When Your Spirit Whispers

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Editor’s Pick
JUNE 30, 2010 1:09PM

San Francisco Murals _ America the Melting Pot

Rate: 34 Flag

It is no accident that San Francisco offers the best example of diversity in America! It is reflected on the streets of San Francisco by local artists.

After a long illness that lasted nearly one year, I decided to heal myself by using my new digital camera to document the murals of San Francisco. Over the following year I took literally thousands of photos of San Francisco murals. From the Haight Ashbury, to the Mission, to the Fillmore, I found a treasure trove of art that truly reflects the soul of America. Here are just a few:  

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Author tags:

photos of america, open call, san francisco murals, america the melting pot, photography, independence day, 4th of july

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Wow, what a treat - a treasure each and every one!
R_
joyonboard
June 30, 2010 01:13 PM
When I was a teenager (30 years ago), a sunday school teacher took us on a field trip to SF just to see the murals. I will never forget it. These are fantastic, and I agree, SF is a fantastic place for this kind of art!
sweetfeet
June 30, 2010 01:21 PM
What an amazing variety. Great collection.
ladyslipper
June 30, 2010 01:22 PM
Some really great images.
Graham Sale
June 30, 2010 01:46 PM
So bright. The colors...many remind me of art from Puerto Rico.
snarkychaser
June 30, 2010 02:42 PM
Beautiful images. It's been a long time since I have visited SF, although it is one of my favorite places in the world. Now I have added motivation to make that trip.
sophieh
June 30, 2010 02:52 PM
great idea and fantastic execution of the idea. congratulations on your health and success.
dianaani
June 30, 2010 10:16 PM
I enjoyed these also. Always heard there was an unwritten code among street artists that nobody will ever tag an artwork with graffiti. I really like your idea of a "healing project," too...thank you for taking time to upload all of these.
Fetlock
July 01, 2010 01:04 PM
Great photos of so many great murals in the Mission. I'd like to give a shout out for Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center (http://www.precitaeyes.org/), which is responsible for many of these murals and for training kids and adult to become muralists to commemorate the people of our community.
Linda Shiue
July 02, 2010 05:17 PM
Thank you Linda. Too bad I can't rate your comment.
SpiritManSF
July 02, 2010 05:57 PM
This is an amazing travelogue--one with heart!
Can't wait for the book to come out! (hint, hint)
R++++ ( a very rare rate from yours truly)
Poor Woman's Retro Diary
July 02, 2010 07:12 PM
These are beautiful! I love public art. I'd give a prize to the excellent John Lee Hooker, for masterful painting skill, and another for the creative and original concept in the alien reaching for half a floating Uncle Sam holding an infant. How cool that you are documenting these. What Poor Woman said about the book!
greenheron
July 02, 2010 07:54 PM
I live in a land of murals...some of them, as you know, thousands of years old. I have been waiting for someone to do what you did, and thank you for doing it! THIS...is the America that makes me proudest. The one that celebrates itself in "technicolor," and lets you taste all the "flavas" we are! Yum.
Keka
July 02, 2010 08:31 PM
Sad that you didn't take the time to tell us something about each mural......where you found them, what the dynamic was, etc.

Each one holds much more power that way.......but rated for the art, and showing it to us anyway.
Ginny Rose
July 04, 2010 06:01 AM
LOVELINESS LOVELINESS LOVELINESS! now that's what i like to see on this conflicted "holiday". thanks for being a witness...and recording. R
Tichaona Chinyelu
July 04, 2010 06:56 AM
I haven't been to SanFrancisco in years. Thanks!
Sheba Marx
July 04, 2010 07:26 AM
Who are all these people, they are US! I have never seen such a collection of work and I think you could do a coffee table book of it all and people would really enjoy it. REALLY. Great, great stuff. Great idea. Glad you are better too. R
SheilaTGTG55
July 04, 2010 09:34 AM
Amazing. I have been to many cities and long to see SF, I know I would love it and your photos capture the spirit that I feel I would enjoy most .Nice work SM.
rita shibr
July 04, 2010 09:54 AM
What a great way to depict SF. I used to live there in the Haight and I do miss all the diversity and that everywhere you look is art!
comfortcafe
July 04, 2010 09:58 AM
thanks for sharing the pictures of these interesting images!
Gary Justis
July 04, 2010 10:12 AM
Spectacular! This made me miss SF so much... thank you so much.
Have you thought of doing a book? What a contribution that would be!
Pandora M
July 04, 2010 10:55 AM
What strikes me most when I can see them all here together is the ethnicity that inspires this art. I can also see strong similarities in technique and believe the same artist can be identified in multiple murals. I couldn't appreciate this when seeing them in person. Amazing work in chronicling these Spiritman. What a genius way to sooth the soul and heal the body.
Gabby Abby
July 04, 2010 11:08 AM
These were awesome! Thanks, for sharing them with us.
Ella Rose
July 04, 2010 11:38 AM
I had no idea! Thanks for sharing this with us!
kitd
July 04, 2010 11:44 AM
This is wonderful!! Thank you ..
Glad you are healing.
Bette Roloson
July 04, 2010 03:19 PM
Street art: The most dynamic and soul-satisfying public beautification of all. Thank you for this tribute to our community-service artists.
Harriet Why
July 04, 2010 03:34 PM
Wonderful, vibrant art! And what a good way to heal; by training your eye and soul on beauty.
maria heng
July 04, 2010 04:23 PM
What a magnificent collection. Thank you for sharing. ~~R
FusunA
July 04, 2010 05:20 PM
You need to add the locations of these...
Just got back from a recent trip to San Francisco...you are impressed immediately with the importance given to public art. Wish I'd had this piece, would have tracked down a bunch of these.
maatkare
July 04, 2010 06:33 PM
These were amazing - as is your photography. Peace & healing to you. Thanks for sharing
trilogy
July 04, 2010 06:46 PM
You are right maatkare, I need to provide locations at some point. But that's another project. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of my career in photographic travelogues. I was also very weak and in the process of healing. It never occurred to me at the time, to write down where I was as I shot them. Going back to document them will be another healing in itself. Don't worry, I'm German/American. I can be obsessive compulsive once I focus!
SpiritManSF
July 04, 2010 07:03 PM
Stunning, healing for me to see as well. Thank you.
l'Heure Bleue
July 04, 2010 11:57 PM
Incredibly wonderful stuff.
Kathy Riordan
July 05, 2010 08:17 AM
Born and raised in Berkeley, SF has always been a place to visit for me, gone from the Bay Area many years now, it's things like this that make me want to return fo more than a visit. What comes to mind is the diversity, the richness, the dynamic.
plantlover
July 05, 2010 11:54 AM