Few weeks ago, almost every single Facebook and Instagram post was compulsively captioned with #lovewins. Coincidentally, that was the same week citizens of San Francisco was getting ready for the massive parade weekend. Groundbreaking news that announced the legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 US States made an obvious impact to the annual event.

Pride Parade, as it is normally, is perhaps the most iconic and colorful event that takes place in the heart of San Francisco every year. Reminded by the story of Milk Harvey portrayed by Sean Penn, the parade demonstrates the history and strength of minority groups and speaks out for their societal equality. If you are in SF at the time of this event, you are in luck to feel the city in motion.

Needless to say, this year’s parade was grand as expected from the influence of the news. However, on the flip side there was also an annoying hint of free advertisement and daftly woven marketing schemes; an allusive array of banners that say #lovewins along with equally conspicuous company logos and campaign names made it seems almost uncool for anyone not doing the same. Aside from overt competition amongst corporations, the whole event was quite a show to watch.

Colorful, as I already called it, is the perfect adjective to describe the explosive energy of this event. Even for the strangers like me, the real happy faces of people transmitted the positive vibes. One girl I met at the parade who just moved from Colorado told me I’m handsome and kissed me on the cheek. How is not that amazing? Love was indeed in the air that day. [end]

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サンフランシスコの同義語と言われても間違いないくらい活発なLGBT（レズビアン・ゲイ・バイセクシュアル・トランスジェンダー）の人権主張運動。同性愛者たちのメッカともいえるここサンフランシスコで毎年催されるPRIDE PARADEは全米規模から見ても一番賑わうんです。
今年の盛り上がり具合はこんな感じでした↓

先月には丁度オバマ大統領が全米５０州での同性結婚を法的に認めるという大きなニュースがあったので、そのタイミングで行われた今年のパレードは予想以上に盛大なものとなり、とにかく右も左もレインボーに装飾され、人々は歓喜の声を上げ、紙吹雪は舞うや派手なコルセットを着た女の子が視界をかすめるやらとにかくハロウィーンの10倍くらいはある迫力でした。

ただなんともフリー・アドバタイズメント的な雰囲気のあるイベントで、パレードの参列者の中には立候補宣伝が目的の政治家や、Appleやらfacebookやらの大企業が名前を掲げて我も我もと言わんばかりのアピールでした。パレードは朝から夕方までかなり長いこと続き、最後の方はもう各社とも意地の張り合い（笑）のような印象でした。

なにはともあれさすが同性愛者に優しい街サンフランシスコらしいイベントで、観客も心なしかハッピーでフレンドリーな人が多かったです。
コロラドから引っ越してきたという見知らずの女性から不意打ちのように接吻をもらったのはここだけのお話。

Perhaps my first (improper) introduction to street art was the documentary film Exit Through the Gift Shop that showed the rise and fall fame of its practitioners. Although the definition of street arts associating with guerrilla-style stencil tags may be far-off from traditional fine arts; I find the concept of spontaneous mural “painting” was visually compelling and also quite thought provoking. In the Bay Area, there is a certain event that beautifully blurs the line between street arts and fine arts.

On the sunny day of June, I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge to reach Marin County to catch the annual Italian Street Painting festival that took place in downtown San Rafael.

Italian Street Painting Marin is non-profit event organized every year that showcases the fine art of street painting and supports quality arts-based programs in Marin County (excerpted from the organization’s website). Over one weekend of summer, artists from all over the world gather to paint the streets in colorful chalks. Streets become artists’ canvas and the blocks of downtown transform into imagination’s playground.

The moment I parked my car on C Street (thanks to the person who peeled out from the meter just as I made a turn into the busy street) the liveliness of art community in San Rafael has welcomed me with  warm embrace. It was quite evident to see the bloom of art culture in this part of town as I walked past the art supply store and old school cinema sign shimmering in daylight. Unlike extremely gentrified side of San Francisco, downtown San Rafael was chic with good small town vibe (Hint: less hipstery).

At first I was not sure if I can locate the event easily, but as I made a turn on A Street towards 5th Avenue the big event banner quickly confirmed my sense of direction wasn’t all that bad. Right in front of the main entrance was kids zone where a flock of children was avidly doodling the pictures coming straight out from their imagination.

When I arrived at the event around noon on Saturday, most of the canvas–small sections of the road reserved by sponsors for artists–was blank and all I could see was slight blueprints of what to be realized in next two days. Browsing through these empty canvases was also interesting act, and I quite enjoyed guessing the elements that lead up to the complete work. Each artist was wearing long brimmed hats and because of the direct sun from the above their faces were hidden under the dark cast of shadows. This imagery somehow synchronized with the theme of masquerade that I have witnessed in almost every painting as well as occasional appearance of masked persona throughout the event.

It was unfortunate that I was not able to stay at the event until the end to witness the completed works, but the process of painting was truly awe inspiring and I quite enjoyed the conversation with some of the artists. These chalk arts will only be there for the weekend and will get erased in time, but knowing its ephemeral life span also makes this event an “experience.” It is almost like watching the aurora borealis that you can only glance at it when you are lucky to win the nature’s whimsical favor. Being there at the very moment was an experience. Who knows, one of the artists in this video might be BANKSY in disguise… but then again, nobody needs to know that to be part of the experience.

For full list of artists participated this year’s event please visit here.

Highly recommended event to follow. [end]

有終の美について考えてみました。
始まりがあるものには終わりがある。
そして終わりがあるからこそ「いま」が尊い。
いつその「いま」が終わってしまうか判らないからはらはらする。はらはらするからスリルがあって面白い。
生活にしても芸術にしても、
そんなちぐはぐしたバランスがメリハリを生み出すものです。

先日はサンフランシスコの北対岸に位置するサンラファエルの町まで、Italian Street Painting Marinなるイベントに行ってきました。

ストリート・アートというとBANKSYのようなゲリラ的なスプレーアートや突発的で社会批判的なメッセージ性の強いものが最も代表的で、クラシカルな絵画とは縁が遠いように感じますが、このイベントはあえてクラシカル嗜好のアートワークをダウンタウンの路上にチョークで描くという面白い試みを実施しています。イタリアではこういう芸術が国から支援されてあちこちで実施されているのかと考えるとアメリカの芸術界はまだまだこれからかな・・・としみじみ感じます。

年にたった一度だけ。それも週末だけの短い即興的な展示会。
それは儚いチョークのパステルカラーで描かれるひと夏の思い出のようで終わりまで輝き続ける匿名希望のマスク舞踏会でした。

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