What Is It About Art?

I'm one of many thousands of San Francisco residents who are paying way more than the national monthly rent for an apartment. I understand the idea of supply and demand , but when an individual who is trying to make a living and trying to live in a world class City shouldn't be giving up close to in my opinion 50% of their monthly pay.  In the book, one housing law was listed. The state of California has "a law called the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act that limited the scope of what sorts of rent control to single-family houses and condominiums and any apartment built after 1995 (or whatever year the city passed its rent control ordinance, which in San Francisco was 1979). It also freed landlords from rent regulation whenever a tenant moved out, allowing them to raise the rent back to the market price." page. 204-205 In light of the current Coronavirus epidemic , the impact on housing and how to maintain, and pay for it, is a huge stress on renters. This book ...

SAN FRANCISCO, January 9, 2017 – The City announces the installation of six large-scale illuminated bamboo lanterns, titled Sui Sui Ping An – Peace All Year Round , by Hong Kong artist Freeman Lau. Organized by the San Francisco Arts Commission in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department and the Asian Art Museum and sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, the installation commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and is scheduled to coincide with the Lunar New Year. Sui Sui Ping An – Peace All Year Round , by Hong Kong artist Freeman Lau SOURCE: http://www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection/pubart-press-releases/2017/01/09/large-scale-sculptures-will-light-up-civic-center-plaza/

Isn't it ironic, after 20 years since the passing of Keith Haring that his politically and socially charged iconic artworks are on display in San Francisco. A City that has long been known to be the epicenter of political divide is granted an opportunity to remind this very city that art does pave the way for a much more open and better understanding of artists as contributors to the diversity of San Francisco. Much of the creativity of this city is grounded on the amazing work of many artists who thrive and who are often seen as the slackers, easy going, low wage earners. But, they remind the rest of us that we are just side bars to their canvas in the creation as they may their  mark and contribution to this City. What's also unrecognized and appreciated is that where ever they do their art, where they live on the cheap; Mission, Haight, today is the most desirable addresses in the City. My how life has dealt artists a bad deal. But in Keith Haring's situation, ...

"Art will make people better, more highly skilled in thinking and improving whatever business one goes into, or whatever occupation. It makes a person broader." - Ruth Asawa

I've been noticing this artist for quite sometime. We all do the ritual of taking strolls along the beach with a stick in hand and begin to take little brush strokes to random and playful art on sand. But never do we get more engage and creative than this artist who uses the sand as his canvas. Read on... Andres Amador, 42, calls himself an "earthscape artist." His designs often cover a space as large as a football field, created on beaches from California to the Caribbean. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/artist-makes-a-living-playing-in-the-sand/

For several years and in all the years I've live in San Francisco, this particular art installation or showcase was the charm and highlights to being a resident of the City in seeing unique art period. A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle shared a sad episode in art work being put to rest. For whatever reason or cause. Sign of the times, transitional period. It doesn't seem to make sense when something staple or memorable leaves its mark and not be notice one bit. The article goes on to say, "public artwork are being evicted from the vacant building, which will be torn down for new housing." Really? Or is there a hidden agenda to do away with something possibly irrelevent today? Let's think twice before we really do away with art. This install probably took years to create and later become a point of reference visually. It was always eye catching when you see it at the  intersection whether your driving, biking or simply stumbling upon this city s...

There is a recent article from the San Francisco Chronicle triggered a new way of looking at art in 2014. He is someone who is daring and able to inject his visual perspective to modern society's radar or at least try. Read up on this article and you'll see. full article