Documenting the Pullman Mural

With Robin D. López at Pullman Park.

From the very beginning of the Pullman Park mural, documentarians were involved.

The first one was Eve A. Ma, who was expanding The Artist In Society, a piece about Hershell West. Mr. West is a local East Bay muralist now semi-retired, but who worked for years directing mural projects with local youth. She needed some action shots of drawing on the wall, painting and varnishing. I said yes because I do believe in what she calls “the importance of public art, of art education and of arts advocacy.” Although we experienced many challenges such as the need to social distance, a transition in leadership and the fire season, we managed to complete her filming schedule and her documentary can now be seen by the public.

A professional photographer from the neighborhood on the other side of the tracks came and took photos of us painting. Her name was Ellen Gailing, and she said she wanted to document the process because the neighbors from the Metro neighborhood had “expressed concern” after they saw the 12’ wall go up. Once I explained the project to her, she was much more relaxed and in support of the project. Unfortunately she could not continue taking photos because the students’ parents had not authorized photos by individuals.

Over the winter break I received a message from someone I have not met. Rodney Paul wanted to feature photos of the mural in his very popular Zoom program, Bay Trail Confidential, which is a part of SF City Guides. John Gioia, a local representative, Najari Smith of Rich City Rides and Bruce Beyaert, the Chair of the Trails for Richmond Action Committee were his guests. I was astounded by the high number of people who were in attendance and buoyed by the history of local environmental activism presented on the show. On the show, our Pullman mural was one more effort to make the Richmond Greenway a place of beauty and contemplation.

A few months after we completed Essential Workers of the Pullman Neighborhood I received a different request via email. Robin D. López, a local photographer and activist, was filming a documentary together with a crew from Big Picture Anthems. #RichmondSpeaks - Social & Cultural Connections of The Greenway featured several local leaders such as Doria Robinson from Urban Tilth, Najari Smith from Rich City Rides, Anselmo Ramirez from Moving Forward 510, Patrick Phelan from Dirt World and yours truly. In Robin’s piece, I was interviewed and asked about the Pullman Park mural project - how the idea developed, who helped us and its impact. Robin and I had met when we were both on the panel of a local show curated by Jenny Balisle, and we also crossed paths when we both attended Rodney’s show. I felt very comfortable with his crew and was once more convinced that everything is interconnected in the arts.