24 th and Capp Street Mural
Commissioner Johnston requested that Public Art Program Director Jill Manton read her staff report aloud to the Committee.
Ms. Manton went over the history of the mural, and of the process that occurred over the past month in regard to the mural design. Members of the community have objected to specific images within the mural that pertain to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. She stated that HOMEY’s (Homies Organizing the Mission to Empower Youth) original sketch, submitted and approved by the Visual Arts Committee on June 15, 2007, did not include these images. HOMEY presented this new imagery to the Visual Arts Committee at its August 15 meeting and there was substantial public comment both favorable and critical of the specific imagery. No action was taken by the Visual Arts Committee at that meeting. After a month filled with many passionate discussions, a multitude of meetings, and an outpouring of letters and phone calls, the HOMEY organization has brought a revised proposal to today’s Visual Arts Committee meeting. Ms. Manton stated that staff recommendation is to approve this proposed revision to the mural, and she listed the aspects of the mural that were altered:
1. A new image of an olive tree has been added to the mural that the HOMEY artists believe is a universal symbol of peace and a part of the landscape common to both groups.
2. The revised design changes the image that previously referenced the map of the state of Israel to a more organic form suggesting mountainous terrain.
3. The kaffiyeh is no longer draped across the bottom face in the group of four faces. The kaffiyeh is now wrapped around the face in a manner worn by many women.
Commissioner Johnston then introduced Nancy Hernandez; Education and Outreach Coordinator for HOMEY. Ms. Hernandez stated that she was happy to see so many people in attendance. She expressed her gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this process, whether through writing letters or meeting and talking with the HOMEY’s. She also thanked everyone who had offered support of the initial mural and all those who had expressed criticism. Ms. Hernandez explained that many of the youth involved in the mural were not able to attend today’s meeting due to their class schedule, and that this process has in itself been a learning process for the youth.
Over two hundred individuals worked on the mural, including those who had worked on the original mural when they were in high school; the original mural was painted seven years ago and destroyed in a storm last winter. Ms. Hernandez stated that it is HOMEY’s hope that the revisions reflect HOMEY’s efforts to maintain their message to the entire community.
Ms. Hernandez read her letter of September 19, 2007,to the Arts Commission:
“After receiving feedback on our mural “Breaking Down Barriers, Building Bridges to Solidarity,” we have decided to alter the segment which references the wall in Palestine/Israel. Our intention was to draw parallels between the issues at the U.S./Mexico border and the Israeli/Palestinian security barrier. Our point is that building of walls, on 24 th Street, in the southwest, or in the Middle East doesn’t solve conflict between peoples. We consider this section of the mural to be a statement of solidarity between the residents of the San Francisco Mission District and global movements for oppressed peoples to gain self-determination. After discussions with the Arts Commission, the JCRC, Anti-Defamation League, Jewish Voice for Peace, AROC, and various Arab and Jewish artists and community workers, where we were given feedback on how the image we chose translates to different communities. We asked for suggestions on how to best maintain our message, and make the image more acceptable to the diverse community we live in.
We brought the suggestions back to our group and decided to keep the section as part of the mural, with a few additions and changes that will hopefully make the mural better represent our theme.
The changes we propose to make are as follows:
-Open up the hole in the wall so that it does not resemble the shape of any state.
-Add sky where the wall used to tower over the people, to symbolize a brighter future.
-Add an olive tree, growing through the rubble of the wall towards the sky, to symbolize peace, and nature’s ability to overcome man-made challenges.
-Add the face of a woman to the person who has the Kaffiyeh worn around the face.
We hope that with these additions, everyone feels like their concerns were heard and incorporated into the revision. Thank you to all who supported us on this project and to all the volunteers who enabled us to mobilize over 200 people to be a part of creating this mural. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters of support for the project and to the San Francisco Arts Commission for all your time and effort on this. And thanks especially to the youth of HOMEY and lead artists Eric Norberg and Mike Ramos for all their time and dedication on this project.”
