.
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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.
 
Treasure Island: Past, Present and Future
©2018 Precita Eyes Muralists

Dimensions: 11’ x 70’
Material: Acrylic on Stucco
Muralists: Francisco Franco, Susan Cervantes and assisted by Steven Reece in collaboration with the Treasure Island Residents and Community. 
Mural Location: Treasure Island Gymnasium
​Special Thanks to: Peter Summerville, Tse Ming, Sherry Williams and TIDC community. 
Description:
On Saturday, August 25th the Treasure Island Community Mural Design Workshop was led by Precita Eyes Muralists, Susan Cervantes and Francisco Franco.  The workshop was attended by a dozen participants.  The themes they wanted to see in the mural included family diversity, dog walkers, sports activities, history of the island, longshoremen, phoenix bird symbol of SF, anchors, seaplane, Native Americans, palm trees, bay bridge and elements representing the future.
 
The participants drew out their ideas around the themes and with the artists developed a composition that includes all of their images telling their story.
 
Mural Description
From left to right:  
 
An original Native American story teller sitting around a fire on the shoals of Yerba Buena Island sharing the stories of the island with a modern family.  In the background are the iconic Sun Tower and existing One Treasure Island building built for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition World’s Fair, and the Bay Bridge in the background.  From the fire pit rises the Phoenix bird representing the rise of the city from the Great Earthquake and Fire.  In the bottom left and right corners of the mural are the island anchors symbolizing the Navy’s presence on the island from the beginning of World War II to 1997. 
 
Next are longshoremen representing the bay area workers movement in the 1930’s.  The workers   transition to youth activities such as basketball, jump roping, and finally kids and dogs running through the field with a paper airplane echoing the famous Yankee Clipper seaplane in the upper right corner of the mural.
 
Witness of the island changes is the iconic female sculpture that once stood 40’ tall in the center of the island, Truth is Beauty/Bliss Project by Marco Cochane which represents all the artists community on the island.  To her right are builders of new development on the island who are raising the word LOVE, building Love for all the island locals and future residents. 
 
In the background is the Avenue of the Palms turning into wind turbines, the future energy source with the constant Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the island.
2017
Offerings 
​© 2017 Precita Eyes

​Materials: Acrylic on stucco
Artists: Francisco Franco, Felipe Hernandez, Robert Louthan, Sarah Sisken, and Dierdre Weinberg
Location: 1245 S. Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco CA 
Description
There are 9 panels in the mural, each representing a region of the world by depicting a historic vessel from that area, holding the food that each place is known for.  Starting from right to left: a traditional Mexican vessel holding chiles, avocados, tomatoes and other vegetables, a Moroccan vessel representing the African continent with coffee, yams and tamarind, a universal fruit bowl filled with fruit from all continents, followed by a basket holding corn and tomatoes, depicting Central America.  In the middle, the sun is surrounded by the elements needed to sustain life; sun, air, water and fire.  On the right side, an ancient water jug from the Middle East is shown, followed by a bowl from India surrounded by the indigenous foods of eggplant and mango, a gourd filled with the Mate drink from South America next to a bag of the same mate, grapes and a bottle of wine from many parts of the earth, and a plate of bread and fish from the Mediterranean.
 
The design coloration was inspired by the diamond shaped relief pattern existing as an architectural feature of the wall.  The position of the sun in the middle of the wall reflects the dependance of all life on the elements.  The colors spread from the light and bright middle of the mural, gradually moving through a prismatic succession of color, taking into account the patterns in each panel.  In each panel, the colors blend into the surrounding panels and in the recessed areas, the colors are darker.  Lighter colors within the same color scheme appear in the non-recessed areas, giving a patchwork quilt appearance to the work.  The symbols of the elements appear on the column between the panels.
 
We wanted to convey the idea that these vessels hold energy in the form of food and the ability to sustain life as well as the various foods themselves, providing life-giving energy as well as creating community.  We also wanted to acknowledge that Grocery Outlet provides much if not all of the food shown in the mural. 
The Cayuga Seniors
​© Precita Eyes Muralists

8' x 14', acrylic on MDO panels
Lead Muralist: Priya Handa
Sponsored by: Community Challenge Grant
Location: Cayuga Stairway, 301 Naglee Ave., San Francisco
"Heart of an Ox Mural Project Mural Project"
©2017 Precita Eyes Muralists

