Play On This

The store Upper Playground, originally located at 220 Fillmore Street
San Francisco CA, is a landmark for the urban art scene of the present era. They have expanded their store to include eight locations worldwide but are still known as a San Francisco brand, store and artistic revolution. This store specializes in screen tee art produced by graffiti artist from around the world. One look at their gallery on their website lets you know that they are not confined by the physical parameters of the Bay Areabut that their specific type of merchandise and grassroots art spans the globe. They feature artist from across the globe and filter those artworks trough the lens of Bay Areapop culture.

Graffiti has become an integral part of the Bay Area and the influence it has is only spreading. Upper Playground is a prime example of how this art form has increased in popularity and found a permanent home within the contato of SF. The fact that Upper Playground found its home in San Francisco speaks to how graffiti and progressive alternative art have a place within this multi faceted city. San Francisco has long been seen as a city of rebellion against the acceptable practices of “normal society” and graffiti is a perfect match for that image.

One of the most interesting things that I found when researching this store, which I recently visited for the first time a few weeks ago, was that it, and the art they produce, have had an affect on the political campaign of Barack Obama. One of the artists they commissioned for posters about this campaign produced a highly successful and influential poster that started out its commercial life as a t-shirt for the brand. They, as a brand, commissioned artwork from several artists, some local and others not, in order to raise money for the Obama campaign. The poster pictured here has become an icon of this election. This in an of itself is a testimony to how connected a place such as Upper Playground is to its city and The City’s legacy of political activism on the liberal front. I know that sounded cliché but I do believe that Upper Playground represents all of these things and if you take the time to visit these links below you will see it is not an exaggeration.

http://www.vimby.com/video/life/us/all/detail/6531

This is a link to a video of the opening of Upper playground in LA. It demonstrates how this type of culture, that first found its home in San Francisco, has flourished in other large urban cities.

http://blog.drjays.com/index.php/2008/02/26/upper-playground-supports-barack-obama/

This blog talks about the endorsement of Barack Obama by Upper Plaground. The poster, which they started to distribute, became one of the most important images of the entire canpaign and is pictured in the blog.

http://vodpod.com/watch/1011515-new-obama-tees

This link is to a video made by upper playgound of the various other artist’s designs that they made into t-shirts to support the Obama campaign.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/upper-playground-seattle

This is a review of the new store in Seattle Washington and it demonstrates the reach of this brand / store throughout the country. The response to this store is centered on the knowledge of the brands origins in San Francisco and its urban ties.

www.upperplayground.com

This is the website for the store. It has links to the brands various projects which include, but are not limited to, art showings, political events, blogs, news site, toys, videos, skate board team and much more. It demonstrates more so than any of the other websites how connected to the outside world this place is.