Mission Parade

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According to the artist, “The artwork is a playful interpretation of the Mission District’s diverse community and creativity. The procession’s cast of historical and imaginary characters evoke the neighborhood’s past while casting a cheerful look toward the future.”

Mission Parade consists of 20 steel cut panels with 10 unique vignettes that repeat at both park entrances. Each panel features three fantastical characters. Some of the figures include a peg-legged pirate with a hook for a hand; a friendly one-eyed, one-toothed monster; an alligator with a top hat holding a flower; a fire-breathing dragon; a plant watering can following a smiling tree holding an umbrella and a gold miner complete with a pick ax and a pan. All of the figures in the panels are oriented towards the same direction so that they appear as if they are walking in a procession. The design is repeated at both park entrances. The fence was manufactured at Rocket Science in the Mission.

Michael Bartalos is an accomplished printmaker, sculptor and graphic designer who has exhibited his work internationally and has authored many limited edition artist books. In September 2008, his design for a 42-cent Latin Jazz stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Michael was born in Heidelberg, Germany, attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received his BFA from Pratt Institute.