Street Art as Steve Sees It
In February, culturcosm covered the release party for Bay Area Graffiti, a colorful and visually arresting book created by local photographer Steve Rotman, with the help of designer Chris Brennan. It has since garnered quite a bit of attention in the local press, including an arts and entertainment feature story on ABC-7 News. We’re very excited to catch up with Steve in an exclusive interview to discuss his work and the release of his newest book San Francisco Street Art, the latest in the Prestel street art series with previous installments showcasing London, Paris, Berlin and Brooklyn.
What is the difference between street art and graffiti—what distinctions might people recognize when comparing your two books?
There is a distinction but it’s not an easy one to identify. I would say street art includes things like stencils, murals, paste-ups, posters, stickers, whereas graffiti is spray paint-based with some markers used for tags. Where graffiti is more about “getting up” and writing your name, street art tends to be a little more political, a little more message-driven, a little more accessible to your average person—images that anyone can look at and appreciate and have a relationship with right away. Graffiti, for outsiders, tends to be sort of scary and unknown.
What unique aspect of the SF street art scene were you trying to capture in your new book, San Francisco Street Art?
There are a few specific areas in the city where you find it, and artists you’ll only find in the Bay Area—Eclair Acuda, Bigfoot, Cab, Neck Face, although he went to New York, Girafa certainly is only in the Bay Area. I’ve found that a lot of the street art is very playful here, it’s very whimsical, and some of the street art I’ve seen in other cities tends to take itself a little more seriously. A lot of the art in the book was created by out-of-towners—Os Gemeos from Brazil, a German graffiti artist named Dome, Swoon, an artist out of New York. I wanted to show that San Francisco is this international destination and we are very lucky to have these artists come and put their work on our walls. I think San Francisco does have that melting-pot quality.
How did your first book, Bay Area Graffiti, a recent local best-seller, come about?
I became very passionate about it—I basically fell in love with graffiti. For years I shot landscape photos, and I’m quite proud of them, but the truth about landscape photography is that it’s jam-packed with amazingly talented people and it’s really hard to stand out. So I applied my understanding of landscape photography to graffiti photography. When I started shooting graffiti here, what amazed me was that nobody else was doing it because there was so much fabulous art I was seeing everywhere, every day. Over time I built this collection that I felt was really something different, and no one had put a book together. I couldn’t quite believe it because this area has such a rich tradition of graffiti and street art.
How were you able to gain the trust of the artists and build the relationships necessary to create Bay Area Graffiti?
I was posting photos online every day, I mean every day, seven days a week. I was completely obsessed. So graffiti writers were increasingly seeing my photos online, and many of them would write me by email because that’s a safe thing to do and little by little I developed relationships. Occasionally I would be in a graffiti yard taking photos and someone would come up and I would introduce myself. Once they met me, they found that I enjoyed what they were doing and really wasn’t out to get them in any way. So I developed a lot of strong relationships and one led to another. After three years of doing this I had developed enough of a connection to the community where I was able to reach just about everyone I wanted to reach.
You were recently a guest on KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny as part of a discussion about graffiti in the city. What is it like for you to go from graffiti appreciator to advocate/activist?
I am a graffiti enthusiast and I’ve been shooting it all these years because I love it. I do think graffiti is often pilloried unfairly in the press and by some in the general public—there are all kinds of myths about it, many of which I find to be completely untrue. So on the one hand I’m promoting my work, but on the other hand I’m trying to share what I’ve learned about a culture that I think is valuable, and I think ought to be celebrated. I think the city’s response currently to graffiti is getting to be so Draconian and extreme that I want to balance that out a little if I can. Graffiti writers are anonymous and they can’t just go out and make these kinds of statements for fear of being identified and arrested. So I’m in a unique position in that I’m an outsider but I’ve come to know the culture extremely well, and the books give me a platform to say what I think about it.
The turn-out for the Bay Area Graffiti book release party at 111 Minna in February was phenomenal and diverse. What was your reaction to that response?
I expected there to be about a hundred people at that thing, and I’m estimating there were four to five hundred people who showed up. I was just astounded. I was deeply flattered and deeply honored, and I don’t think they were all there for me. They were there for the art and for the community, coming together. I think it’s been a long time since the graffiti community here has had anything really to celebrate, and this was something to celebrate, so everybody showed up. It was completely friendly, people treated each other really well—all these guys sitting there exchanging stories and writing in each other’s books. It was terrific, it was a really moving experience for me.
You continue to regularly post photos on your Flickr feed, which has a substantial viewership with thousands of hits every day, and now you’ve published two books. What’s next?
