As part of the large-scale project Manifest Differently, Amy Berk and ARTIVATE created this collaborative mural focusing on rethinking Manifest Destiny and examined what transpires when the values of one group are prioritized over another. The young artists’ works focus on the impact caused to the land, the people, and the environment — and how to potentially right them.
ARTIVATE is a collaboration led by Amy Chris Treggiari, and the goal was to create a group mural that showcased individual voices but had a collective vision. Each artist was challenged to conceive and produce an individual square reflecting how Manifest Destiny has impacted them (physically, emotionally and/or psychologically). Connecting the squares together is a yerba buena vine, shining a light on what might have been in San Francisco before settlers moved in. (Yerba Buena being the original name for San Francisco.) The mural is anchored on top by a poem by Cheryl Meeker delineating the themes in the images by young artists Esme Charles, Amaris Medina Kelley, Devin Sunshine, Michael Padilla, Alex De La Cruz, Kim Lee along with mentor artists Patricio Sanchez and Kristen Gundlach. You can hear more from these artists in a sound element by artist and curator Joyce Grimm. She interviewed these artists and other people involved in this project. Select a number on the mural to hear what the artist has to say about their square and the project as a whole.
The house where this mural sits is a multigenerational family that until very recently was at risk of losing their home. We wanted to showcase this victory over gentrification by creating a multigenerational family portrait of the family that has lived in the house for decades. Mentors Patrick and Kristen, along with many of the young artists celebrate the the family's resilience in a challenging neighborhood. Grandma Evelyn became our inspiration, and her story is our story: one that exemplifies Manifesting Differently, and one that demands to be shared with the public.
We thank all of our amazing volunteers who gave of their time and shared their creative energy with us: Oszkar Apama'bo Anand, Aviva Page-Weinbaum, Taylor Love, Cindy Weinbaum and the Prausnitz-Weinbaums, Lily Rose, Julian Allen, and all those who came by with encouragement and good vibes.
Also thanks to our fiscal sponsor, Project Artivism, the Clarion Alley Mural Project, Haight Street Art Center, Community Thrift, Megan Wilson, Kim Shuck, Katayoun Bahrami, Trisha Lagaso Goldberg, Veronica Torres, and the whole Manifest Differently team of artists, poets and inspirers.
