Haight and Cole
Called Evolutionary Rainbow, this mural was originally done by Joanna (Yana) Zegri in 1967 when she was a manager for the business in the building. She has returned to restore the mural in ’81, ’83, and ’06. This landmark Mural depicts a stage of evolution in each color, visible when you study the mural up close.
Excerpt from San Francisco Bay Area Murals by Timothy W. Drescher:
The earliest community mural in San Francisco was begun by Joana Zegri in 1967. It was never formally titled, but was called Evolution Rainbow because as the colors of its rainbow design progressed from dark to light, details within each color depicted the evolution of animals from early protozoa through dinosaurs up to modern species. ..
The first pause came when the artist, in the middle of painting the mural, took time off to give birth to her first child. After several months she completed the mural, and even restored in in 1981 with stronger paints. In 1982, the business of the wall of which the mural was painted changed hands, and the new owner had the mural painted out….In this instance, the destruction catalyzed community forces in a way that indicates the role such murals play in forming social communities. Protest, petitions, complaints by the store’s customers, letter writing campaigns, and meeting late into the night followed…the store owner contacted Zegri and asked her to repaint the mural.
Lovers of nature, methinks, I like the colours and the subject. What a pity you cannot find anything abiut aryst Yana Zelig.
incredible details. i just love to one day walk around the city looking at murals.
do you know if someone already put out a book of sf murals?
http://ewok1993.wordpress.com
Lovely and bright!
i bet that was a busy area in 1967. It suits the time period.
What beautiful detail…
I wouldn’t classify this as one of my favorite murals but it certainly is colorful and gives off a good feeling.
This may be the oldest mural shown! It is interesting how some people can really keep their lives private while doing public things!
This is fascinating. Does each color of her rainbow represent a step up the evolutionary ladder? The detail your close-up shots reveal is staggering. Makes me wonder how much time it took Yana to paint this mural. If she painted this in 1967, doesn’t that make her one of the pioneers of contemporary mural art? The earliest dated mural I’ve found in Oakland is from 1977. Thanks for participating in this week’s Monday Mural.
Love it! Each color has a character of its own. I see animals and dinosaur skeletons. LOL! I have great imagination.
Great colors and details you’ve caught…
So glad you photographed the details too! What a beautiful piece of work – and the updating is impressive too! That is dedication!