Vibrant Colors and New Life after 25 Years

WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, 1998 "HOPE FOR THE WORLD CURE" MURAL IN THE CASTRO RESTORED

On 16th St and Market, on the wall of what was the Bagdad Cafe, one of SF's oldest and most eloquent AIDS murals has come back to life, 25 years after it was painted to express hope for a cure.

The 26x114 ft. work presents a time when the epidemic was characterized by both stigma and solidarity, and depicts scenes of despair as well as loving tributes to people lost to the disease.

Seventeen local artists with AIDS, members of the Art from the Heart Heals group, collaborated with Precita Eyes in the original design and painting. Hazel Betsey described her contribution as a "torrent of color that represents the chaos created by the disease and yet the beauty in the artist’s life."

Years of repeated defacements threatened to destroy the mural. Another graffiti attack in January sparked an energetic community response, with $50,000 raised to fund the repair. Important logistic support was provided by the office of District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.

This article from Hoodline says it all.

Updates to the mural include the pink PRIDE sign, a portrait of Soni Wolf of Dykes on Bikes (who died in 2018); and a rainbow-colored butterfly. Other panels pay homage to slain SF Supervisor Harvey Milk, singer Freddy Mercury, the AIDS quilt, and deceased friends and lovers.

Mural description and more photos here.

Restoration specialist
Yano ("Mural Doctor") Rivera
made these bird's-eye view videos on the steps in the process and working with community volunteers.

Several muralists from the original team worked on this project, including Precita Eyes founder Susan Cervantes, Ellen Silva and Elba Rivera (above left, holding a photo of herself at the site 25 years ago). At right, Cervantes, Kerra Hendrickson, Deirdre Weinberg, Ellen Silva, Susana Echavarria, Elba Rivera, Jared Mar and Yano Rivera (Not pictured: Ernesto Paul.)

This 1998 SF Examiner article describes the unveiling ceremony before a crowd of 300, with blessings from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drag queens.

The mural “represents all aspects of AIDS -- from dark to light," says participating artist Clif Cox, "from the dark of its past history, when people died too quickly, to the hope we have now that people can live longer and we can find a cure.”

PURCHASE TICKETS TO PRECITA EYE'S 45TH ANNIVERSARY GALA HERE

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Precita Eyes Muralists is sponsored in part
by a grant from SF Grants for the Arts.

PRECITA EYES MURALISTS
Collaborative creativity in the community since 1977

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