>> welcome to art in store fronts. i am director of postal affairs for the san francisco art commission. it is my pleasure to welcome you and the artists, the community partners, the vendors, and folks in san francisco for this launch. [applause] i want to start by thanking -- we had a long list because this has been a great production, so you have to bear with me. we want to start by thanking the john's brothers piano company -- the johns brothers piano company. we want to thank the d.c. piano company from berkeley for providing the piano for tonight's launch. [applause] last year, we got a fabulous grant to help make a really

significant investment throughout the year, and we launched what is called the artery project. it is a pun for all the different ways that market street works for us. it is a major summer program for the city, and at the same time, we have been using the arts to reinvigorate and reconnect people with this fabulous commercial and civic thoroughfare, so the artery project launched this year. today's are in store fronts is part of that initiative -- art in storefronts is part of that initiative. i hope you all picked up one of these fabulous programs that were printed up today because it gives you a map. it also gives you coupons and identifies all of the artists

participating in the artery project and the art in store front program, and i want to thank "the examiner" for printing this up and distributing it to the entire city today. [applause] we have some great partners in the artery project. we are standing here in front of the new home of the home for the arts -- the home of the arts gallery. plaza -- [applause] they have been fabulous partners with us throughout the whole artery project. tonight, there's a recession and an opening, and we encourage you to visit and sit down with them -- there's a recession and an opening. down at the plaza, you can see two magnificent sculptures. [applause]

while you dance with the space cowboy dj collective. [applause] so there is an incentive to work our way down market street today. some of the local merchants are staying open late for this lot and programming in there were, or they are offering coupons, which you will find in your program today. this year, rickshaw is a san francisco company creating art in storefronts bags. [applause] one of our artists whose work is directly across over there.

these bags are available for sale for $100, but we have 10 to raffle off today. sari, one of these today. [laughter] -- sorry, one of these today. [laughter] we are sliding back on our promises today. i know you can go online and in some additional bags -- win some additional bags. you have to take a photograph of an art in storefront side, uploaded to twitter or flickr or facebook and enter to get one of these custom bags. somebody had a clipboard around here. where is the clipboard? ok, there is the clipboard over there. it is going to be circulating

around, and mayor ed lee is going to pick the first winner of this bag. before i introduce our distinguished elected official, we have a number of bank used -- thank-yous we want to share with you. revitalizing the neighborhood requires the efforts of a whole big village. so we have got david adderfield, byron yee, mark casagrande, and i would like to ask you all to join me in thanking them for their support of art in

storefronts. [applause] today, we have to thank as well the artists who were selected to be part of this program. i want to read their names and ask you all to collectively acknowledge them. [reading names] [applause] let's give them all a big round of applause. [applause] you know, these are the artists

that competed for this honor and distinction out of a pool of about 150 applicants. it really gives you a sense of how many artists are active in san francisco, how many artists want to be part of bringing their art to the public. so it is a great distinction and honor for them to have been selected. thank you so much for everything that you did and your contribution to make art in storefronts a success. if i come back to the microphone, i want to be able to introduce -- we have two distinguished speakers. do you have an order of preference? [laughter] i'm going to introduce first our president of the board of supervisors and a great supporter of the arts, david chiu. [applause] supervisor chiu: good evening,

everyone. who is excited that it is friday? [applause] are there any artists here tonight? all right. is there anyone representing [inaudible] this is an amazing announcement. a number of years ago, -- did i hear hunters point is here? the host city is here. i want to thank you for representing everything that is great about san francisco. and number of years ago, mayor lee's predecessor and i had a conversation about what we need to do about two issues facing san francisco. one of them was the fact that we have way too many vacant storefronts all over the city, and the other was the fact that we have incredible artists who had not been able to find spaces to showcase their art. like peanut butter meeting chocolate, we are bringing our

store fronts, our incredible art together, and i'm happy to be part of the celebration of what is wonderful about san francisco. i am also very excited about the fact that we're doing this here in the street corner. mayor lee and i stood on that street corner helping to announce new legislation that we hope is going to help revitalize these neighborhoods. the neighborhood that we are in now, the central market area, the tenderloin, has been blighted for decades. we have had way too much crime, way too much unemployment, way too many vacant storefronts. for this program to help turn this neighborhood around, again, showcase the best, the brightest, the most colorful designs, the most creative of who we are as san franciscans -- i am just happy to be part of this, so give yourselves a hand, and thank goodness it is friday. [applause] >> thank you, president chiu.