8’ x 62’, acrylic on stucco
Mural Director: Directed by Max Marttila Eli Lippert
Location: Grocery Outlet, South Van Ness between 24th and 23rd Streets, San Francisco, CA
Description:
This mural represents the heart and soul of the Mission District and the prosperity of healthy living. The centerpiece of the mural is a large ox symbolizing the strength of the working class neighborhood. Subtly painted into the ox is an image of a mother and child. There is also two children touching the Ox. The left side of the mural depicts a scene of California farmers tending to a strawberry field, a nod to the civil rights movements led by Cesar Chavez that many Mission residents relate with. Weaving through the sky behind them is an ancient Mexican band design. The opposite side of the mural shows a Mission District street scene, with an elderly man holding recently purchased groceries.
     A man pushes an ice cream cart on the same block as some girls playing jump rope. Above hangs Papel Picado, the celebratory Mexican art paper hangs from the telephone wires and swing to the foreground. These perforated papers depict a mariachi skull, a family marching and a girl on a bike. Along the entire bottom foreground of the mural is a selection of fruits and vegetables, lush and inviting.
"Existence is Resistance Mural Project"
​© 2017 Precita Eyes Muralists

8’ x 62’, Acrylic on stucco. 
Mural Director: Directed by Eli Lippert assisted by Priya Handa
Location: University of California, Berkeley
Description:
For the Make Your Mark Mural Project the students of UC Berkeley came together to create a mural based on the theme 'Social Justice.' While brainstorming, the students agreed several current day issues should be represented. Some of the ideas brought up consisted of freedom of speech, LGBTQ rights, the immigration ban, the Dakota Access Pipeline, the increase in technology usage, and the abuse towards Mother Nature. After consolidating the ideas, the students designed a mural that demonstrates the refugee crisis and the struggle of nature versus media, coming together and joining hands, going left to right. 
     Starting from the left, there is a refugee woman watching the journeys of other immigrants as they cross the waters. The blue swirls represent the different waters families have had to cross to reach the other end of their journey. The water transitions into a large boat, representing their transit and the many families that have taken this journey together. Moving closer to the center of the mural is a mother carrying her son on her back, but in high spirits because they made this journey together. 
     Below the mother, lays the tortoise, which represents the different paces and paths of all individuals. The tortoise is derived from the tale of the 'The Hare and The Tortoise,' and how worth cannot be measured with only one skill. 
     The hands joining towards the center represent the two struggles coming together and showing solidarity with one another. There is a hawk coming in from the left side and a black snake coming in from the right side, representing the fight between the big oil companies and mother earth. These prominent symbols appear in many popular native folktales.
     Towards the right side of the mural, the theme transitions into the struggle of nature versus media. There is a young woman weaving native designs to represent the teachings handed down by our ancestors. Along the bottom of the mural there is a youth planting seeds and kids reading and playing while looking away from technology and its detrimental affects. There is a male in a wheelchair putting up a poster and he represents the disabled community, and them expressing their voice. To the farthest right stands a tree growing over mechanical wheels demonstrating nature triumphing over the harmful effects that media and technology.
"Dreams on Broad Street Mural Project"
© 2017 Precita Eyes Muralists

21’ x 32’, Acrylic on stucco.
Mural Director: Directed by Max Marttila and assisted by Xavier Schmidt in collaboration with the OMI/ Lakeview community
Location: 101 Broad Street, San Francisco, CA
Description: ​
The OMI Mural is a celebration of the south western district of the city and its residents. Painted on the side of Lacy’s Barbershop on Broad and Plymouth the mural depicts the large hill that makes up a large portion of the neighborhood. Colored fog rolls in over the Orizaba rock hill onto a stream of homes that begins in muted sepia tones and continues into segments of bright colored houses. The fog continues to creep throughout the rest of the mural, framing a scene in the barbershop of Lacy cutting the hair of Mr. Furlough, the former barber. Framed pictures hang over the landscape. Portraits of recognized members of the community including the late Mike Brown of ICY, Dr. Shelton, Will Reno and a portrait of a young man Lawrence Collins. Outside of this is the market next door offering healthy organic food. Through the center of the mural is a train track being built for the two historical trains runing on the track, the old green F Train and the old white M Oceanview train. The Oceanview sign has been changed to Broad st and the MUNI logo has been changed to UNITY. In the bottom left corner is a BBQ scene with the smoke flowing out of the grill and transforming into sidewalk. A young girl waiting for food wears a blue school uniform to represent St Michael’s church which is also depicted in the top right corner. The IT Bookman center and Minnie & Lovie Ward Park are also shown. Above St Michaels church is a cursive script of the name ”Lakeview”, the most recognized name for the neighborhood graces the top of the mural.
More Murals…
Precita Eyes Mural Arts & Visitors Center
2981 24th St., San Francisco CA, 94110  •  415.285.2287  •  General Info: [email protected]
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©2024 Precita Eyes Muralists, Precita Eyes Arts & Visitors Center, 415-285-2287, 2981 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110