Clarion Call

Comments (0) By Marcy Freedman Wednesday, Oct 21 1998

Because it's located between Valencia and Mission and 17th and 18th streets, the Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP) is both literally and metaphorically suspended in the midst of San Francisco's fierce debate about gentrification. The project started in October of 1992, with an overt political agenda -- alley residents Aaron Noble and Rigo 92 came up with the idea of painting the mural Superhero Warehouse -- a piece about trapped and depressed superheroes -- on their home in order to challenge the staggering impact of corporate-produced imagery.

Noble and Rigo still haven't finished that piece, mostly because they've been kept busy administering 59 other murals since establishing CAMP. Although the project was directly inspired by Balmy Alley and its "Rainbow Coalition" mural aesthetic, CAMP's mural artists are encouraged to work from their personal ideologies and tend to borrow from a fuller spectrum of comix, graffiti, pop, riot grrrl, and Mexico City punk styles. CAMP celebrates its sixth anniversary with a block party from 3 to 11 p.m. on Sunday. The event is free and includes live music, DJs, and film projections. Tom Ammiano, Ray Patlan, and Timothy Dresher will speak at the dedication ceremony at 5 p.m. Call 863-1860.

--Marcy Freedman