A short history
In the 1930s, and out of the Great Depression, a group called the San Francisco Artists and Writers Union was born. Not a formal union for collective bargaining, they were a more loosely organized group formed to bolster community support. The union was founded by Kenneth Rexroth (a poet), Shirley Staschen Triest (a visual artist), and Bernard Zakheim (a muralist).
We're resurrecting this supportive community and take great inspiration from what can be accomplished in banding together.
D'Andrade, Hugh. "Kenneth Rexroth and Barcelona by the Bay — Historical Essay". www.foundsf.org. Retrieved 5 Sep 2024.
The historic San Francisco Artists and Writers Union met to keep acquainted, share work, collaborate, and show solidarity.
They also helped coordinate mural and artistic projects throughout the city. In particular, they petitioned the federal government for work and helped organize San Francisco artists to take advantage of opportunities provided by organizations associated with the New Deal launched by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"Oral history interview with Shirley Staschen Triest, 1964". Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 5 Sep 2024.
San Francisco owes much thanks to this historic group! They are behind the Coit Tower murals, the Beach Chalet frescoes, numerous famous paintings and sculptures, and many a poem that led to the rise of the beat generation poets.
2024 is a vastly different landscape than 1933, but some of the same needs remain, like the need for community, collaboration, and solidarity. So let's see what we can turn this into, shall we?
"Oral history interview with Bernard B. Zakheim, 1964". Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 5 Sep 2024.