Carol A. Nunnelly

Fine Art and Illustration students are creating a mural for the Samesun Hostel on Franklin Street in San Francisco. Directed by Craig Nelson and Carol Nunnelly, the mural class places students into a real world project where professional jobs meet emerging art students.  Mural painting offers artists an opportunity to collaborate and work on a “Real World Project.” 

As a part of urban renewal, the mural was requested by the property owner, Simon Sin and approved by the Academy’s Vice President of Community & Government Affairs, Rebecca Delgado Rottman.  Rebecca has been a tireless advocate for murals in San Francisco and as a member of the City’s Graffiti Advisory Board, she believes murals are an essential way to bring together communities, promote safety and enhance neighborhoods.

The students will learn the business side of mural painting from costs estimating, project management, project completion and client satisfaction. Learning by doing is our motto.

The mural painting students were asked to produce style options for the project including Art Deco and Realistic painting styles and color variations in keeping with the structure and remodeling plans.

Themes of the Fall Semester mural include concepts that bring together San Francisco and the World. Questions asked during the brain storming session included: Where do we find the world in San Francisco? What does San Francisco give to the world?  What does the world give to San Francisco?  Exploring these ideas created the basis of the initial sketching and design work for the project. 

The design process included reference gathering, research, and development on three paintings. Each student created an original design. These were painted to scale using measurements gathered on site of the wall.

These color paintings show different approaches to the project. In one example we see the backstory of San Francisco. Starting in Golden Gate Park at Hippie Hill and moving through to Chinatown there are stories told of the unique and special nature of the diverse characters and icons of the city by the bay.

Moving through to Northbeach, showing the Cable Cars, and Seeing Street performers, the artist Mykaela McGrew- Higgins has depicted the famous wild parrots, Tree Man, Gold Man, and she tieseverything together with rhythmic ribbons of music. There are postcards from around the world depicted in a flying scatter.

Another painting by Zihao Wang, is a depiction of the city as a map or 3D game board. Pop up figures and icons of the city flow throughout the design. He created imagery of SF Zoo, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park and the Ferry Building with Golden Gate Bridge. 

Xiaolu Lin created an Art Deco styled design using the Ferry Building, Japan Town, and elements of San Francisco as a graphic images flowing seamlessly throughout the design.

 By promoting inclusivity, diversity, and adventure,  youth hostel will be a place for San Francisco and the World to meet. Finding new people in new cities, this backpacking hostel will welcome guests from around the world.

The class is excited about the mural and are looking forward to painting on site starting the week after midterm.