Posts Tagged ‘lonestarswan’

Piece of human shit ruins Lone Star Swan mural

January 11th, 2013

Lone Star Swan mural is ruined

Lately Clarion Alley has been hit by wave after wave of vandalism. Yes, this is why we can’t have nice things.

I’ve been curious as to how long it’d take before the wonderful Lone Star Swan mural would get defaced, and unfortunately I now have the answer. Over the past few days, some piece of human shit came in and spray painted their fucking tag all over the entire mural.

Taggers are like dogs that use spray paint to mark their territory instead of urine. At least piss washes off, a fact that places taggers a few steps below dogs in the intelligence ladder.

If you taggers insist on ruining art, at least have the decency to replace it with something meaningful. Perhaps a new piece, or some kind of social commentary? For fuck’s sake, it’s not that hard to add value instead of just shitting on other people’s work. Grow up.

Lone Star Swan’s written works

March 31st, 2011

Lone Star Swan, 16th Street’s favorite eccentric pigeon caretaker, was immortalizezd in a mural. But did you know he’s also a writer?

Swan occasionally hands out a piece of xeroxed writing; sometimes typed, sometimes scrawled; and often with a self portrait and/or drawing of a pigeon.

Yesterday, Mr. Swan handed me the following written piece as I walked by. Note the remarks throughout insisting that this be given to the press, so take note, media. (Click to enlarge.)

lonestarswan - 3 30 11

Swan has been handing out written works for years — long before I lived in the area. Here’s a few he’s given me over the past few years.

lonestarswan - the return lonestarswan - 1-15-10 lonestarswan - 3-4-10 lonestarswan - 12-29-09 lonestarswan - 12-19-09

Mural of Lone Star Swan

February 9th, 2011

As long as we’re on the topic of 16th Street’s favorite pigeon feeder, there’s a mural of the guy over on Clarion Alley that you should check out.

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Actually, you should check out Clarion Alley in general. The murals tend not to last too long there, which is both a blessing and a curse. But the quality and creativity is outstanding.

Lone Star Swan, poet, pigeon caretaker and schizophrenic

February 4th, 2011

Those of you who live in or visit the Mission are likely familiar with Lone Star Swan, the homeless poet and pigeon caretaker of 16th Street.

He’s lived on the streets of the Mission for over a decade, often hanging out at Adobe Books. But like all homeless people, there’s a sad story to his life that isn’t immediately apparent.

The other day on MissionMission, commenter Pedro directed me to a TV news report about Lone Star Swan, who’s birth name is John Ratliff. It’s a fascinating portrait of the man, and I encourage you to watch it.