>> welcome to "culturewire."

today we are at recology. they are celebrate 20 years of one of the most incredibly unique artist residency programs. we are here to learn more from one of the resident artists. welcome to the show, deborah. tell us how this program began 20 years ago. >> the program began 20 years ago. our founder was an environmentalist and an activist and an artist in the 1970's. she started these street sweeping campaigns in the city. she started with kids. they had an exhibition at city hall. city officials heard about her efforts and they invited her to this facility. we thought it would coincide with our efforts to get folks to recycle it is a great educational tool. since then we have had 95 professional artists come through.

>> how has the program changed over the years? how has the program -- what can the public has an artist engage with? >> for the most part we worked with metal and wood, what you would expect from a program like ours. over the years, we tried to include artists and all types of mediums. conceptual artists, at installation, photographers, videographers. >> that has really expanded the program out. it is becoming so dynamic right now with your vision of interesting artists in gauging here. why would an artist when to come here? >> mainly, access to the materials. we also give them a lot of support. when they start, it is an empty studio. they go out to the public area and -- we call it the big store. they go out shopping take the materials that, and get to work.

it is kind of like a reprieve so they can really focus on their body of work. >> when you are talking about recology, do you have the only sculpture garden at the top? >> it is based on work that was done many years ago in new york. it is the only kind of structured, artist program. weit is beautiful. a lot of the plants you see were pulled out of the garbage, and we use our compost to transplant them. the pathway is lined with rubble from the earthquake from the freeways we tour about 5000 people a year to our facility, adults and children. we talk about recycling and conservation. they can meet the artists.

>> fantastic. let's go meet some of your current artists. here we are with lauren. can you tell us how long have been here so far and what you're working on? >> we started our residency on june 1, so we came into the studio then and spent most of the first couple weeks just digging around in the trash. i am continuing my body of work kind of making these hand- embroidered objects from our day-to-day life. >> can you describe some of the things you have been making here? this is amazing. >> i think i started a lot of my work about the qualities of light is in the weight. i have been thinking a lot about things floating through the air. it is also very windy down here. there is a piece of sheet music up there that i have embroidered third. there is a pamphlet about hearing dea -- nearing death.

this is a dead rabbit. this is what i am working on now. this is a greeting card that i found, making it embroidered. it is for a very special friend. >> while we were looking at this, i glanced down and this is amazing and it is on top of a book it is ridiculous and amazing. >> i am interested in the serendipity of these still life compositions. when he got to the garbage and to see the arrangement of objects that is completely spontaneous. it is probably one of the least thought of compositions. people are getting rid of this stuff. it holds no real value to them, because they're disposing of it. >> we're here in another recology studio with abel. what attracted you to apply for this special program?

>> who would not want to come to the dump? but is the first question. for me being in a situation that you're not comfortable in has always been the best. >> what materials were you immediately attracted to when you started and so what was available here? >> there are a lot of books. that is one of the thing that hits me the most. books are good for understanding, language, and art in general. also being a graphic designer going straight to the magazines and seeing all this printed material being discarded has also been part of my work. of course, always wood or any kind of plastic form or anything like that. >> job mr. some of the pieces you have made while you have been here. -- taught me through some of the pieces you have made while you have been here. >> the first thing that attracted me to this was the printed surface. it was actually a poster. it was a silk screen watercolor, about 8 feet long. in terms of the flatwork i work

with a lot of cloddish. so being able to cut into it come at into it, removed parts it is part of the process of negotiating the final form. >> how do you jump from the two dimensional work that you create to the three-dimensional? maybe going back from the 3f to 2d. >> everything is in the process of becoming. things are never said or settled. the sculptures are being made while i am doing the collages and vice versa. it becomes a part of something else. there's always this figuring out of where things belong or where they could parapets something else. at the end goal is to possibly see one of these collage plans be built out and create a structure that reflects back into the flat work. >> thank you so much for

allowing "culturewire" to visit this amazing facility and to learn more about the artists in residence program. is there anything you like our viewers to know? >> we have art exhibitions every four months, and a win by the public to come out. everybody is welcome to come out. we have food. sometimes we have gains and bands. it is great time. from june to september we accept applications from bay area artists. we encouraged artists from all mediums to apply. we want as many artists from the bay area out here so they can have the same experience. >> how many artists to do your host here? >> 6 artist a year and we receive about 108 applications. very competitive. >> but everyone should be encouraged to apply. thank you again for hosting us. >> thank you for including us in "culturewire." ♪ . >> only mark from ecology good

