Plans For Boeddeker Park/Windsor Hotel Mural Are Finalized

Plans For Boeddeker Park/Windsor Hotel Mural Are FinalizedNear-final rendering: DISH
Blair Czarecki
Published on July 17, 2015

"Everyone Deserves a Home," one of two new murals that will soon grace Boeddeker Park, is moving forward, despite some minor delays.

After months of deliberation, the coalition of Delivering Innovation Through Supportive Housing (DISH), muralists 1AM, the Friends of Boeddeker, and the community at large has finally reached a consensus on the final mock-up for the mural on the Windsor Hotel's six-story facade, which will face Boeddeker Park's outdoor park and lawn.

Photo:  Blair Czarecki/Hoodline

The mural project is one of two grants to be approved for neighborhood "physical improvements" and greening efforts in the Tenderloin. Through the city-funded Community Grant Challenge Program, DISH is set to send their proposal to the Arts Commission on the first Wednesday in August. (The original plan was to submit on July 1st, but the project was delayed due to edits to the final design.) They expect a 90-day turnaround on the project.

"The mural at Windsor Hotel is a representation of the diverse cultures in this neighborhood," said Ariel Fortune, community project manager at DISH, which runs the Windsor Hotel. DISH's motto, "Everyone Deserves a Home," has been strategically placed on the trunk of the tree, as seen in the top photo above.  

"The concept behind the mural is to let your imagination remove you from your place," said Fortune. "We want you to see something new every time you look at it. The homes reflect the variety of building structures that we see in the skyline."

Working collaboratively with 1AM on the mural was a mutual decision. "They are a local organization, they have a lot of artwork throughout the Tenderloin, and both artists that are working on this piece lived in the TL at one point. They have a connection to the neighborhood; they are respected," said Fortune.  

While the community responded very openly to the proposed mural, it wasn't always easy to get a unanimous decision. Three community meetings were held so DISH could have dialogue with neighbors.

"The community meetings were candid and informal; we opened our ears and closed our mouths," said Fortune. "It felt overwhelming at times. At six stories high, people were nervous about how big it felt. The tree in the original [mockup] felt monstrous. But we want this to represent the community, rather than our own vision."

An earlier mockup: DISH

The original concept for the mural included animals and a patchwork-esque design that that pieced the mural together. "We decided against creatures; we felt that was too limiting.  We also left the doors [at the trunk of the tree] open, so as the viewer, you can imagine yourself in the place," said Fortune.

After seeing the original sketches, the community decided that the piece excluded adults, and felt a little childish. "We should anchor adults to the space, because this park is for everyone," said Fortune.  

The artists modified the design of the homes to create a less cartoonish feel. Their goal was to create an abstract but realistic representation of the buildings in the Tenderloin, while also pulling in elements from the city as a whole.  

The final mural promises "a blending and transitioning of layers so that it's more continuous and less patchworky ... we've added some overlap in each block so that your eye continues to move," said Fortune. The community is finally pleased with the look: an official mockup was approved at the final community meeting.

Despite the setbacks, DISH is eager for the mural's debut. "We care a lot about this being something that someone connects with," said Fortune. "Boeddeker Park proved to be a great community hub to really activate the community's voice on this piece ... It's been a longtime dream to see a beautiful art piece go up."

While the mural awaits approval, DISH has been reaching out to businesses to obtain donated paints and supplies. 1AM has agreed to reduce their fee, and DISH's annual Bay to Breakers fundraiser, which raised $10,000 this year, was also directed towards support for the mural.

A second mural is still on its way to the park, from Youth With a Mission (YWAM), which received funding from the Office of Economic Workforce Development. It's still in the early phases, but will have a strong connection to the late Father Alfred Boeddeker, the park's namesake. Boeddeker was the founder of the St. Anthony Dining Room and Medical Clinic, which served thousands of San Franciscans in need. Now, in the park named for him, many of San Francisco's neediest residents will be able to enjoy the new public art.