Arts Travel: Mission: Muralismo
- Colette Crutcher painted “La Madre Tonantzin” on 16th Street in 1997. Credit: Lori B (Bloustein)
Expect to confront street art with attitude at the de Young Museum’s regular Friday night series “Cultural Encounters,” where “Mission Muralismo” takes center stage through November. The first Friday events include tours, films and presentations by artists who “spray, write, tag and graffiti” the walls of San Francisco’s Mission District.
The “Mission Muralismo” movement is well documented in the book Street Art San Francisco: Mission Muralismo (Abrams). Edited by Annice Jacoby with an introduction by Carlos Santana, it details the street art scene that launched in the 1970s and transformed the district into a magnet for popular culture, fine art and political audiences.
The June 4 event features a talk by muralist Ray Patlan on the Balmy Alley arts corridor, tracing how it became an international attraction. July 2 covers the “Graff Revolution,” celebrating the masters and their style wars. And don’t miss the Aug. 6 film series, which includes “Quality of Life,” “La Misión” and “Low Riders.”
The de Young is open until 8:45 p.m. on Friday nights, and offers a variety of art programs and art-making activities, along with a free zone in the museum. The “Cultural Encounters” events are free. For details, visit www.deyoungmuseum.org or http://missionmuralismo.com.