I would love to keep doing my street art and graffiti photography if I can find some way to fund it. There used to be all these stickers around town that said “give me an arts grant” well, give me an arts grant! That would be a dream come true. I’d love to travel to other cities and shoot graffiti and street art. I have other book ideas that I would like to do. A gallery show is an interesting idea and there’s a bunch of other people who have encouraged me to do it. I think there are certainly galleries in the city that would be open to it—White Walls, Upper Playground, 111 Minna—so I’m hopeful that I can do that. I’m doing this because I’m very passionate about it. I think that comes through in my work. I hope it does.
The official San Francisco Street Art book release event is coming up Monday, May 11, 6:30-9 p.m. at Books Inc., 601 Van Ness, in San Francisco. Steve and several of the artists featured in the book will be discussing their work. Pick up both books while you’re there, or buy them online.
—Sara
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Dear Tranny: Desperately Seeking Sushi
Advice is a drag, unless you’re seeking guidance from Culturcosm’s campy counselor. Looking for insider know-how on making the best of the Bay? Dear Tranny has just what you need and she always gives it up. Penned by Sandra O. Noshi-Di’n't.
Vol. 4: Desperately Seeking Sushi
Dear Tranny,
Where can one find decent sushi in the city? I am a bit of a sushi snob and faux sushi (California Rolls or Spider Rolls) just doesn’t cut it. Where can I find traditional Japanese sushi without all the hype?
Desperately Seeking Sushi
Dear Desperately,
If there’s one thing I’m an expert on, it’s the art of serving fish. A connoisseur of all things in the raw, I am constantly on the hunt for stellar sushi, wherever I am. And I feel you on the faux front. That’s almost like settling for Hailey over Hilary Duff.
If you’re looking for traditional, authentic and, most importantly, palatable sushi, it most likely won’t be found floating on a boat, at an all-you-can-eat buffet, or where sake bombs are going off.
Murasaki Sushi Bar and Kyo-ya are as authentic as they come. Another favorite Moshi Moshi offers “contemporary” rolls alongside their more traditional sushi offerings— some of the best I’ve had in the city. All three restaurants offer a pleasant ambiance and are perfect locations for first dates.
Now bear in mind: with sushi, as with men, you get what you pay for. If it’s good, it ain’t cheap. But, if you’re like me, it definitely beats having to fish around for something worth swallowing.
And remember, Tranny knows best.
xoxo
Sandra
Have a question about Bay-area life that’s fit for a queen? Email Sandra at deartranny@culturcosm.com.
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Fancy That: Hella Yella
There’s nothing like your first crush. And if you’re anything like us, you crush hard and often. This is where we pay homage to all things worthy of lusting after.
Sara fancies these saucy, sunshine-bright accessories that celebrate rare 90 degree days and lift the fog of SF summers with equal optimism: classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer shades, sporty and sparkly plastic Fossil watch, and limited-edition Reebok EX-O-FIT Hi J LE perforated kicks—a refresh to the 1982 Freestyle fave. Cool like lemonade.
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Cooking With Soul
Southerners are known the world over for their gentility and generosity of spirit. It may not be a coincidence then that Southern cuisine is some of the most satisfying around. Who could possibly be cross with a stomach full of down-home delicacies? Sweet potato, okra, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, short ribs— food for the soul indeed.
The renewed interest in and reinvention of comfort food has been facilitated by the ever-increasing popularity of organic ingredients. The soul food of old, characterized by deep-fry, lard, and mountains of sugar, has evolved. And, in much the same way, eating healthy no longer means your taste buds have to go on hiatus. Farm-fresh soul food might be the most agreeable-sounding oxymoron I’ve ever heard.
And with the help of restaurants like Farmer Brown, soul food’s health-unconscious perception may soon be a thing of the past. Chef Jay Foster is looking to pay homage to the South’s great culinary heritage and introduce Bay-area residents to a new pleasure that isn’t quite so guilty. Now what could be more genteel than that?
Gumbo (daily variations) — a faithful preparation of the New Orleans staple
Crispy Cornmeal Catfish with candied yams, pickled onion and fresh romano beans
Fried Chicken with tillamook cheddar cheese macaroni and garlic mashed potatoes
Farmer Brown is located at 25 Mason Street (at Market Street) in San Francisco. One block west of BART’s Powell Station. Call 415-409-FARM for reservations.