the san francisco arts commission has 15 commissioners appointed by the mayor every month -- appointed by the mayor. every week, they volunteer their time to help shape the cultural policy of the city of san francisco. tonight, we have the president of the san francisco arts commission, p.j. johnson. we also have jerry young, one of our commissioners. [applause] do we have any other commissioners? i'm not seeing you. they all work very hard on the citizens of san francisco, thank you, commissioners, for being here and for everything that you do. now, the final thank you before introducing the grandmaster.

we have been fiber non-profit arts community -- we have a vibrant non-profit arts community that is part of this project, the central market community benefit district. those beautiful sculptures are brought to you by black rock arts foundation and burning man. [applause] we have got to thank a lot of our civic partners in government. supervisor kim's office. the mayor's office on disability. the mayor's office of neighborhood services, the mayor's office of economic and workforce development, which is really a key partner for us in this. let's give them a warm round of applause. [applause] the department of public works. the public utilities commission. last but not least, i want to thank the staff of the arts commission and the leadership

that brought this even to gather -- this event together. let's give them a warm round of applause. [applause] now, it is my pleasure to introduce to you a person who is really one of the founders of the idea that market street could be revitalized by reintroducing the arts in the non-profit arts community to this area. he has been a champion before he was mayor, of the idea of creating an arts district along market street. it really is my pleasure to introduce to you the great mayor of san francisco, edwin lee.

[applause] mayor lee: everybody, thank you very much for coming out to the artery of arteries in san francisco. i want to also acknowledge the wonderful work that the arts foundation is doing. they were the first agency that we were able to fund back when i was city administrator, when we were thinking, how could we start changing the street? we had that old theater that was and did already, but it still look like a porn theater. we were all reminded of how vibrant arts was. we started looking at the site, and they were looking at it, and we finally were able to give a little grant called the community challenge grant, and we emphasize the word challenge. the gray arts foundation took up that challenge, and now they are

expanding, and now we have fantastic murals open tonight, and they were the first, but they led the effort after the arts commission and grants of the arts went to work along with the mayor's office. i know north dakota is there, and she is working very hard because none of this happen without the partnership of so many people coming together, and all of you have come together tonight not just to help out. you are going to have fun tonight with the three different receptions going on and the parties that are going to go on here, and there will be many more for all of us to be here safely and be here extending all the population to come down here and have great fun, enjoy the cultural arts, as well as the people in the tenderloin, the mid-market, south of market , everyplace else. people want to come gather here. we are doing all the other things necessary to build partnerships. that is what the arts commission

has been able to do. i want to thank luis and his wonderful commission for leadership on this effort because that partnership has brought out some $10,000 from blick art materials to contribute to the united nations plaza open air arts festival. thank you. where are you? [applause] in addition, san francisco beautiful with its $3,000 contribution. thank you. then, of course, the black rock arts foundation. thank you very much, bernie mahon, and all of you for coming together, helping us out. that is going to give a lot more incentive for other agencies to come and start contributing as well. -- thank you very much, bernie mahon -- burning man. i want to thank the artists that have come together here to

recognize them and for their contribution. if you give with art, it will be sustained with art. you are going to find a lot more people discovering all the beauty of this neighborhood, and is led by all of you here tonight. thank you for being here. [applause] we got off the grid trucks. two trucks here tonight. we have sculptures. we have john brothers piano company. thank you for this, coming out here. is david around here? come on, show up. i also want to give a shout up to our san francisco police department. [applause] as we transition, people will -- will be safer and safer as they know that our officers are around here. their presence allows the natural transition for everything to occur. it is still struggling for a lot

of people to see the transition, but it is real. it is coming. we are making all the right decisions, but we know you are here because you have faith and hope. thank you very much. [applause] >> let's see who is extremely lucky. and the winner of the prestigious specially designed bag -- well, they have a name. i would rather read the name, right? nell lomac. do you have to be here to win? >> yes.

>> they better come out. all right, you have to be here. you have to come right up front. here is a real winner. a number, no name. 7852368. up in center. one more time. [laughter] 785 -- all right. 2368. come on out here. [applause] this is -- [inaudible] >> verified winner. >> congratulations.

[applause] now we are going to go around the corner and unveil the mural. do not forget the after party at the gray area luggage store and hospitality house. all right.