morning, everyone all right. let me begin by thanking everyone for coming out today 0 for this great event this event is about streets but it is a partnership that has city staff from many agencies mta, public health and public works police department, along with the mfrnts and everyone what does business or enjoys stockton street is our fourth yes, we try to do better a couple dialysis we were at the a meeting with one of the merchant one thing we discussed opening up more opportunity to the side streets i promised we'll explore that we heard of so many great success

with the program i definitely wants to thank benny and others for their leadership and the community without u without further ado a man that needs no introduction and poster of all the work with the city is doing but particular stockton street our mayor, mayor ed lee please welcome him (clapping.) thank you. >> well, you you know if mohammed had recommended all the chinese i taught him he would have said josephson we say joe son in chinatown san francisco so i'm glad mohammed thank you. the department of public works for working with the chinatown merchants and working with the chinese-american association of explicit customers the chinese chamber of commerce and all the agencies from chinese

development association to the nonprofits to the leader are here and a who have come together at 24 wonderful time of the year pieces and benny were driving up washington street gosh for this day all the graft is done you you know on the corner of washington hopeful that lasts more than one day this is a time when everyone in the chinese community begins to clean up their house and get rid of the old things to get new things the year of the ram means will steadyness and success and collaboration but will be solid direction i want to present that he kind of leadership i know our

new supervisor julie christensen will be representing that kind of strong community for this district and the whole district of district 3 coverage including chinatown that is a wonderful time we're collins avenue only the holidays but a great combol symbol of that we've worked for four years be it lead by department of public works and also our wonderful police department i know that captain lazzaro and his staff as a conversation on in this district is safety everybody's safety during the holidays streets are filled are families and children timing to shop and buy new things and make sure we patries all the local shores the jr. idea years ago came from the merchant that was led and bias

and benny to place a few more merchandise there but keep a high-level of safety this is a very, very busy corridor as you can see and that's not the last time the honking of a horn will interfere with any speak is where he have an important transportation system that the mta is fixing up our subway but while the construction is going on it adds to the construction to the cars and all the other public so everybody's coming together for the safety of our residents and the visitor and the shoppers and the celebration we have more of the ability of a small merchandise shop owners to present their goods for the new years for the next two years

before the chinese new year begins this is a whole effort behind it not only does it help chinatown but the whole city the chinese new years eve is celebrated all over people will come here to get the cultural touch meet with their families and you know reunite what all the shopkeepers and others and introduce the new year properly i'll suggest that the entire region of the bay area comes here to stockton and chinatown we're proud to present ourselves in the cleanest way that is safe so for everyone that wants to come here i'm thrilled to this defendant every year we do that it gets bigger and bigger and more agencies exhibit their pride we have a lot of things to celebrate this city is strong

economically but this is also a time to see how many other people we can help share in the prosperity i'm working hard to build new housing to support the small businesses to make sure that people's job are sustainable mission bay anything this happens we bring ourselves together a that's what we did with a necessary family that was in need our own local restaurant came up to support that family this is my chance to say thank you to our chinatown community and many of you helped me to create scholarships for locking youth i was happy to do that with you and now that we have a mayor whose also health department representing people in the district we can represent people thought the city i'm in a

celebrations mod. >> (speaking foreign language.) >> thank you very much for everyone being here. >> let's give our mayor a big hand. >> next person i'm going to introduce someone i've had an opportunity to work with in the district the volunteer and someone that goes around to make sure this district gets was it deserves by no surprises she's new now the supervisor please welcome julie christensen to say a few words capitol hill. >> i've been coming to chinatown for 36 years this is special n this year to 0 come to the chinese celebration in district 3 and you can be insured i'm working hard to make sure it is most successful and

safe is stlks we've had i love new year's the parade and the good food it's a time of year we look for wishes of prosperity and health but all those fine people behind me added a new element to the celebration it's a cooperation over the last 4 years the leader of chinatown pieces and benny the chinese 6 companies have worked hard with mohammed and barbara with the health department. >> captain lazzaro and folks if ecology it takes those people to make the celebration a successes even some of us who participate in the event don't realize how much organization it takes and

