This last week I had the immense, delightful pleasure of finally getting to know the city of San Francisco much better than on my last trip which was a whirlwind weekend of installation at Gallery Heist and street work. This time around I got to settle down and paint a legal wall on Polk and Eddy with the great people over at WallSpace. The piece was completed with spray paint, and rollers to cap off the ears, throughout three days of cool sun showers. The Lion/Rabbit hybrid is a seemingly innocuous image but represents the subversion of the Urban Planner. Le Corbusier, one of the strongest identities in modernist architecture, took a paternalist approach to planning with the notion that the lion is the architect, the master, and the masses are the rabbits. Rarely does the contemporary urban landscape develop organically but is instead defined by the clamor of contending agendas and legislation. This image and its dissemination throughout neighborhoods all over the world is the embodiment of the resolutions and failures of planners to control the incredible mess and natural logic that is the city. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallspace/)
From the folks at WS: Wall Space was started to provide artists from all over the world a stage to express their ideas and abilities. As we all know most street artists must use illegal means to get their idea across to the public. WS wants to allow these artists the time to perfect their art in a legal manner on the most advantageous public viewing areas. By enabling the artists the time and freedom of expression WS hopes that the communities where these murals are made will be enriched with color and thought provoking imagery.
A HUGE thanks to Jerry Deal for providing the wall, Sam Flax for providing the paint, and Wall Space for orchestrating the project!!