Commissioner Johnston explained the Visual Arts Committee process to the members of the public. He requested that public comment focus on the mural at issue and on the process involved in a decision regarding the possible redesign of the mural.
Albert Greenberg stated that he supports the current redesign of the mural. He stated that he had been involved in the American Festival, which brought together a number of diverse communities, and that this was what he considered radical politics. Mr. Greenberg stated that there is a thriving Jewish community that has lived in the Mission District for many years. Mr. Greenberg’s hope is that this Jewish community can get to know the HOMEY community, and vice versa.
Jim Haber stated that he is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). Mr. Haber stated that he appreciates the mural as it stands now, prior to the redesign, though he is also supportive of the changes HOMEY has proposed. He stated that the shape of the crack in the wall did not look like the state of Israel to him, nor is the image of the kaffiyeh wrapped across a face threatening to him. Mr. Haber stated that to talk about this image makes a mockery of real cases of anti-Semitism that exist in the world today.
Hene Kelly stated that she is a retired teacher, and that currently she gives tours of San Francisco to international students. Ms. Kelly often brings students to the Mission, in part for its vibrant and diverse restaurants, and in particular for its wonderful murals and integrated neighborhoods. The Mural at 24 th and Capp Street will become part of her tour, as it speaks to youth from all over the world. Ms. Kelly stated that she was proud to have such a wonderful mural to show to visiting students.
Abby Michelson Porth of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) thanked the Arts Commission, the HOMEY organization, Nancy Hernandez and Rene Quiñonez for being so responsive and for doing so much. Ms. Porth stated that it is her hope that the dialogue created here will continue to grow and thrive. She stated that the JCRC supports the HOMEY sketch to revise the mural.
Bryan Schwartz stated that he is a civil right lawyer in San Francisco. He represents a large variety of people, people of color, people with disabilities, and so on. Mr. Schwartz said that his message is a different one than what has been stated thus far. The Mission district has a strong Latino community, and the mural is supposed to talk about global movements. With this in mind, Mr. Schwartz told of a group of people in Peru who are in the religious minority. They are unable to practice their religion, are unable to, for example, obtain food that meets their dietary restrictions. These are Inca Jews. These Jews have a single goal: to emigrate to Israel; this is their self determination. Some of these Jews have been able to relocate to the West Bank of Israel, and are very happy there. Mr. Schwartz stated that he raises this issue to exemplify why the original design of the portion of the mural in question is not appropriate, as it simplifies an extremely complicated situation.
Lily Haskell, with the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), stated that she is inspired by the passion of the HOMEY youth. In addition, she appreciates seeing people from such diverse communities come out in support of self-expression for artists. Ms. Haskell stated that she is saddened to see the Arts Commission bullied by what she referred to as “racist Zionists,” as she believes public art should speak for those who otherwise would not have a voice. The mural is about solidarity, and as such, Ms. Haskell is proud and honored to stand in solidarity in support of the mural.
Jonathan Bernstein stated that he is the Executive Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Mr. Bernstein moved to the Bay Area from Texas, where he attended a public university that displays statues of Confederate heroes. The campus often engaged in rigorous debate about how to deal with such statues. Many people felt offended, hurt, or like they were not a part of the campus community. Mr. Bernstein stated that it is important to keep such examples in mind because while we want public art to have a message, we want this message to be inclusive, so that people from different backgrounds will not feel ostracized. Mr. Bernstein’s concern is that, based on comments made today, this mural could inspire anti-Semitism. Mr. Bernstein stated that there are a variety of reasons why he does not feel the US/Mexican border and the Israeli/Palestinian border is an appropriate comparison, but his main concern is that Jewish people walking down 24 th Street may be made to feel ostracized by the current or revised mural design.
Joel Frangquist stated that he is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). He supports the theme of the mural and the inclusion of the Palestinian imagery, as well as the revised design, though he is saddened that revisions have to be made. Mr. Frangquist said that he feels the accusations of violence and hate have been overdrawn. It is Mr. Frangquist’s hope that the Visual Arts Committee will approve the redesign, and that the process engaged by the Arts Commission has been healing.
