I’m over the moon to experience the art, dance, food, literary works, and fashion that the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts is bringing to the Haight, now through November. Executive Director Martina Ayala’s vision is that MCCLA’s presence at Gallery 1506 Haight (at Ashbury) will help introduce the Center to a broader audience in San Francisco.
Martina Ayala: It’s important for us to increase our visibility, given that we have such a treasure here in the Mission. We are definitely the jewel of the Mission District. We are known as the heart and the beat of the community.
We’re “gentefying” instead of “gentrifying”. We’re bringing our culture, infusing the spirit of Latino arts into the Haight with our incredible history of activism and beauty and culture and music, including historic prints created by local cultural workers, activists, and freedom fighters since 1977. We have a lowrider bike with a printing press on it and we’re going to ride through the Haight and introduce art to the people there.
HSV: What is the bridge between MCCLA and the Haight?
MA: This! [She points to a gold record hanging on her office wall]. Carlos Santana is the bridge! He came out of the Mission Cultural Center, as did many of the musicians of that era. All his bandmates taught here. That’s a huge connection. Another connection is Michael Roman, a famous printmaker who makes Santana’s t-shirts, who came out of MCCLA. The connection to the Haight is deep when it comes to Latin rock, the ‘60s, and a unique style of art which is very much a Latino Bay Area style. We have the Jerry Garcias and we have the Santanas and the Latin rock that came out of here. Our rumberos will play congas outside the gallery where we’ll have beautiful artwork for sale.We’re launching a radio station / livestream podcast studio there, and plan to record the history and make that connection between Latin rock and the Haight. I couldn’t think of a better place to introduce the music and different art forms that have come out of our Afro-Latino roots.
HSV: This is “San Francisco” after all, right?
MA: Our legacy goes way back. We are indigenous people to this land and we have so much to offer and have contributed for many years. We are celebrating the Day of the Dead, a signature event at MCCLA every year, and Gallery 1506 Haight will have a smaller version with a procession down the Haight as well!
HSV: Excited to have that culture and vibe here!
MA: Music, food … We’ll have our “Cafe de Olla”, an affordable cup of coffee sweetened with natural sugars and cinnamon, and Mexican sweetbread for everyone, which is absolutely delicious.
HSV: What would you like to say to the Haight community?
MA: Pa ya vamos!
