A new and vibrant artistic endeavor in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood is stirring up the past while reinvigorating vacant storefronts. Spearheaded by Pete Betancourt, a gay resident of the city, the initiative, known as Castro Street Seen, seeks to encapsulate the LGBTQ neighborhood’s rich history through an engaging art installation.
Initially conceived as a documentary project delving into the Castro’s history via photography, Betancourt pivoted to physical installations for a more immediate impact. The first installation found its home in the former Harvey’s space on Castro Street, symbolizing the heart of the neighborhood. The endeavor, though initially driven by aesthetics, blossomed into a vehicle for raising awareness about the district’s historical significance.
This project, born out of fortuitous encounters and creative vision, brought to life a series of life-size photographic reproductions. These images, captured during the exuberant days of gay liberation in the 1970s, capture the essence of the early Castro. Particularly spotlighting Crawford Barton’s photographs, the installation reflects the vitality of the neighborhood’s past, especially during the 1978 Castro Street Fair, a precursor to significant events in LGBTQ history.
As the Castro grapples with vacant storefronts and a changing urban landscape, this installation project offers a poignant connection to the community’s past. It serves as a reminder of the unity and activism that characterized the 1970s and 1980s, embodied by figures like Harvey Milk. As Castro Street Seen continues to expand, weaving in elements of diversity and memorializing pivotal LGBTQ moments, it strives to breathe new life into the neighborhood while honoring its profound legacy.