Wellness Fiesta at Plaza 16
Station Transformed into Art and Health Fair
July 21, 2006
Christine Wong Yap
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View photos available for download.
San Francisco, CA — The plaza at the 16th Street BART Station is usually occupied by folks down on their luck and hordes of commuters hurrying by. Though the colorful plaza is decked out with palm trees, art, and even a hot dog vendor, not everyone in the Mission enjoys this central, public space. But one recent afternoon, the public was greeted with balloons, break dancers and a slew of organizations wildly committed to improving access to health and art.
On Thursday, July 20th, over 250 people attended the Wellness Fiesta at Plaza 16, a free community event sponsored by the Mission Community Council and made possible with the help of dozens of local volunteers. Just off of the intersection of 16th and Mission Streets, young break dancers showed off six-steps learned in DEF ED, a class lead by Sisterz of the Underground promoting non-violence and physical activity through hip-hop. The grown-up dancers of BAYSIC Project drew oohs and ahs with gravity-defying feats. It was a good, old-fashioned dance circle in the sun.
A hive of artistic activity took place across the plaza: artist Margarita Lara and curator Rebeka Rodriguez unveiled new, site-specific posters. Lara is the creator of Cooking With Margarita , a “manic, off-the-wall kid's cooking show highlighting Latin cuisine with the help of local artists and musicians.” The exhibit, which runs for two months, features photos of bright-eyed American and Latin American children cooking.
Beneath Lara's posters, a dozen children from St. John's Educational Thresholds Center carefully painted watercolors en plein air . Other kids—seated nearby on children's picnic tables provided by Lara and her supporters—drew postcards. One card was inscribed: You are an example to me. Tú eres un ejemplo para mi. The postcards are part of a St. John's service learning project engaging local community members.
Several organizations also provided food and health information. Columbia Park Boys and Girls Club offered free kid's toothbrushes. UCSF Valencia Health Clinic displayed the shocking amount of sugar in a single can of soda. Pie Ranch and La Cocina publicized their food-related opportunities, while Wu Yee Children's Services promoted their free and low-cost childcare programs. California Savings, Good Samaritan and the University of Phoenix also got the word out about their offerings at the Wellness Fiesta.
Amid the activity, Matthew Blazon Yee, a Qi Gong instructor from the neighboring Quan Yin Healing Arts Center, lead a series of breathing exercises.
In San Francisco, Portsmouth Square Park is celebrated as Chinatown's “living room”—a place where young and old socialize and neighbors meet. Perhaps through community events like the Wellness Fiesta, all Mission residents will enjoy la plaza to its fullest potential.
The Wellness Fiesta was the brainchild of the Mission Community Council, a collaborative network of over 35 Mission non-profit groups. Their Plaza 16 Affinity Group seeks to “transform the plaza in to safe, beautiful and functional cultural commons through weekly activities, quarterly events, and bimonthly exhibitions.”
The group's free activities take place in the plaza every Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. The next activity on July 27th will be free healings, or limpias , courtesy of the Women's Spirituality program from the New College of California.
To learn more about the Mission Community Council or to get involved with future events or activities at Plaza 16, please visit www.micocosf.org, call (415) 282-6209 extension 19, or email Christine Wong Yap, Public Art and Outreach Coordinator, at christine@micocosf.org.
Media Info
View photos available for download.
For more information, please contact:
Christine Wong Yap
Public Art and Outreach Coordinator
Mission Community Council
938 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
Email: christine@micocsf.org
URL: http://www.micocosf.org/
(415) 282-6209 x19