Carol Sanders stated that she is disturbed that the letter from the JCRC claims to speak for the Jewish community, as she is a member of the Jewish community and the letter does not speak for her. Ms. Sanders feels that the Palestinian voice is consistently silenced by the media. Ms. Sanders went on to say the JCRC has protested the Palestinian cultural mural at San Francisco State as well as Palestinian art at the Berkeley Art Museum. In each of these cases the community has successfully resisted this censorship. In the case of this mural, the JCRC has stated that the image is threatening to the Jewish community. Conversely, Ms. Sanders is uplifted by the mural imagery, but is troubled by the way the JCRC has portrayed the Jewish community.
Zoe Gorman stated that she is an artist and a member of JVP. As such, she is amazed to hear that people see hate in this mural, as she does not see it. Ms. Gorman stated that she likes the image of the olive tree, which is a symbol of peace in the Middle East, and that she appreciates the spirit of cooperation apparent in the process of creating the mural. Ms. Gorman went on to discuss the Palestinian cultural mural at San Francisco State, a situation that she was outraged by.
Gina Waldman stated that she is a refugee from the Middle East and a Jew. Her family was almost burned alive while escaping anti-Semitic mobs in Libya in 1967. Ms. Waldman is appealing to the Commission as a 1993 recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian award and as a victim of hatred and intolerance. Ms. Waldman commended the Commission for allowing the mural, but stated that she is troubled by the fact that the mural’s depiction of the Middle East in conflict is not uniting but dividing the community. In its current design, the mural does not show the Israeli victims of suicide attacks. Ms. Waldman asked, is it not an injustice to show the suffering of one group of people and not those on the other side? Ms. Waldman held up a picture of a young Israeli girl who was killed by a suicide bomber, a girl who would not have died had the wall in question been erected earlier.
Maria Martinez stated that she is a native San Franciscan, an active community member, a scholar and an artist. She recently took a trip to the US/Mexico border, and learned that the company that built that wall is the same one that is building the Israel/Palestine wall. Ms. Martinez is inspired by the way in which the mural talks about both national and local issues, and supports its current design; she does not believe any additional changes should be made.
Mo Shooer stated that he is a member of JVP. Mr. Shooer pointed out that there are often a variety of emotional and political issues that arise in discussion of the Middle East. Mr. Shooer feels the mural is a symbol of these. On a personal level, Mr. Shooer does not support the Israeli occupation, and feels the wall is emblematic of this occupation; he supports the mural in its original design and in its redesign. He stated that he is grateful to HOMEY for taking in all of these conflicting responses. Mr. Shooer added that he is mystified by the Arts Commission’s process of approval, and by the withholding of the stipends for the HOMEY youth, and asked whether this was a result of outside pressure.
Julie L. Bernstein stated that she is a twenty-six year old native San Franciscan, and she supports all of the work being done. She looks forward to being more involved in the community that created this mural since she grew up in San Francisco and lives in San Francisco and is passionate about her ancestors, who include holocaust survivors and Yemenite Israelis. Ms. Bernstein is saddened by the fact that this has seemingly become a platform to throw insults around within the Jewish community. Ms. Bernstein thanked the Commission for listening to her comments.
Doug Kahn stated that he is a Rabbi and the Director of JCRC. Rabbi Kahn began by stating that from the beginning, the JCRC felt strongly that the HOMEY youth should be paid as soon as possible, and did not exert any pressure to the contrary. The JCRC did have concerns about the mural, and were eager to enter into a dialogue with HOMEY with regards to these concerns. The JCRC is grateful to HOMEY and to the Arts Commission for their willingness to listen to these concerns. There are concerns that remain, partially in regards to a profoundly different view of the security barrier portion of the Israel/Palestine wall. However, Rabbi Kahn stated that significant strides have been made in the proposed redesign, to the point that the JCRC no longer formally objects to moving forward with the redesign of the mural proposed by HOMEY. Rabbi Kahn added that some of the comments made today and throughout this process have reinforced the polarizing devices that the JCRC objected to in the beginning. Rabbi Kahn stated that this puts an exclamation point on why the JCRC raised objections to begin with. He said that no San Franciscan should be made to feel alienated or that they are not a part of a given community by virtue of art that is publicly funded.
