Mural Party Press Advisory
Press Advisory: Iconic Upper Market Mural Restoration Is an Art Project for Our Times
Join the San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Public Works, Castro Community Benefit District, Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, Castro Art Walk and elected officials for the dedication of the newly restored Upper Market Mural, “The Chant of the Earth, the Voice of the Land,” originally painted in 1981 and just restored by the artist, Betsie Miller-Kusz.
Press Contact
Jennifer “JDub” Waggoner, Board President, EVNA jennifer.waggoner@evna.org 415-644-5094
Who
Artist, Betsie Miller-Kusz
San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC)
San Francisco Public Works
Castro Community Benefit District (Castro CBD)
Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association (EVNA)
Castro Art Walk
San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band
Adam Thongsavat, Legislative Aide to Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor of District 8
Where
19th Street between Market Street and Caselli Avenue. Muni Route 33 stops nearby at 18th and Market streets. Muni Route 37 stops nearby at Corbett Avenue and Danvers Street. It is a .6 mile uphill walk from Castro Muni station at Market and Castro Streets. Parking for media will be made available at the corner of Caselli Avenue on 19th Street (Please do not approach from Market Street).
Accessibility
This party is outdoors in the street, on an incline. The event is without power, running water, or restrooms. The nearest restroom is at Eureka Valley Recreation Center at 100 Collingwood Street. We will provide limited seating in folding chairs. Most of the program will be in American English.
When
The dedication ceremony is scheduled just after Earth Day (April 22, 2024), as a featured site of the monthly Castro Art Walk on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5-8pm, with the program at 6pm.
What
This free neighborhood street party celebrates the iconic Upper Market mural “Chant of the Earth, Voice of the Land.” Viewed by thousands of commuters and pedestrians each day, the Upper Market mural has been completely restored! Originally painted in 1981, the mural has been restored three times by the original artist, Betsie Miller-Kusz. Miller-Kusz worked with a team of assistants and volunteers, drawing upon significant support from the community. The restoration was made possible with a $25,000 grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission. There have been several significant contributors, many smaller donations, and we ask you to donate today. We’ll have music and performers. Neighbors are encouraged to bring tasty snacks to share. It is part of the monthly first-Friday Castro Art Walk, so you can stroll down to nearby venues to make an evening of it. Come out with us to meet your neighbors!
Why
Although the mural was not intended as a political statement in 1981, the climate crises in our lands have made it so today. The mural features an abstract, brilliantly colored depiction of the landforms behind the retaining wall. The multicolored forms sweep along at the street level, portraying flows and fissures, uplifts and earth forces, a gentle counterpoint to the hard lines of the downtown skyline visible from the site. The mural is coated with a varnish intended to last many more decades, hopefully impervious to storms, atmospheric rivers, and earthquakes. The site is at almost the exact geographic center of San Francisco.
Share this link and donate to our campaign to fund restoration https://castrocbd.org/donate/the-chant-of-the-earth-the-voice-of-the-land-fund/
Quotes
Betsie Miller-Kusz, Artist:
"Every brushstroke on this mural is an imprint of my gratitude: to the EVNA core mural team; to the restoration assistants; to my friends, family and community of contributors; and to the great City of San Francisco, which made this huge project possible."
Andrea Aiello, Executive Director of the Castro CBD:
“Imagine you’re a local, coming home after being away, or a tourist coming to the Castro for the first time, winding down the curves of Twin Peaks. You turn the corner and unexpectedly meet this colorful hillside mural, welcoming you into the heart of the city.”
Mary Edna Harrell, EVNA Volunteer:
“From the first days of scraping off old peeling paint, washing off years of grime, putting on the first layers of paint with Betsie’s gentle guidance, removing graffiti that appeared halfway through the project, to applying multiple coats of special varnish; this has been an amazing and fulfilling experience. I hope it will be enjoyed for decades to come.”
Alex Lemberg, EVNA Past President:
“When I encouraged EVNA’s involvement in 2022, I had no idea we’d be planning around atmospheric rivers and sweating through heat waves. For me, personally, climbing scaffolding took its toll! I’m so proud of what my dedicated colleagues have overcome and can’t wait to celebrate this triumph with everyone.”
Gary Cozzi, Events Coordinator for the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band:
"As the official band of San Francisco, performing at a street party for the dedication of this mural is both politically and artistically meaningful. It's a powerful statement of solidarity with the environmental movement, using music to raise awareness about important issues. The band is not just here to play tunes; we're here to groove, build bridges, and make sure what happens in the Castro doesn't just stay in the Castro. Our visibility contributes positively to our community and our planet.”
