Mats Stromberg (pictured) completed his "Giant Selfie" mural in San Francisco's Mission District in 2013, but blobs of silver-colored letters outlined in red, spelling the name "Blake," smothered much of it in July.
Tagged mural —
Mats Stromberg (pictured) completed his "Giant Selfie" mural in San Francisco's Mission District in 2013, but blobs of silver-colored letters outlined in red, spelling the name "Blake," smothered much of it in July.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
Much of the meticulous restoration on Stromberg's mural was completed by Kenshin Tomoshima and other helpful artists, but in August the tagger returned to the mural and wrote: "THIS ISNT ART. ITS WAR. BLAKE."
Back and forth —
Much of the meticulous restoration on Stromberg's mural was completed by Kenshin Tomoshima and other helpful artists, but in August the tagger returned to the mural and wrote: "THIS ISNT ART. ITS WAR. BLAKE."
Photo copyright by Kenshin Tomoshima
Taggers spray-paint initials, names, words, acronyms and other lettering across virtually any surface they choose.
Tagger targets —
Taggers spray-paint initials, names, words, acronyms and other lettering across virtually any surface they choose.
: Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
Countless larger-than-life murals illustrate San Francisco's weathered exteriors, bestowing visual intrigue to homes, shops, buildings and alleys.
San Francisco heritage under attack —
Countless larger-than-life murals illustrate San Francisco's weathered exteriors, bestowing visual intrigue to homes, shops, buildings and alleys.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
Many large murals, like this one in Chinatown, are the result of negotiations between artists and wall owners (shopkeepers, residents, city officials) to ensure paintings don't violate private property regulations.
Chinatown murals —
Many large murals, like this one in Chinatown, are the result of negotiations between artists and wall owners (shopkeepers, residents, city officials) to ensure paintings don't violate private property regulations.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
Carlos Daniel Perez-Boza teaches art at San Francisco's Cultural Arts Division of the Recreation and Parks. Here he works on an authorized mural in Clarion Alley in the Mission District.
Authorized art —
Carlos Daniel Perez-Boza teaches art at San Francisco's Cultural Arts Division of the Recreation and Parks. Here he works on an authorized mural in Clarion Alley in the Mission District.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
A tagger scrawled blue paint along the right margin of this larger-than-life mural in Clarion Alley, but you can still read the muralists' message: NATIONALISM, RELIGION. WORLDWIDE THERE IS A DARK CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.
Dark cloud, dark scrawls —
A tagger scrawled blue paint along the right margin of this larger-than-life mural in Clarion Alley, but you can still read the muralists' message: NATIONALISM, RELIGION. WORLDWIDE THERE IS A DARK CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
This large, pristine mural on Clarion Alley in the Mission District coexists next to the chaos of multiple tags.
Art on a mission —
This large, pristine mural on Clarion Alley in the Mission District coexists next to the chaos of multiple tags.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
The brick walls of San Francisco's Chinatown are an ideal surface for muralists to display their art.
Many mural themes —
The brick walls of San Francisco's Chinatown are an ideal surface for muralists to display their art.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
Mural artists' themes include politics, social issues and other streetwise images, such as this display in Clarion Alley.
Fair game —
Mural artists' themes include politics, social issues and other streetwise images, such as this display in Clarion Alley.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
A professional mural illustrates the side of an antique house in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.
Housing project —
A professional mural illustrates the side of an antique house in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
If you're going to San Francisco, keep in mind that outdoor murals, like this one in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, are under threat. Take photos before they disappear.
Ephemral art —
If you're going to San Francisco, keep in mind that outdoor murals, like this one in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, are under threat. Take photos before they disappear.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich
Taggers' lettering defaces a vivid Clarion Alley mural.
Ugly scrawl —
Taggers' lettering defaces a vivid Clarion Alley mural.
Photo copyright by Richard S. Ehrlich