—Michael
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Dear Tranny: Drag 101
Advice is a drag, unless you’re seeking guidance from Culturcosm’s campy counselor. Looking for insider know-how on making the best of the Bay? Dear Tranny has just what you need and she always gives it up. Penned by Sandra O. Noshi-Di’n't.
Vol. 3: Drag 101
Dear Tranny,
I am a huge fan of drag in San Francisco. I love you and Miso Hornay, both representing the Asian community, as well as the Duchess Landa Lakes. I am Chinese and a biological girl with the spirit of a drag queen. How could I get started in drag? Is there an audition for the House of Glitter?
LesbAsian Fatale
Dear LesbAsian,
Thank you for your sweet words. It is a quite an honor for me to be representing my Asian sistahs.
The most important tip I can give you is that drag is a state of mind. And from what I am hearing, that’s the only state of mind you got! You belong to that rare breed of drag called “faux queens,” biological women who impersonate a man impersonating a woman. It’s all very Victor/Victoria, my dragling.
I was adopted into the House of Glitter in 2007. Both my tranny granny Landa Lakes and drag mom Pollo Del Mar taught me how to “paint.” Shortly after, I began to perform. But know it’s not essential to have a drag mother or belong to a drag house. It’s really all about what you make your drag to be.
San Francisco’s drag culture is unique and quite different from most I’ve encountered. In many parts of the country, it’s more about the art of female illusion —being PF (passably female)— and traditional pageant life. I consider drag in San Francisco to be a bit more rough. What we lack in being traditional, we make up for with avant-garde and cutting edge performances, which was always a signature at the now retired, Trannyshack. But luckily, these types of performances can still be seen at Charlie Horse, The Monster Show, and the new Mary-Go-Round show, Wednesday nights at The Lookout.
Drag is a special and integral part of San Francisco’s history and current social climate. To me, it represents what life in The City is all about— accepting and embracing all our diversity. So, to those of you who are about to give face, I salute you. Never let that mascara run.
And remember, Tranny knows best.
xoxo
Sandra
Have a question about Bay-area life that’s fit for a queen? Email Sandra at deartranny@culturcosm.com.
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Fancy That: Lodger Footwear
There’s nothing like your first crush. And if you’re anything like us, you crush hard and often. This is where we pay homage to all things worthy of lusting after.
Michael fancies the vintage tennis shoe from Lodger Footwear. The style may read 1910 but the fit is nothing but 21st century. Have your foot scanned, with laser-accuracy, at their Savile Row location for a custom match to one of their over a thousand lasts. But don’t dally. This dilly of a shoe is only available until April 3oth.
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Tabletop Tableaux
A true Bay Area design landmark, Heath Ceramics is one of few mid-century potteries still in existence in America. Their craftsmen have been making tableware and tile for over a half-century in the same Sausalito factory, using the same methods and techniques developed by founder, Edith Heath. For mid-century lovers that’s a name held near and dear. But even for the unfamiliar, her classic modern designs are as apropos now as ever.
One of seven children, Heath grew up on an Iowa farm during The Great Depression, and it’s easy to see the reflection of that era’s frugality and resourcefulness in her timeless designs. Her years of formal training were enriched by the influences of artists such as Bauhaus designer László Moholy-Nagy and Native American potter Maria Martinez. Lifelong experimentation honed her expertise in the aesthetic qualities afforded by different types of clay and glaze. Her grasp of this science and her modern sense of form made Heath a master ceramist, and her work a legacy.
In 1944, The California Palace of the Legion of Honor hosted a solo exhibit of Heath’s work and soon she was making dinnerware sets for Gumps. But that was just the beginning. Now you can find Heath tableware at retailers and restaurants all over the Bay Area, notably, Alice Waters’ epicurean institution Chez Panisse—a Heath customer for 28 years, as well as Aziza, Four Seasons, Hog Island Oyster Bar, The Slanted Door, and many more.
But to truly appreciate the unique aesthetic and ethos in craftsmanship that is Heath Ceramics, you owe yourself a trip to the original Sausalito factory store. There you can take a tour and get a deal on discontinued lines, samples, and seconds. But make no mistake, seconds or not, any piece of Heath stands to function beautifully and be loved for a lifetime and longer.
Look for online specials through April, and don’t miss the Sausalito Open Studio & Sale, May 8 - 10. Everything in the store will be 20% off!
—Sara
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Dear Tranny: I Need A Man
Advice is a drag, unless you’re seeking guidance from Culturcosm’s campy counselor. Looking for insider know-how on making the best of the Bay? Dear Tranny has just what you need and she always gives it up. Penned by Sandra O. Noshi-Di’n't.