>> good morning, everyone. i am the president of the asian art museum foundation and vice chair of the asian arts commission. welcome to the asian art museum. the museum's collections and programs represent more than 40 countries in asia and span more than 6000 years of history. our mission is to lead a global audience in discovering asian art and culture. so we are thrilled that san francisco will host the third apex senior's meeting in september. we hope to welcome many attendees to the museum and offer a place where they can relax and learn and feel at home. so please tell them about this wonderful museum and the

wonderful programs going on at that time. we thank the city of san francisco, state of california, and other partners for bringing this event to the bay area and the bay area council for making this a success. we look forward to further strengthening our ties to asia. it is now my pleasure to introduce san francisco mayor edwin lee. mayor li was sworn into office in january and became -- lee was sworn into office in january and became the first asian american mayor of san francisco. as a commissioner, i had the pleasure of attending a commissioners' meeting, and i have to attest, the meeting started and ended on time. so thank you, mayor. without further ado, please join me in welcoming mayor lee.

[applause] >> thank you. thank you all for coming here today. it is actually quite appropriate and exciting that we are here at the asian art museum to make this announcement and let you know how excited i am, how excited the city family is to host the preliminary meeting before the apec conference. there will be a series of meetings and a number of delegates coming to san francisco, and the most important part is the women's economic summit that will be launched here that will have gatherings of hundreds of people to advise on world economy and how we can reduce trade deficits as well as trade barriers to our partners, the 21-member apec membership. when you realize what the membership is, what it means,

not only to our bay area, to the things we are producing now, but to the whole country, you realize it is so important at this conference succeed in all of its goals. when you realize the members of the apec members, the country they represent, 55% of the global close -- global gross domestic product. 8% of our own exports are exported to these countries. literally, half of the top 15 partners in apec our major companies of the united states, and that we are trade partners with over half of them. when you realize those numbers, you understand why it is important and what the significance is that the preliminary meetings take place in san francisco.

i am excited because not only do i get to be mayor during this time. i have been so fortunate to have met our president three times, but now to welcome our secretary of state as she launches one of the most important -- i have watched her career for many years and i know how dedicated she is about the world economy and what we can do better as a country. as secretary of state, i know she will greatly benefit from the environment of san francisco and the bay area. we have met with the ambassador this morning, with the state department, in preparation with our bay area council partners. we have begun specific deliberations, in partnership with the business community and with departments. we are going to do this in a way where we are used to, and

very high world-class events. make sure that the delegates now, coming to san francisco is not only a beautiful place to be in. it is also reestablishing our status as the gateway to the pacific. that has been a repeating a theme of my tenure here as mayor. we are not only doing things better locally, we are also positioning ourselves globally. that is why we are working more closely with our business partners. most, if not everyone of them, do not want to be just a san francisco or bay area company. they want to be the global headquarters for law whole pacific rim that will lead them to other partnerships throughout the world. that is what being in san francisco is about. it leads to so many other great things. so i want to present to you today that our interests, our

effort here will be top-notch. that we look at this as an addition to the biggest convention to be used to hosting, but we are also going to let people know this is the proper place for these kinds of meetings. when you look at the history of san francisco, how we have positioned ourselves in the early 1930's and signing the united nations charter, understanding our role in the world, as well as the status of the economy today, we know we want to reposition ourselves again with a new, green economy. all the things we are doing in mission bay, all the things we're doing with businesses in silicon valley, the east bay, all is reflective of how important these meetings will be and how important the apec conference will be in november in honolulu. we look forward to working with

our state department officials, all of our protocol personnel, and bay area council to raise the level of awareness. you will see me attending a lot of the events because i get excited. i know department heads will also be excited to work together to provide high level safety, but at the same time, welcome and create an environment where attendees will submit the best ideas there are two further reductions of trade barriers and to make sure issues, including issues of women and their role in the economy, and the economy itself, as a world economy, begins to have high attention and san francisco will be a place where this can happen. it will happen in the most inviting and will come when a. i want to thank the state department for choosing san francisco.

it is a unique selection for us, but one that we are ready for. i know all of you will be excited to participate and to sponsor all of the wonderful the events in september. thank you. [applause] >> good morning, everyone. i and the u.s. ambassador to the asia-pacific economic cooperation. although i am based in washington and manage the operations, set the agenda for negotiations through apec to try to achieve our goals. but i would like to do this morning is outlined a little bit about how the u.s. views apec, the importance we put on this