For the past 15 years, artists in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood have been exploring a profound question: Can art change a community?
Begun by choreographer Anne Bluethenthal, the initiative emerged from a desire for social change among local artists grappling with issues such as city neglect, generational trauma, addiction, and crime.
It all started when Bluethenthal, a dancer residing outside the Tenderloin, engaged in conversation with fellow artists at the Senator Hotel on Ellis Street.
This dialogue sparked a series of meetings in the lobbies of single-room occupancy hotels, where many of these artists lived.
Under the auspices of Bluethenthal’s nonprofit, ABD Productions, they began choreographing dances and developing performance art projects, ensuring that dancers were compensated for their work and involved in the decision-making process.
The group took on the name Skywatchers, inspired by a resident named Janice Detroit who watched over the children of the neighborhood from her top-floor apartment.
She expressed her role as one who “takes the children’s tears away,” a sentiment that resonated with the group and influenced their early performances.
Through these weekly meetings in SRO lobbies, Skywatchers evolved into a tight-knit community that included neighbors and residents.
Joel Yates, a lead artist within Skywatchers, reflects on his first encounter with the group, noting how it connected him with familiar faces from his own living environment.
“It was a lot of people I knew,” he recalls. “I didn’t know y’all drummed, I didn’t know y’all sang and did art.”
This sense of familiarity and collaboration fostered a rich dialogue about the need for autonomy and expression among Tenderloin residents, many of whom felt trapped in survival mode.
Bluethenthal emphasizes her commitment to giving voice to the artists in the community rather than appropriating their stories.
“I’m not going to take your story and turn it into my art,” she asserts. “I’m going to take your story and help you perform your art.”
Recently, the Skywatchers have found inspiration in the theme of ancestry, with participants frequently discussing the power derived from their familial histories as a source of resilience.
In one collaborative project, the group created masks that were displayed during performances, symbolizing protective figures “watching over” them.
These masks were adorned in a vibrant community gathering at the Tenderloin National Forest, a converted empty lot that now serves as a community garden.
As the group conducted an open mic event, surrounding tree branches rustled in the wind, and participants shared their poems and songs.
Artistic efforts also extend beyond dance and storytelling. In 2022, filmmaker Irene Gustafson partnered with Skywatchers to produce a short film addressing anti-homeless architecture found throughout the Tenderloin.
Yates features prominently in the film, delivering poetry while navigating barriers that serve to alienate the homeless from urban spaces.
Performances often take place in public arenas, with the Skywatchers showcasing their work on the streets and at significant venues such as City Hall.
In one notable initiative, the group displayed portraits on bus stations along Market Street, raising awareness about their community and its struggles.
Despite these artistic endeavors, the Skywatchers cannot escape the harsh realities of their environment.
Many members have faced displacement from the Tenderloin, and the unpredictability of attendance reflects the challenging lifestyles many artists lead.
In a plea for more resources, Tenderloin residents, including Skywatchers members, urged city officials for a $4 million commitment to support their community.
However, the city’s recent $15.9 billion budget did not allocate funds for this essential line item.
“It’s underresourced and overresourced at the same time,” Bluethenthal comments.
“This reflects a pattern where support is offered but quickly withdrawn, hindering actual success.”
Her nonprofit company, which encompasses the Skywatchers, is heavily reliant on government funding, with more than half of its 2023 budget of $300,000 sourced from grants.
Despite the financial constraints, the Skywatchers feel an obligation to respond to requests from the community.
Last year alone, they organized around 30 performances, ensuring that each participating artist was compensated from their limited budget.
“There’s a sense of wealth here, for sure,” Bluethenthal states, emphasizing inclusivity within the group.
“If you want to be involved in it, you’re welcome.”
image source from：missionlocal
