Windows into the Tenderloin is a mural in, for, and about the Tenderloin District in San Francisco, CA.

The project was spearheaded by the North of Market/Tenderloin Community Benefit District, who invited Mona to create a public mural at the Northeast corner of Jones and Golden Gate. The design was inspired by research through meetings and conversations with neighborhood residents and organizations over the summer and fall of '08. Painting started in '09, and the mural was dedicated in March 2010.


Countless tiny details in this mural were spontaneously added, inspired by ongoing direct contact with the local population. Among other things, they include just under 300 little figures based on real people of the neighborhood, as well as references to local legends and stories.
The mural also includes an area featuring tiles created by artists working at Hospitality House Community Art Center, and by children at the Boys and Girls Club across the street from the mural.


The mural has several "windows" that show various views of the neighborhood, each with intricate descriptions of the street scene there and different references to local history.

Due to the miniature scale of the detail, I invite you to take a closer look!







a moment of the opening party, March 5th 2010. Click to see more images of the opening party.



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** Mona's panel by panel tour of the mural! **

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the mural's contributors:

Mona Caron, mural design and painting
Lisa Ruth Elliott, project manager, artist's assistant
Mural volunteers: Eric and Nikki Gunn Rodenbeck, Paz de la Calzada, Anne-Marie Russo, Sona Aggarwal, Rebecca Whipple Silverstein, David Stern-Gottfried, Leslie Terzian Markoff, Kathleen Joyce, John Nuņez, and Meegan Barnes.

Special contributors: Kay Weber, Rick Darnell, Robert Chambers, Jeff Marshall, Niki Savage, Cole Kirklighter, Miguel Patricio.

Tile artists: Norma Galvez, Lauren Alden, Joel Turtle  Webber, Tom Jirasek, Miguel Patricio, Charles Blackwell, Kira Kwong, Susan Horne, Rick Darnell, Winnie Phan, Alaa Yahya, Somiah Yahya, Jaqueline Alfaro, DJ Pinto, Matthew Pinto, Jaymee Vaughn, Leila Yenti, Jenny Li, Jazlyne Hernandez, Xalli Guillen, Abdulla and Anmar Folly.

Special thanks to
Elaine Zamora and Joseph Leon, The NOM/TL CBC District Identity Streetscape Improvements Committee, Peter Field, Mark Ellinger, Dina Hilliard, Eric and Nikki Gunn Rodenbeck, Nick Kasimatis, Joel Pomerantz, The Kenneth Rainin Foundation, The San Francisco Arts Commission, The Jack Sen Benevolent Association.

A project of the North of Market/Tenderloin Community Benefit District, San Francisco's Community Challenge Grant Program,
and the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

The mural is dedicated to all who live in the TL.

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Take a closer look in the panel-by-panel tour!