communication so along with health and prosperity we wish a year of cooperation i'd like to really thanking thank those folks for the hard work they do (clapping.) so i'm looking forward to being here and working with the merchant and the resident and chinatown with the mayor's office and all the city departments so we keep making those things happen in chinatown and we're that happy and prosperous. >> thank you julie as you heard from julie and the mayor is takes a whole team won the key concerns we've had and worked hard to address it i want to thank the merchant is the safety of the pedestrians i want to ask the san francisco police department captain lazzaro to

say a few words. >> good morning and welcome from the words of mayor ed lee i want to thank mohammed fro organizing this to echo what commissioner christensen said it's important that the police department be a partner we've excited about the new year the start of the initiative on state and local street public safety is very important on behalf of the san francisco police department specific central station we're concerned about safety in chinatown it's a proprietor for me and public safety is very important i'd like to say that as we start the new year as we continue with the mayors vision and vision zero eliminating pedestrian fatality i'm asking those who come to

chinatown who enjoy the experience follow the rules of the road in terms of the public safety i'm grateful to the mta adding a traffic light and if you follow the rules and look if we don't walk unless the hand is white and not jaywalk we'll stay safe loovthd lubricate for bicycles and coarse and pay attention i think if everyone does they're part we'll have a good start the other thing for personal safety when we're in crowds the mayor talked about people coming down and having a great time and the merchants we want everyone to be mindful to save guard their values and be aware of their surrounding one of the things i'm adding extra

patrol making sure that every police officers know what's going on so we add to the safety by having a presence of officers so we're excited for that again, we're thankfully to work with the partners and we have the year of the ram i'd like to say . >> (speaking foreign language.) >> thank you very much. >> in addition what we heard from captain lazzaro and aware of the logistics especially the ecology truck that came at 7 o'clock not 6 o'clock mar make sure everything is moved off the street all deliveries should be made by 8:30 we'll set up for

the local businesses businesses that partnership is going to bring c y c to work with the police department they'll be ambassadors of the programs and make sure that the path is a clear for everyone all those details i'm placed if you have questions please make sure to get in touch with the department of public works we'll be here to make sure we have a safe event with that said, i'm going to introduce someone that is a friend of mine who at every meeting 1 or two or three inch for the march please well. >> thank you very much good morning mayor ed lee and commissioner christensen and director mohammed and department and ladies and gentlemen on

behalf of the merchant doing business on stockton street i want to thank the mayor ed lee for supporting this special event 14 device before the chinese new year allowing the merchant to use the parking area to display their merchandise this program bring more chinese live in the bay area to come to chinatown to prepare and welcome the chinese new year the last 20-year former commissioner benny yee and i have been working with the last mayor to promote china to this event with no leukemia until this mayor who understands the chinese concerns and want to have the small business in

chinatown the first two year was a pilot program but today is a are permanent program in chinatown thank you, mayor ed lee thank you (clapping.) because of the chinatown subway construction that was on stockton on the corner of jackson and washington was the repair i'm pleased to report to you all the slits have been repaired last week and thank you, mayor ed lee and director (clapping.) on behalf of the stockton we invite mayor ed lee and director on december 14, 2014 to visit the location on state and local and broadway where the sidewalk is 15 feet wide but the situations in broadway to sacramento street is only 10

feet in the name of safety and to bring more customers to visit chinatown we propose to mayor ed lee to widen the sidewalk stockton street to sacramento street same from broadway by using the same model after listening and visiting the location 3 and 4 and director louisiana to see the job plan i'm hopefully soon the department of public works and mta will have a proposal to ride on the sidewalks but to keep the city prash patricia for the mayors con laudation and approval i want to thank mta for listening to stockton and merchant concerns and working with the merchants thank you

very much after doing business in four to five 4 years in chinatown and politics for the last 35 years i want to make a fair statement based on this is mayor ed lee has helped the chinese community more than the last 3 former mayors so happy china new year thank you very much (clapping) okay. so what we're going to do next something that everyone likes doing shopping so mayor has agreed a to lead and down stockton to shake hands with the merchant so. >> (speaking foreign language.) >> and thank you very much