Since 2022, the SFJACL Board of Directors has been working on a proposal for a
mural reflecting the 115+ year history of San Francisco Japantown. In 2000-2002,
the SFJACL was the beneficiary of major bequests from three long-time members
who dedicated their lives to community- building and education about the
Japanese American experience. The board came up with the idea of a Japantown
History Mural to be painted on a long stretch of blank wall on the north side of
Geary Boulevard between Laguna and Webster, adjacent to the Peace Plaza.
In July 2022, the SFJACL Board entered into a working relationship with Mission
Art 415 proprietor Lisa Brewer. This decision was based on the work Lisa and her
partner Randolph Bowes did to beautify their Mission District neighborhood, their
home since 2000. Deeply concerned about the drug-dealing and other crimes that
had overtaken the alley just outside of their home, Lisa and Randolph decided to
take action. They engaged artists to beautify the alley with their spray paint art,
creating a public gallery called the Lilac Alley Mural Project. The strategy proved
effective in reducing crime and has become a significant tourist destination for art
lovers from around the world. To design the ambitious mural, the board selected
Rigel Juratovac, the pioneering aerosol artist “Crayone,” who was raised by a
single mother living in low-income housing in Japantown.
The SFJACL has been working closely with staff of the Recreation and Parks
Department (RPD) because the wall is City property. The proposal for a Japantown
mural will need to be approved by the Recreation and Parks Commission. In
accordance with guidance from Recreation and Parks Department staff, fundraising efforts were postponed until after approval is secured. The SFJACL has
seeded the project with $100,000 which has been directed to the artists. Mission
Art 415 and Lisa Brewer, in particular, have not been compensated for their
considerable time and efforts.
RPD staff recommended that the SFJACL host a series of community meetings to
discuss the mural. A total of 9 community meetings have been held as follows.
DATE | TOPIC | ATTENDEES |
Nov 1, 2022 | Community Meeting # 1 Presentation by Mural Art 415, Lisa Brewer, Rigel “Crayone” Juratovac, Wes Marks @ JACL HQ | 15 |
Dec 1, 2022 | Community Meeting # 2 Presentation by Mural Art 415, Lisa Brewer, Rigel “Crayone” Juratovac, Wes Marks @ NJAHS/Virtual *Launch of Open Nominations for Notables | 26 registered |
Dec 15, 2022 | Community Meeting # 3 Presentation by Mural Art 415, Lisa Brewer, Rigel “Crayone” Juratovac, Wes Marks @ Virtual Only | 24 registered |
Jan 12, 2023 | Community Meeting # 4 Review of Nominations for Notables @ JACL HQ/Virtual | 35 registered |
Jan 30, 2023 | Community Meeting # 5 Final Selection of Notables @ JACL HQ/Virtual | 46 |
Mar 27, 2023 | Community Meeting # 6 Review of Mural Elements @ JACL HQ/Virtual | 18 |
May 11, 2024 | Community Meeting # 7 Unveiling of Draft Final Design @ JCCCNC/Virtual | 40 |
May 30, 2024 | Community Meeting # 8 Revised Draft Final Design @ JCCCNC/Virtual | 17 Registered |
June 12, 2024 | Community Meeting # 9 Revised Draft Final Design @ JACL HQ/Virtual | 47 Registered |
It was brought to the attention of the SFJACL Board that a former member of the
SFJACL Board who resigned due to disagreements with other board members
about the mural was circulating links to articles about Mission Art 415 and Lisa
Brewer, in particular, dating back to 2016, 2018, and one article from 2024. The
SFJACL Board did not receive these articles directly. Instead, they were forwarded
by other community members.
In response to this situation, the SFJACL Board would like to state the following
1. We reject attempts to attack the reputation of Mission Art 415 and Lisa
Brewer.
2. We urge those with issues related to the mural to communicate these
directly to the SFJACL Board at sfjacl@yahoo.com.
In an attempt to address criticisms of the mural, the SFJACL Board convened a
private meeting on July 16, 2024 with those who have expressed their concerns at
the public meetings. The SFJACL Board carefully reviewed these concerns and
agree to the following.
1. We stand by the process for selecting the 9 notables and intend to proceed
with the portraits of, in chronological order, Kyutaro and Yona Abiko,
Archbishop Nitten Nishida, Jimbo Edwards, Clifford Uyeda, Yori Wada,
Janice Mirikitani, Tomoye and Henri Takahashi, Tsuyako “Sox” Kitashima,”
and Jeff Adachi.
2. We accept the recommendation that the portraits be reduced in size.
3. We accept the recommendation that the mural name should be changed
from “Japantown History Mural.” We have decided on “San Francisco
Japantown Journey Mural.”
4. We will work with members of the Committee Against Nihonmachi Eviction
on an improved depiction of the Redevelopment era in Japantown.
For more information about the proposed Japantown History Mural, see
August 7, 2024
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