Street artists are used to wearing face coverings and spending long hours alone.   In San Francisco, not even a pandemic is enough to stop artists from beautifying our city.  In April we introduced you to the Paint the Void Project; ARTISTS ARE PAINTING THE BOARDED UP BUSINESSES IN SF.

Mural by Nora Bruhn on Chez Maman

Arts organizations Building 180 and Art for Civil Discourse, reached out to SF businesses and SF artists to turn boarded up businesses, into art.  ‘We’re calling the project ‘Paint the void‘, Building 180’s co-founder Shannon Riley told me, “we see all those boarded up doorways, as potential canvases.”

Shannon Riley, Meredith F. Winner, Inga Bard and their Paint the Void team put their money where the art should go.  Raising nearly $25,000 with the goal of sponsoring 50 murals for small businesses all around San Francisco.  Not only did this project help to beautify what would otherwise be bleak and boarded up thoroughfares, it but artists to work, and helped our small business owners in a time when they needed support the most.

Here are just some of the 32 murals that have already gone up in the past 2 weeks, to help them finish their goal of 50 murals, donate here!

Arlequin Wine Merchant – Hayes Valley

Artist Ian Ross photo Lisa at Arlequin Wine Merchant

The Boardroom – North Beach

Artist Helice Wen photo Lisa Vortman at The Boardroom

ALAYA Boutique – Sunset

Artist Darnel Tasker photo Mike Kukreja at ALAYA Boutique

John Collins – SOMA

Artist Sam Flores and Tiger Buder at John Collins

Games of Berkeley – Berkeley

Artist and photo Nigel Sussman at Games of Berkeley

Souvla – Hayes Valley

Seibot at Hayes Valley Souvla photo by Mike Kukreja

Fiat Lux – Mission

artist Mr Black photo Lisa Vortman at Fiat Lux

Location unknown – SOMA

artist Mark Harris, photo Mike Kukreja

Arlequin – Hayes Valley

Artist Yon photo by Lisa Vortman at Arlequin

Dogpatch Saloon – Dogpatch

Artist Sam Flores and Tiger Buder at Dogpatch Saloon

Hayes Street Grille – Hayes Valley

Seibot at Hayes Valley Grille photo Mike Kukreja

Arlequin – Hayes Valley

Artist Satyr photo by Lisa Vortman at Arlequin

A statement from Paint the VOID – “It’s been just two weeks since we launched #PainttheVoid and we already have 32 murals uplifting shuttered storefronts across town! Businesses associations are saying that the art is helping to attract more commerce by highlighting shops still open for takeout. People on the internet are saying that their walks have become more cheerful and optimistic. Artists are saying that they are excited to spark joy in their neighborhoods and to receive the stipends.

On this #GivingTuesday we would love to raise $10,000 to fund 15 more murals. #MobileCoin is matching the first 1250$ of donations to PTV. Please considering making a donation and/ or posting about the #PaintTheVoid! If you work for a company that is charitable towards nonprofits, please consider sharing our fundraiser with your employer: www.PaintTheVoid.org

Here’s a photo of the PTV team that is working pro bono to coordinate all this beauty across town! : Meredith F. Winner and Shannon Riley of BUILDING 180 and Inga Bard of #ArtforCivilDiscourse. Special Thank you to Joshua Goldbard and Liya Brook for additional support, Lisa Vortman for taking great photos, Ella Gallego for taking charge of the blog and everyone else who has chipped in time and energy to Paint The Void!”

Paint the Void IS LOOKING FOR ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO TURN THEIR BOARDED UP ENTRYWAYS INTO ART.  

Donate to Paint the Void here

DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS? SIGNUP HERE TO GET YOUR STOREFRONT PAINTED

ARE YOU AN ARTIST? SIGNUP HERE TO PAINT A STOREFRONT