Photo by 415monkey

For those of you who have been following the Art in Storefronts pilot program in the local newspapers, Chor Boogie’s name should be familiar as the artist behind The Color Therapy of Perception, a beautiful mural located at 1028 Market Street. One of our most memorable moments last fall was seeing Mayor Newsom, spray paint can in hand, adding his creative touch to the mural, in a suit and tie no less.

Chor came to the Arts Commission’s attention back in summer 2009, when our Where Art Lives and StreetSmARTS programs were in their infancy. We had been approached by the Department of Public Works to help them come up with a creative solution to abate graffiti vandalism in the City. Chor, with his extensive background as an urban artists and art educator, played a key role in helping us shape our programs so that they approached the issue of graffiti vandalism from a more positive standpoint. By emphasizing the creative contributions of urban artists or “writers” and drawing clear distinctions between public and private property and legal and illegal artwork, Where Art Lives and StreetSmARTS help foster more positive modes of urban expression.

Chor’s star is on the rise. He has won numerous commissions around the world and will continue to work on projects with the San Francisco Arts Commission in the near future. We are extremely lucky, because Chor has graciously requested that 20 percent of sales from his LTL PRINTS wall graphics go towards the Community Arts and Education Program at the San Francisco Arts Commission. Check them out. Once you see them, you’ll want one, and besides, isn't it time for you to do a little home decorating?

Post by Kate Patterson