INDECLINE: A Rare Series of SF Events Highlighting Street Art and Activism

Where street art meets pranks and political commentary, you’ll find a group of anarchist artists called INDECLINE, responsible for some of the best guerrilla street art and political pranks you’ve ever seen. This October, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and connect with this anonymous art collective at a series of events celebrating the publication of Control After Delete, a photo anthology spanning two decades of experimental performance art, billboard liberations, and more, using satire to address larger societal issues.

There will be five different events spanning the entire weekend, making it almost like your own ‘choose your own adventure’ scenario. In the mood for an intriguing conversation? Head to the panel discussion at City Lights. Want something a little more introspective? Visit Fall Out Gallery, just around the corner from City Lights, for an art show. There’s even a more interactive event where you can ‘improve’ a billboard with the artists.

Here is a full list of INCLINE events this October:

Join INDECLINE, the renowned anarchist art collective, for a series of exclusive October events in San Francisco. Explore their guerrilla street art, political pranks, and the launch of their photo anthology Control After Delete.

Wednesday, October 9th
Where: Roxie Theatre at 3117 16th St, San Francisco, CA
What: Short films by INDECLINE 
Link to more information: https://roxie.com/film/double-feature-the-art-of-protest-side-hustles/

Thursday, October 10th
Where: City Lights at 261 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA
What: Premier of “Control+Alter+Delete.” panel & Q&A with INDECLINE and “Jack Napier” of the Billboard Liberation Front (BLF).
6PM with after party at fallout Gallery three blocks from City Lights
Link to more information: https://citylights.com/events/indecline/

Friday, October 11th
Where: Fallout Gallery at 58 Banham Pl., North Beach, SF
What: Short films, music and art show by INDECLINE with some assistance from BLF.

Saturday, October 12th
Where: Fallout Gallery at 58 Banham Pl., North Beach, SF
What: Liberated vinyl workshop by INDECLINE.

Sunday, October 13th
Where: The workshop will take place in a mystery location
Meeting Place: Fallout Gallery at 58 Banham Pl., North Beach, SF
What: Billboard improvement workshop

“INDECLINE uses humor. Their best actions are straight hilarious. Deadly serious, but funny as fuck. So many of their billboards are comedy works of art.” – Jack Napier of Billboard Liberation Front

You’ve heard of this group before and probably didn’t know it:

As I mentioned before, INDECLINE is a gorilla art collective who uses satire and street art to start conversations around what’s happening in the world today. In 2020, they were the artists behind naked Trump statues which popped up around the US and went viral for their crude accuracy and clear political satire.

This acclaimed group of artists is also behind the Billboard Liberation Front (BLF). Founded in 1977, the BLF began when artists covertly modified billboards with anti-establishment messages, often leaving viewers both perplexed and delighted as they noticed the shift in messaging. The legacy of BLF is deeply rooted in the underground arts scene of The Bay, often credited as a major source of inspiration for many local street artists. They have been named one of the most influential street artist groups of all time and have changed the way that people see a billboard… no longer just an ad but maybe, just maybe, a platform for a larger conversation.

It’s not often that underground artists come out from the shadows and highlight the work they’ve done over the years. I’m looking forward to the discussion around their local influence and also the ability to meet some of these local art heroes myself.

all photos from INDECLINE and BLF