Vol. 2: I Need A Man
Dear Tranny,
Where can a 33-year old lady like myself find a cultured man in this city? I seem to meet a lot of single men that have the “Peter Pan Complex,” as in they don’t want to grow up in one way or another. Unfortunately, being a bartender, I seem to have a propensity for attracting bar flies. I’m looking for a guy that is a well-rounded, beyond being able to list off his top three favorite dive bars.
Tinked-Off Belle
Dear Tinked-Off,
There are plenty of available cultured and well-rounded men in this city. Can I guarantee that they’re all attracted to women? Probably not.
But seriously, all kidding aside, it’s totally possible for a woman to find her ideal man in the Bay Area. I mean, look around you. What are we oozing with? No not THAT! Culture. The city has a wealth of museums, galleries and theaters that often offer opportunities to socialize with like-minded individuals. NightLife, Thursdays at the California Academy of Sciences, is one of my new favorites and always draws a good crowd.
A second arena, though a little on the traditional side, is singles events. I know, you’re probably thinking, oh no she di’n’t?! But surprisingly, modern singles events have come a long way and frequently result in success. NorCal Singles Events organizes activities in and around the Bay with groups that fit your age bracket. If you’re a busy gal, speed-dating sites such as DateSwitch offer high quantity in a controlled setting. And Match.com and Chemistry.com pair up partners based on results from compatibility testing.
Naturally, one of the most surefire ways of meeting Mr. Right is through a good friend. Like the old adage goes, birds of a feather flock together. What better way to get to know a guy than through his friends? Especially when that friend also happens to be yours. Talk about taking social networking to a whole new level!
I wish you the best of luck in your search. Now go out and get him! And let me know how it goes. Don’t let yourself be the flypaper, girl! You deserve yourself a real man.
And remember, Tranny knows best.
xoxo
Sandra
Have a question about Bay-area life that’s fit for a queen? Email Sandra at deartranny@culturcosm.com.
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Fancy That: Chanel
There’s nothing like your first crush. And if you’re anything like us, you crush hard and often. This is where we pay homage to all things worthy of lusting after.
Sara fancies the Chanel Perspex briefcase, showcased recently at Paris Fashion Week. For the working girl with nothing to hide, this tongue-in-cheek power purse turns the walk to the office into a turn on the runway. Clearly, no tolerance for back-up tennies here.
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Period Piece
Despite being a relatively young American city that has sustained its fair share of debilitating fires and earthquakes, San Francisco and its surrounds boast a rich architectural pedigree. Of course, the city’s reputation as the heart of Victorian charm is well-documented. Think the always camera-ready Painted Ladies in Alamo Square or the stately mansions of Pacific Heights.
The Bay has also played host to a bevy of design heavyweights whose talents are perhaps even more pronounced today. There’s the craftsman-style Berkeley residences of Bernard Maybeck and the mid-century masterpieces of Joseph Eichler in Diamond Heights. World-class museum projects have ensured that the buildings themselves will be as celebrated as their prized art collections— notably, Mario Botta for the clearly Memphis-inspired SFMOMA and Herzog & de Meuron for the copper-encased deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park.
Standing as a testament not only to the beauty but endurance of California design is the Berkeley City Club by Julia Morgan. Nestled at the base of the University of California’s Berkeley campus, the club originally served as the epicenter for women’s social gatherings. Today, in its current function as a fitness center, reception venue and hotel, club membership is open to both women and men.
The building itself, completed in 1929, maintains much of its original Gothic Revival design attributes. Present are the trefoil portholes, structural vaulting and heavy stone (concrete was used here as an economical substitute) that recall the grand cathedrals of medieval Europe. Though perhaps best known for a little castle called Hearst, Julia Morgan’s torch may burn no brighter than it does in Berkeley.
The Berkeley City Club is located at 2315 Durant Avenue. Membership and hotel room stay information are available at their official website.
—Michael
Special thanks to Carol Oliveto, for use of her photo (last shot shown here).
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About
Culturcosm is your online authority on the climate of trend throughout the Bay Area. Your roving reporters are taking to the streets and chasing down the real story. Be it stormy or serene, torrid or just plain tragic, we will break it down before you hit it up. Stay tuned. There's a new trend breaking every minute.
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Michael, founder / editor-in-chiefmichael@culturcosm.com
Kay, founder / contributing editorkay@culturcosm.com
Sara, trendcaster / managing editorsara@culturcosm.com
Heather, social commentatorheather@culturcosm.com
Taylor, music trendcastertaylor@culturcosm.com
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