Wonders Where You Least Expect

Posted on October 20, 2009 
Filed Under Art, Tenderloin

The ‘Loin, the TL, Trendyloin, Tendernob, Tandooriloin… the neighborhood’s nicknames are nearly as diverse the population of this San Francisco neighborhood, notorious for drugs, crime, homelessness, and prostitution. But as those of us who live here know, when you look closely into grit and grime, the Tenderloin has a certain magic of its own, and since the first days of the City it’s been a home to artists, writers, and musicians.

If you’ve ever felt the inclination to brave these rough streets in search of any creative treasures they may hold, now is the time to act on it, because you will be rewarded. Thanks to the vision of Bay Area native Lance Fung, and the collaborative efforts of almost 80 local, national, and international artists, city nonprofit organizations like the North of Market Community Benefit District, and neighborhood residents, the Tenderloin is a wonderland.

The Wonderland Project is a multi-site, grassroots exhibition intended to engage, stimulate, and nurture the Tenderloin community, celebrating its unique diversity through 16 contemporary art installations throughout the neighborhood. In Fung’s words “this project is so embedded within the fabric of the community and the work is truly coming from the people.”
duckhouse
Home Away From Home is a portable structure installed at McAllister and Larkin streets that explores ideas of home and mobility. Its creators, including Barry Beach, Colby Claycomb, John Melvin, Kit Rosenberg and Izumi Yokoyama, used drawings made by kids at the Tenderloin Boys and Girls Club as inspiration.
offstage
Offstage features cocoon-like sculptures perched atop the Warfield Theater and Show Dogs Café created by a group of artists including Melkorka Helgadottir, Christophe Piallat and Brandon Truscott.
fearhead
Fear Head is a large-scale mural designed by Roman Cesario and Mitsu Overstreet and installed by a large team of local street artists. The work delves into the themes of fear that revolve around the Tenderloin.

Other works include Down The Rabbit Hole, a graphical and metaphorical depiction of the working and living environment of a young girl who is hostage to the underground sex trade, and Reflect/Xions, which aims to awaken passersby to their own existence and participation in the space. And these are just a few. You’ll have to overcome your own fears of the Tenderloin’s reputation to find and experience the rest of these eye-opening artworks on your own.

The exhibition is free and open to the public and will run through November 15th with the hope of Wonderland 2 next year.
–Sara

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Comments

One Response to “Wonders Where You Least Expect”

  1. Rick Darnell on October 22nd, 2009 9:58 am

    This was an amazing project to be a part of. As a TL resident for 20 years, I can say that the TL is long over due for something like this. Local Tenderloin artists were “showcased” in an exhibition called LOCAL WONDER. Local Wonder features the paintings, drawings and ceramic work of 28 TL artists (from 4 countries). These artists run the range from homeless, to parents to transgender, to mentally challenged and physically handiable. If you can, check out local wonder at 134A golden gate ave at Jones Street, in SF. Call 415. 756 2325 for more info. We hope to have some photos up on the WL Blog site soon.

    Rick Darnell Project Coordinator

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