Saturday scenes and scenery: Clarion Alley

In the 1980s and 90s, if a visitor to San Francisco seemed the sort who should be shown street art, I'd take her to Balmy Alley. The predominately Central American struggle themes pictured there still resonate for me. But nowadays, I'd probably start with Clarion, a little street between Valencia and Mission just south of 18th Street.


The fences and garage doors here offer a wild mix of subjects and styles, just like our city these days.


Some are bucolic, though foreign to most of us.


Others celebrate courageous struggle.


Others are not easy to interpret, even subtle. That's an accomplishment on an old wood fence.


A comment on our enthusiasm for threat inflation perhaps?


Haunting.


Frightening and all too recognizable, these dogs of war.


Tamara Ching is celebrated as godmother to transgendered and otherwise gender fluid people in Polk Gulch.


Then there's a musical Eden for a respite.

I trust my next tourist will enjoy this show.

These photos are by-products from my photoblog project: 596 Precincts -- Walking San Francisco. If intrigued, take a look and sign up for sporadic email updates.