Mission District Murals

Balmy Alley, San Francisco, November 2010

I have always been in love with murals, and the culture that does mural painting the best is the Mexican culture. While I was last in San Francisco, I made sure to set aside a day to explore the Mission District Murals. There is something so powerful about viewing large public works of art that have meaning and value. You see the pain, joy, struggle and triumph of the people who paint the murals. You can't help but feel inspired.

In 1971, local muralists began creating beautiful, expressive paintings anywhere they could find the space, i.e. fences and garages of Balmy & Clarion Alleys. Many of the murals have political themes revolving around Mexican culture and adapting to American life. I should note that murals have been a part of Mexican culture since the early twentieth century. Famous muralist, Diego Rivera, began a mura movement in San Francisco after he completed his first commissioned mural outside of Mexico in 1930. Today there are an estimated 600 murals throughout the city with many located in the Mission Distrcit, home to many of San Francisco's Hispanics.