The San Francisco government has destroyed one of the best galleries for wild style graffiti writers in the city. Warm Water Cove is a small park situated in the midst of what can only be described as an industrial wasteland. The park, also known as Toxic Tire Beach, is popular with the artistic fringe of SF (punks, burners, etc) as a location for both larger events and small picnic gatherings. My brother Marcus and his friends has been hosting free punk music shows there for over a decade. Chicken John has held circus and other shows there. I think it's where La Contessa received a viking funeral (although I missed that event).
Why has the city taken sudden interest in this park beloved only to its fringe citizenry? Could it be because of all the condominiums popping up several blocks away along the new third street MUNI line? Not all of the art spray painted on these forlorn walls was wonderful, but some of it was. Some of the best pieces were many years old, respectfully untouched by the other writers and taggers. What's going to happen now that the wall has been turned a drab olive green? They will soon be covered by ugly hastily thrown up tags that truly are ugly and without merit. The park will continue to be a small mostly forgotten piece of land in the midst of an industrial wasteland, it will now just be much less attractive.
What can be done? The answer comes from the Port of San Francisco Director of Public Works Executive Director in a form letter sent out to the many unhappy citizens who emailed him:
The second phase of the planning process for Warm Water Cove Park will include community input. We encourage you to be come involved in this planning process, if you wish to have a voice in the beautification and stewardship of the park.
We the community need to make it clear that we -liked- the artwork at Warm Water Cove. We want the artists to be given permission (and supplied with paint) to recreate the artwork that was destroyed.
Update: OtherThings of Graffiti Archeology has a great roundups of links covering theis event in the blogosphere and traditional media. If you really want to see why people love the art in that park, check out his like to Graffiti Archeology's timeline photography at the site. The SF Chronicle article makes it sound like there is a chance some compromise can be worked out with the city. I've created a Warm Water Cove yahoo discussion group, please join if you want to participate in further community response regarding the park.
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Posted by: Sophie | 2010.06.24 at 08:51 AM