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For some reason, there’s always a point in any discussion of the Mission School at which its existence is called into question. This might have to do with our discomfort at having to acknowledge an artistic movement that arose out of street art, specifically, tagging, which is illegal and largely considered a public nuisance.
Let’s assume the Mission School did in fact exist, because two of its most celebrated artists are having exhibits in town: Margaret Kilgallen’s posthumous show “Summer/Selections,” at Ratio 3 through August 5 and Chris Johanson’s “This, This, This, That” at Altman Siegel through July 30.
Many of the movement's heavyweights were not only based geographically in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood, but derived inspiration from its handpainted signage, street art from tagging to murals, and easy merging of street culture and high art.
These artists had some of their first exhibitions in local spots such as The Luggage Store, Gallery 16, Adobe Bookshop, and 111 Minna, before showings in larger venues like Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and New York exhibits at Alleged Gallery and the Whitney Biennial gave them wider recognition. Kilgallen's street art, though mostly painted over, is still visible in some parts of her adopted home of the Mission.
© The Bay Citizen, 2012
