Turk and Hyde
The Tenderloin
This tromp l’oeil was done by John Wullbrandt in 1983. John is a Carpenteria, California – Hawaii based painter responsible for creating much of the artwork on the Island of Lana’i, Hawaii. He founded the Lana’i Art Program in 1989, where he engaged local talent to embellish the award-winning Lodge at Koele and Manele Bay Hotel.
Before John’s work the wall looked like this.
In February of this year (2013) Wullbrandt’s mural was painted over by How and Nosm in conjunction with Rogue Projects and White Walls,
This was a shock to the artist, as to those of us have enjoyed John’s work over the years. The State of California has very specific laws regarding painting over murals in the state, and first and foremost that the artist must be notified. I have had correspondence with John specifically stating that he not only was not made aware, but is devastated that his work has been painted over.
John went on to write “John Wehrle and I painted 222 Hyde with liquid silicates so that it would have lasted more than 80 years… At the time we painted it, it was the largest architectural trompe l’oeil mural west of the Mississippi. it was soon eclipsed by many others…It represented a building rising from the rubble of other buildings in a theatrical/stage set manner. It was my way of illustrating the symbol of San Francisco which is the Phoenix rising.”
I contacted White Walls Gallery, this was their response :
“The wall was painted per request and permission from the building owner. The city was fining the owners for the tags on the wall. The owners had contacted the artist and they had also painted over the graffiti to try and preserve the wall. We were asked to paint the wall because of those reasons. In no way were we trying to disrespect the artist and we’re quite upset to hear that backlash that has occurred.
The artists who painted the wall are very well respected artists and the wall has not been tagged since they’ve painted it. The community seems to like it, but I understand some are upset that John’s mural is no longer there. It was a beautiful piece and I am sorry to see it go, but I believe it was time for a new piece.”
I then told them about the California Law and this was their response:
“I am not aware of that law, and I have heard differently from the cities arts commission. I contacted the arts commission before we painted the wall and they said there was no legal steps that needed to be taken because the wall is not property of the city, it is private property. Seeing as we had permission from the original owners, we were free to paint on it.”
It is a sad business and it is my contention that the SF Art Commission is most likely the organization in the wrong. The mural was painted with funds from the City of San Francisco’s Mayor’s Office of Community Development, and was the responsibility of the Art Commission. Their lack of interest had directly led to the destruction of a treasured piece of art.
Appalling, isn’t it? Once again, the SF Arts Commission proves its utter lack of regard for local artists. See also my own coverage of the artwork at http://throughunsealedeyes.tumblr.com/post/54397024590/222hyde
How awful!
What a difference! I actually like the ghost sigh but the new trompe l’oeil gave new life to the site, which is fantastic now.
Sad indeed! It is nice to see all three versions of the wall here….I prefer #1 and #2:(
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What a marvelous read and I can’t wait to view your new stuff soon!
I too dislike the new mural which is adds to the sordidness of a corner beset with heart-wrenching squalor. On a street where blood is routinely mopped up, the red theme stands for little except, I think, to endorse it.
Too, the city’s leadership (including “progressives”) made itself scarce when a powerful community mural on the Bernal Heights Library (at the behest of affluent property-minded newcomers) was arrogantly painted over with a soul-less, diminution of it.
Lost was a celebration of the working class, women in professions, of playing children of all races on a spaceship earth, of folk music with a quotation from folksinger Holly Near, and a tribute to the Chilean songwriter Victor Jara who was brutally murdered by the fascist Pinochet who colluded with CIA, Kissinger, and Nixon.
I live on Hyde St. a couple blocks from here and loved the old mural. I didn’t know the story of its being painted over until I read this story. In case your readers can’t tell from the above photo, the new mural is hideous.