San Francisco Street Art / 8 Year Retrospective / Part 1

After my recent visit to the Kommunitas Allery, I started to go back to my archives of Street Art photography, singling out the shots that I have really appreciated over the years. I have realized that there are just too many for one posting. So I'll try a post a collection each month.

Now what defines Street Art? That is a tough one to define and please everyone at the same time. The definition for me is any act of self expression layered into or on top of the Urban Fabric of our fine City of San Francisco. Stickers, stencils, tags, pieces, graffiti, readymades, you name it - as far as I'm concerned they all fall within the definition, no matter how senseless or benign they may be interpreted.

The following are just a few that have caught my eye over the years. If you know anyone responsible for these or if you remember seeing these also, would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

^ A favorite from the tail-end of DOT-COM boom

Bus Shelter @ 5th & Mission

^ A clever reminder that we are a country at war

Sidewalk near Duboce Park

^ Always liked this guy's style

Doorway on N-Judah Line, Inner Sunset

^ Have a happy emergency

Emergency call box, Upper Market Street

^ The Original

Outer Sunset, Judah Street Restrooms

^ Fence tag

Laguna & Page

^ Amoeba Parking Lot

Upper Haight Street

^ Mission District alley

^ Utility box

3rd Street & Townsend

^ Rowdy @ empty retail

South of Market, near 9th St & Howard

^ C&M Bar

48th Avenue, Outer Sunset

^ Retail window

South of Market, near 9th St & Howard

KOMMUNITAS an Urban Allery

While waiting to get my windshield replaced down South of Market, I decided to take advantage of the 2 hours of time to roam around the area and shoot some photography. I've always enjoyed aimlessly wandering around this neighborhood shooting pictures because inevitably you are always bumping into interesting... well... stuff.

People, art, filth, grime, industry, businesses, restaurants, poverty, wealth, vacated spaces (especially nowadays), new condos, old condos, train yards, new cars, old cars, delivery trucks, gutters, cyclone fences, rust, broken glass, flyered telephone poles, quiet clubs, weeds sprouting out of cracks, the lone community garden, wandering souls. I'm never let down when I criss-cross these streets, there is always something to point the camera at. The area is always changing but in some weird way it kinda stays the same... stuff just seems to shift around.

I decided to go by an alley that I knew had a considerable amount of Graffiti / Street Art in it. I was surprised to find the pic above posted on the fence at the front of the alley. What I thought was just a random stroll to a non-descript alley was actually a visit to one of the cooler Galleries (or an Allery) that I have been to in awhile. It is actually managed or curated by KOMMUNITAS. Go here to not learn much about it. Or go here to learn more about the individual that runs KOMMUNITAS.

The work / art / graffiti / street art that I have found here over the years has always been exceptional and worth a visit. I'd highly recommend stopping by. Please note the colors of my uploaded images do not do the art justice. It did not help that it was overcast as well that morning.

Have you been to this alley before? Do you know the names of these artists? What do you think of the work? Do you know other great areas in SF to see art like this? Drop us a line I'd love to know. Also stay tuned as I will be posting an (8) year retrospective of some of my favorite street art that I have documented over the years of living and working within San Francisco. 

A few more images for your enjoyment.

For information on Jimmy McGriff, click here to check out some of his albums. Gotta love some of those covers!!!