In the 60s, San Francisco was known as the City of Love. Streets abounded with hippies and orgies. Murals were painted using the dreadlocks of wanton hopefuls. Clothes were woven out of abandoned teddy bears and sea glass. It was a magical time – the rebirth of San Francisco and its new identity: A city of art, peace, and marijuana. Even now, just walk through the streets of Haight and Ashbury and you’ll find yourself back in the age of street art, revolutionary poster design, inspiring ceramics, custom jewelry, and professional thrifting.
Many aspects of the city have not changed, especially when it comes to the marijuana and orgies. Yet more and more artists are finding themselves displaced in the city as the technology industry trickles in. Let’s face it, one of the main reasons this is happening is due to the astronomical cost of living. After all, everyone knows that artists often have to live on very little. Imagine living on very little while also paying $30 for a pizza and $1200 rent per month to live in a literal closet – all while being surrounded by smiling yuppies with really white teeth who are all jogging with very happy dogs.
On the other hand, the tech industry has been a part of this area since before the .com boom. Many people have built themselves up on that microchip-filled proverbial rock. AskJeeves himself was born and died here. You can still visit his tomb right next to the Space Jam website.
Perhaps you’re one of the lucky in San Francisco who have found refuge under the somewhat financially stable blanket of the Tech Cloud. You’ve come with your own hopes to influence the city positively and spread your own kind of love.
Perhaps you are an artist seeking refuge from your expensive closet living and lack of studio space.
Either way, let’s please not forget that art can influence technology and vice versa (the Space Jam website is a profound example). Yuppies, get your big hearts out there with your cute jogging dogs and support a local artist. Yes, custom jewlery and home made ceramics are expensive, but it could be worth it knowing that you’re giving local talent the ability to stay in the area. Ask an artist about their work. Maybe they could give you useful guidance on aesthetic. You might ned it. If so, pay them for it.
Artists, let that good old fashioned San Francisco-bred love spill out of you like the paint on that rusty recycled car hood you’re using as a canvas for your latest project. Explore a start up. Get to know people who are creating from behind a computer screen. They could have some useful and influential insights.
As a city that takes pride in diversity and progression, there’s still a lot of talk lately about the spirit of San Francisco being forced out. The folks from the area may have the power to stop that from happening. Instead we can try to let it evolve in to a new kind of loving hippie era – one with fewer dreadlocks and peasant shirts, but perhaps with the same amount of self expression and a few more wax-tipped mustaches.
Support one another. Lift each other up (not literally please).
Keep the Bay Area weird.
Disclaimer: This blog entry is only partially motivated by my selfish desire to witness an app in which you can have food delivered to your house with custom artwork on the boxes and doggy bags. Well-developed pitch coming soon. All rights reserved by myself just because.
sfgreyarea 