Vibrant Dogpatch Mural Brings Blank Wall to Life Near UCSF Mission Bay
In San Francisco, past intersects with present at almost every turn.
Now, in the historic Dogpatch neighborhood, both have literally transformed a blank industrial wall at 777 Mariposa St. into a dynamic and meaningful piece of public art.
Passersby may have noticed a change on the wall on the Minnesota Street side of the UCSF Nancy and Stephen Grand Building in recent weeks – a vibrant community mural created by San Francisco-based artist Cameron “CAMER1sf” Moberg. “It’s a combination of the historical storytelling that people hoped for in the neighborhood, along with some of the nature that I paint a lot of,” Moberg said.
Moberg and UC San Francisco, which supported the mural with a $70,000 investment, both worked in partnership with the Shipyard Trust for the Arts (STAR) to develop the mural over the last several months.
“This mural project is another example of UCSF working hand-in-hand with our neighbors to advance community-identified priorities, building on partnerships that have led to UCSF contributing more than $10 million for local initiatives like Esprit Park’s renovation, the Dogpatch Hub, and other local projects,” said Abby Ellis, UCSF Community and Government Relations senior director of community relations.
The idea for a mural at this site came directly from our neighbors.”
The mural, which came to life during a six-day period in early July, is meant to reflect the history, resilience, and diversity of the Dogpatch.
“The idea for a mural at this site came directly from our neighbors, who asked UCSF to help beautify the area through a public art project,” said Fernando Enciso-Marquez, Community and Government Relations associate director of community relations. “We are proud to see that commitment through.”
Its community-identified vision was created through collaborative conversation, partnership with organizations like the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association, the Dogpatch Business Association, the Green Benefit District, and other local community leaders, and surveys of more than 200 neighbors.
“Murals are so important for bringing neighbors together,” Moberg said.
Moberg has more than two decades of experience creating community murals across the Bay Area, nationally, and in Latin America. He spent his younger years in the Mission District and now calls District 10, which includes the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill, his home. His selection as the mural’s artist was sourced locally through STAR.
“People love its connection to the neighborhood, the city, and California,” he said.
People love its connection to the neighborhood, the city, and California.”
Starting on its left side of the mural, 10 dark green ropes were spray painted to honor the area’s history of rope manufacturing during the Gold Rush. The number pays homage to San Francisco’s District 10. Next, shades of purple highlight the steel manufacturing that once took place inside the building and nearby. The mural’s third panel features the San Francisco Bay under an outstretched great blue heron. And, finally, tall California poppies – which once lined the hills in the area – finish off the mural to the right.
The architecture of the building also played into the final product, Moberg added.
“You have almost a rock-like surface on the bottom section of the wall and then a very smooth concrete on the top section that actually dictated some of the design,” he said. “You’ll notice there’s this stripe along the top that the painters before me painted because of the separation in architecture. I chose to keep that throughout the design.”
The UCSF Nancy and Stephen Grand Building sits adjacent to the UCSF Mission Bay campus, marking the start of the Dogpatch neighborhood. It houses important collaborations to help advance treatments for glioblastoma, multiple myeloma, and other cancers using updated approaches to CAR-T and CRISPR technologies.
