SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) this week celebrated the ribbon cutting of Mission Bay School and unveiling of a new site-specific public artwork titled ZAWA ZAWA BUZZ BUZZ, a 336-square-foot porcelain enamel tile mural by Bay Area artist Harumo Sato, installed at the east entrance of the school across three exterior walls located at 1415 Owens Street.

The title of the work, “Zawa Zawa,” takes its name from the Japanese onomatopoeia for the murmur of life, “Buzz Buzz,” and depicts creatures gathering, connecting, breathing as one. This artwork honors the living tapestry of Mission Creek and the San Francisco Bay, where diverse marine species weave a resilient and interdependent community, revealing how varied species amplify the vitality of the living world.

“The unveiling of this larger-than-life mural at Mission Bay School reflects the Arts Commission’s commitment to bringing high-quality public art into the daily lives of San Franciscans, most especially our young people,” said Matthew Goudeau, Executive Director of Arts and Culture. “This mural is more than a beautiful work of art that greets and welcomes students as they arrive to begin their school day, it is an investment in the creative lives and future of our city's young people. When students see works like this as part of their everyday experiences, it reinforces the important lesson that creativity, culture, and art are valued parts of their education.”

This project is Sato’s first permanent public artwork commission with SFAC and is the first public art collaboration between SFAC and SFUSD.

The artwork measures approximately 21’ high x 25’ wide.

Sato, whose work has also been commissioned by Google, Meta, MidPen Housing, and the University at Buffalo, created the piece to visually enhance the school’s learning environment and inspire students, drawing inspiration from Mission Creek.

Mission Bay School will serve Transitional kindergarten (TK) – 5th grade students and house a Linked Learning Hub connecting SFUSD high school students with unique opportunities to connect their learning with career experiences and workforce readiness. The construction of Mission Bay Elementary School was made possible by Proposition A, passed by voters in 2016.

Harumo Sato is a visual artist born in Japan and residing in California's Bay Area. With a diverse international background, having lived in Japan, France, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, and Spain, she earned her BA from the University at Buffalo, New York, in 2015. Her passion for sustainability and the harmonious relationship between humanity and nature extends from her studio practice to her work in public art. Sato's paintings and hand-pulled screen prints can be found in both public and private collections, and her art has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions across California, New York, Oregon, and New Mexico. In 2021, she was honored as a nominee for the SECA Art Award.