ART on STREETS: Mask on Clarion Alley

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One of the most enjoyable things about living in the city of San Francisco is how visually dynamic it is. The city is becoming more and more colorful each year as more art pops up out of doors. There is simply art everywhere, but not in a way that inundates you. The most interesting pieces are hidden away in nooks and crannies that you may not even see. ART on STREETS highlights this city’s art through the lens of a “Polaroid” camera (except it’s various apps on the IPhone).

NEW for 2012. Each week we will feature a different soundtrack for your viewing pleasure: a single song from a Bay Area musical artist. So plug in your earbuds (or not) and have a listen while you check out the art.

This day was particularly loud and boisterous. A lot of people were moving around the city in the early afternoon, especially at the Mission Street end of Clarion Alley, the location of this week’s featured piece. I stood in this alley, a mound of trash at my feet, admiring the details of this painting. The litter was distracting. We live in a beautiful city and why people insist on trashing it is beyond me. A part of me wished that the fire from the eyes in this mask could set fire to the trash, but that would cause a whole other problem.

When you go check out the piece, spend some time looking at the fluidity of the flames and the variety of shades used within a limited and vibrant palette of color. Just as I turned to leave my looking spot, a middle-aged Hispanic man walked by, holding the hand of his young son, and said with a stern love in his voice, first in Spanish and then in English, “This is what I mean when I say no one respects the neighborhood.” He continued, pointing at the trash, “Look, this is not ok. This is our home.” Witnessing this made my day, if not my entire week. The featured painting is by artist Hyde One, and is directly below a previously covered piece, which you can read about here.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/9394604″]

Musical Artist: Dj Runamuck
Title: Kali’s Quest