Max Khusid, Castro Art Walk founder and board member, owner of Art House SF gallery:
“This is the perfect neighborhood to showcase exceptional artwork through collaboration between local artists, small businesses, and neighborhood organizations. From traditional galleries to unique venues like the Upper Market Mural and party on 19th Street at Caselli Avenue, each participating Castro Art Walk location offers a distinct creative perspective, contributing to the vibrant tapestry of the Castro.”
Molly Barrons, Compliance Officer, San Francisco Arts Commission:
“We are thrilled to help the San Francisco Castro and greater Eureka Valley communities extend the life of artist Betsie Miller-Kusz’s stunning 1981 mural, “Chant of the Earth, Voice of the Land.”
Boilerplate
About the Artist, Betsie Miller-Kusz
Betsie Miller-Kusz lived and painted in San Francisco for over thirty years. She has painted numerous public murals in San Francisco. Betsie taught painting classes in San Francisco for the California Arts Council, The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, and the New College of California. She served as Director of the Mural Resource Center for ten years, and then as Director of SOMArts Gallery in the South of Market Cultural Center, where she curated over one hundred exhibitions.
PDF: Read her full bio.
About SFAC
The San Francisco Arts Commission is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment, and shaping innovative cultural policy. Our programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing.
Website: sfartscommission.org
About Public Works
San Francisco Public Works is one of the largest and most complex municipal operations in the City. The staff designs and manages construction of civic buildings and streets, cleans and greens the right of way, maintains civic buildings; trains people for jobs, keeps the right of way free of hazards, paves the streets, repairs bridges and public stairways, expands accessibility and works at the forefront addressing some of San Francisco’s biggest challenges, including homelessness. The department is divided into four divisions – operations, engineering, architecture/landscape architecture and finance/administration, plus the Director’s Office – and reports to the Mayor. The Public Works Commission and Sanitation and Streets Commission serve as oversight bodies.
Website: https://www.sfpublicworks.org/
About Castro CBD
The mission of the Castro Community Benefit District is to provide services that improve the quality of life in the neighborhood, emphasizing clean, safe, beautiful streets. It also promotes the area’s economic vitality, fosters the Castro’s unique district identity, and honors its diverse history. Recognizing the need to strengthen and sustain this unique neighborhood, local community leaders and property owners formed the Castro Community Benefit District (CBD) in 2005. The CBD, which is run by an appointed Executive Director and an elected Board of Directors consisting of residents, community activists, business representatives, and property owners, meets monthly to respond to neighborhood issues such as street safety and cleanliness, and to directly influence land use, economic development, and future planning in their area.
Website: https://castrocbd.org/
About EVNA
The Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association is the oldest official Neighborhood Association in San Francisco. Formed in 1881 as the Eureka Valley Promotion Association, we provide a public forum for the people who live, work, and play in the greater Eureka Valley area to discuss common issues and concerns and help develop solutions to improve our neighborhood.
Website: https://evna.org/
About Castro Art Walk
The Castro Art Walk is an invitation to explore the creativity and artistic talent that thrives in the Castro neighborhood. Immerse yourself in this self-guided tour, discover hidden artistic gems, and be inspired by the unique expressions of local artists. Experience the collaboration between local artists and small businesses as they extend their hours and open their doors to showcase exceptional artwork. From traditional galleries to unique venues, each participating business offers a distinct creative perspective, contributing to the vibrant tapestry of the Castro. The Castro Art Walk is generously sponsored by the Castro Merchants.
Website: https://castroartwalk.com/
About the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band
San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band is the first openly-gay musical organization in the world, inspiring the formation of LGBTQ+ bands, choruses, and performing groups around the globe. Founded in 1978 by Jon Sims at the height of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay crusade, the Band has made music to build understanding among communities of all sexual orientations and identities for more than four decades. Ever since making a splash by marching up Market Street with Harvey Milk’s convertible in the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade, the Band has been appearing throughout the City and its environs to promote LGBTQ+ visibility. In the time since then, we’ve played at community and civic events throughout San Francisco, the Bay, and worldwide.
Website: https://www.sflgfb.org
About Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor of District 8
Supervisor Mandelman represents District 8 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. District 8 includes the Castro, Glen Park, Noe Valley, Diamond Heights, Mission Dolores, and Cole Valley. Supervisor Mandelman is one of the LGBTQ members of the Board of Supervisors, and throughout his first term, was one of the only LGBTQ Supervisors in Northern California. In 2019, he authored the Climate Emergency Resolution, which committed San Francisco to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord, and in 2020 he passed legislation to require all-electric construction in new buildings, making San Francisco the largest city in the United States to phase out natural gas in new construction.
Website: https://sfbos.org/supervisor-mandelman-about
Social Media & Event Listings
Listings
Eventbrite - Castro Art Walk for May 3
FunCheapSF - Mural Party
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