If you have ever walked through San Francisco’s historic Mission District, you’ve surely seen the colorful murals that pepper the streets of this dynamic, culturally rich neighborhood. But have you ever wondered what the story is behind each image?
The Mission, a new documentary photography book from San Francisco photographer Dick Evans captures the soul of the diversity and color of San Francisco’s Mission District through its quintessential art form—the community mural. At this “edutaining” slide show presentation and lecture, photographer Dick Evans and muralist Carlos Gonzalez will share the history and influence of Mexican and Central American culture in the Mission, with poignant details about the roots and dynamics of the district’s cultural transformation that continues to this day. Learn more about some of the Mission’s most significant murals and the fascinating story behind them.
About the Photographer Dick Evans is a San Francisco–based photographer with an interest in documenting the colorful and rapidly changing neighborhoods of the city. Born into a ranching family in Eugene, Oregon, he graduated as an engineer from Oregon State University and subsequently obtained a master’s in management from Stanford. He has spent his fifty-year career in the global metals sector, living in five countries and multiple locations in Africa, Europe, and North America. It was during these travels that he developed an appreciation for the diversity and richness of different cultures—both global and local—and an interest in documentary photography. His previous book, San Francisco and the Bay Area: The Haight-Ashbury Edition, in which he collaborated with Ben Fong-Torres—former founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine—portrayed the visual depiction of San Francisco’s famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.
About the Muralist Carlos "Kookie" Gonzalez has been drawing and painting since childhood. His art reflects the phases of life he experienced growing up in San Francisco's Barrio, The Mission District. As a kid from the streets he was relegated to community service to assist muralists on community murals and took to painting murals like a fish to water. After getting a degree at SF State, he continued to receive on the job training by apprenticing with renowned veteran Muralists such as Chuy Campesano, Ray Patlan and Mike Rios. Gonzalez worked as a probation officer in the same place he dreaded as a teenager. During that time he was able to give back to his community by working mural projects with troubled youth in his old neighborhood. Gonzalez is now happily retired and living the dream as an artist.
Open to members and non-members.
Books will be available for purchase at the event.
RSVP: pgccviewpoints@gmail.com
