To celebrate our Heritage in the Neighborhoods: Haight-Ashbury month in August 2022, SF Heritage invited two local artists to decorate the windows at our storefront space at 1506 Haight Street, located on the ground floor of the historic Doolan-Larson Building.
This week, we are spotlighting artist Christine Innes, a printmaker, illustrator and painter based in San Francisco. Christine studied painting at San Francisco State University, and now works as an illustrator at a local children’s clothing company, Tea Collection. In her personal work, she is interested in exploring the ideas of housing security and density through images of urban landscapes.
Like our other “Heritage in the Haight” window artist Bee Betwee, we initially came across Christine’s work in the Excelsior neighborhood, where for several years she has participated in ArtSpan’s Excelsior Art Initiative. For the 2020 initiative, Christine created a colorful window mural for the windows at Cumaica Coffee (4726 Mission Street), depicting the neighborhood’s architecture and public spaces. SF Heritage asked her to create a similar piece for our August program that captured the colorful landscape of legacy businesses in the Haight-Ashbury.
On August 2, Christine installed her piece in one of the windows of our 1506 Haight Street space, which features vibrant depictions of special neighborhood spots like the Booksmith, Zam Zam, California Surplus, Piedmont Boutique, and FTC Skateboarding. She printed a vinyl window cling from a digital design, and it only required a bit of soap and water to apply (it can then peel off easily when it is time to de-install). We love how this colorful neighborhood landscape celebrates the Haight’s unique places and its buzzing neighborhood life.
Stop by 1506 Haight Street to see Christine’s special window display, which remains up until August 31, 2022. While you are there, check out our pop-up exhibition “Mouse House,” running inside the gallery until August 31, 2022, and stop by the Haight’s many legacy businesses!
