A new large-scale Pride Flag mural has been completed on the pavement at Castro's Jane Warner Plaza.
The mural was spearheaded by 80-year-old San Francisco resident Harry Breaux. Breaux and a handful of volunteers could be seen painting the mural over the past couple of weeks.
The group painted a version of the Progress Pride Flag on the ground at Jane Warner Plaza, where the Muni F-line historic streetcars turn around.
The mural will be unveiled tonight at Jane Warner Plaza at 5:30 pm. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
"I'm proud of the work we’ve done, and a special shout-out to all the volunteers," said Harry Breaux. "A special shout-out to Diana Sciarretta and Kurt Gibson who created the most beautiful, actually stunning, Yellow Brick Road anyone has seen to date."
The Intersex-inclusive Progress Pride Flag was created by Valentino Vecchietti in 2021 — incorporating Gilbert Baker's Rainbow Flag, Daniel Quasar's Progress Pride Flag, and the Intersex Pride flag created by Morgan Carpenter.
A notable difference with Breaux's mural is the yellow stripe, which resembles the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz. The yellow stripe incorporated the yellow brick road design painted last May by Breaux and Michael Petrelis, a Mission District resident and activist, and his partner, Michael Merrigan.
The mural project was spearheaded by Harry Breaux. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
"Now we’ll see how it wears after all the visitors get their pictures taken on it. I just pray they don’t try to tear up the cobblestones to take home," joked Breaux.
Painting began on June 2 and was completed on Wednesday, June 18. Originally, the project was going to be completed last week; however, the fog and wet conditions forced the group to skip painting last week.
Breaux estimated that the entirely privately funded project cost approximately $2,880, which included all paint, supplies, and permits required by SF Public Works. Through a partnership with the Castro CBD, Breaux fundraised $3,861.
Volunteers helping to paint the mural, including the yellow brick road. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
"I stopped by to view it in the nighttime lights around 10:30 pm, and it was very moving for me," said Breaux. "I could feel the appreciation of the thousands who had passed that way and are no longer with us, and the thousands more to come."
Now the project will be unveiled on Friday in conjunction with the monthly Castro Night Market.
Anyone interested is invited to gather at Jane Warner Plaza at 5:30 pm for the unveiling ceremony.