Enrico Morales stated that he immigrated to the Bay Area from El Salvador when he was two years old. Mr. Morales stated then when he first saw this mural, he felt an instant connection with it. Though he is not from Mexico, his family crossed the US/Mexico border and it has great significance for him. Mr. Morales currently attends City College, where he has met a number of people from different communities, including the Jewish community and the Palestinian community. In many conversations, the issue of walls between countries has arisen, and this has caused Mr. Morales to see many parallels between the US/Mexico border wall and the Israel/Palestine wall; anytime you set up borders between people it is similar to racism, assigning certain spots to certain people. Mr. Morales feels the civil rights of the HOMEY youth have been violated, and believes that the mural should have been left the way it was. Mr. Morales concluded by stating that he applauds HOMEY for compromising, but does not believe the Arts Commission should have asked HOMEY to do so.
Jazmín Barrera stated that she was born and raised in the Mission District. She read aloud the letter that has been sent to the Arts Commission from Saint Peter’s Housing Authority in support of the original mural design.
Husam Zakharta stated that he is a Palestinian-American, and a resident of the Bay Area. Mr. Zakharta used to work to compile stories of Arab-Americans who had been discriminated against in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. One such case involved a man who worked as a custodian. This man received a letter that was addressed simply, “To the suicide bomber.” This was one of many cases that cause many Arab-Americans to live in constant fear. Mr. Zakharta stated that as a Palestinian, it was wonderful to stand in solidarity with minority brothers and sisters and to have the Palestinian voice heard. Mr. Zakharta is saddened that his people are often labeled terrorists.
As there were no other requests, Commissioner Johnston stated that this concluded public comment on this item. Commissioner Hunter explained that there are numerous projects that come back to the Commission due to changes in the design, as reflected by other items on the Visual Arts Committee agenda today, making this process a typical one for the Commission. Commissioner Hunter found public comment to be very constructive and thanked the Arts Commission staff for facilitating it.
Adine Varah, San Francisco Deputy City Attorney, explained that this mural project is on City property and is being funded with a Community Challenge Grant, formerly known as a Neighborhood Beautification Fund Grant, in collaboration with the Department of Parking and Traffic and Department of Administrative Services. The Arts Commission is not the funding agency for this mural, nor is the Arts Commission responsible for distributing funds for the mural. This matter is before the Arts Commission because Section 5.103 of the San Francisco Charter states that the Arts Commission must “approve the design and location of all works of art before they are acquired, transferred or sold by the City and County, or are placed upon or removed from City and County property, or are altered in any way.” The City’s grant agreement form, in turn, requires grantees to obtain all necessary City approvals as a condition of the grant for the mural.
Commissioner Rinder stated that this process is a necessary element of democratic discourse. He stated that in his vote for the redesign, he will keep in mind the proposed imagery as well as the process the Art Commission is asked to follow. He continued that this has been the most educational item to occur in his time as a Commissioner, and that he commends HOMEY, and Nancy Hernandez in particular, for setting a wonderful example of a strong public art practice. The proposed redesign more successfully conveys the original concept of the mural and acts as a strong visual articulation of HOMEY’s stated goals. Finally, Commissioner Rinder thanked HOMEY for their work, their attention and their courage.
Commissioner Johnston stated that this has been a positive experience. He applauded members of the public taking the time out of a workday to attend this meeting, and expressed his gratitude to HOMEY, the JCRC, ADL, AROC and others who brought passion and intelligence to a difficult topic. The resulting mural will be a rich addition to our public art tradition in San Francisco. Art is supposed to generate dialogue and interest, he said, and if the City of San Francisco can help to encourage that while remaining respectful of its citizens then we are doing something right.
Motion: Motion to approve revised design as proposed by HOMEY for mural located at 24 th and Capp Streets.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
