‘Blockheads’ Celebrates 10th Anniversary

“Blockheads,” an art installation in Woods Yard Park, across from Rickshaw Bagworks, is artist Dave Warnke’s favorite project. Warnke creates public art – stickers, posters, and other temporary pieces – and private art, which typically is sold, fixed on a wall, occupying a private or semi-private space. 

What makes Blockheads unique for Warnke is that it’s public art that’s endured. Over the past 10 years, since the work appeared, Warnke has received, and continues to be sent, photographs of people and their pets relating with Blockheads. 

“Unlike a mural, people interact with them,” Warnke said. “They stand on them, climb on them. A dance company even dressed up like the Blockheads and created a modern dance about them.”

The art project was launched in collaboration with Mark Dwight, Rickshaw founder. 

“When I moved into this building on 22nd Street in 2007, I was always looking across the street at these concrete pillars and didn’t know what they were there for. I started calling them our little Stonehenge,” he said. “I got the idea to paint them and make them into a mural. I knew Dave was the perfect artist to paint them.”

The two met in 2004, when Dwight was running Timbuk2, searching for art to incorporate into the bags. A public relations consultant recommended Warnke as a local artist. Warnke and Dwight became friends who collaborated on numerous projects for Timbuk2 and later Rickshaw. In 2015, Dwight approached the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association (DNA) and presented his idea to paint the pillars. There was unanimous support; he quickly received a municipal permit.

“On our way back from getting a beer, Mark said to me, ‘It would be really cool if you painted those bollards,’” Warnke said. “I’ve had many a beer with many people who had cool ideas, but they never materialized. The difference between those people and Mark is, he followed through.”

Dwight recruited Dogpatch resident Jared Doumani to power-wash the bollards. Dwight, his wife, and three Rickshaw employees then spent two weekends crouched on their haunches putting dabs of paint on the pillars while Warnke did the black line work to clean up the characters. “Blockheads” was completed by the fall, with a dedication ceremony in November, at which the San Francisco Board of Supervisors bestowed a Certificate of Honor.

“Warnke’s joyful Blockheads are an iconic marker for the physical and metaphorical heart of Dogpatch,” said Katherine Doumani, DNA vice president. “They are what draw us into and uniquely distinguish Woods Yard Park. The park itself has come such a long way since the days of a cat-poop filled sandbox, trash blowing through hard-edged and forlorn splintered benches, rough and outmoded concrete posts, weed-filled beds, and not even a place to sit and relax. Mark Dwight had the vision and the civic-mindedness to make the investment in community, and Dave Warnke transformed the random concrete posts into characters that charm and delight.”

In the ensuing 10 years, paint on the Blockheads has chipped off. Warnke – who recently moved to Portland – will fly back to touch them up. 

In honor of the Blockheads’ 10th anniversary, Rickshaw is hosting an artist’s reception on Thursday, November 6. New work by Warnke will be on display in Rickshaw’s factory store/gallery, including 18-inch-tall Blockheads replicas. There’ll also be posters and stickers. Saturday, November 8, will showcase a kids focused “Draw with Dave” activity with Warnke. Rickshaw will offer merchandise featuring Warnke’s art, including embroidered caps, t-shirts, and bags.     

“My art doesn’t have a political or social message,” Warnke said. “It’s really just whimsical. Life is hard and stressful, and I wanted to create something to brighten things up.” 

 “Dave’s art just makes you feel happy,” Dwight said. “That’s what makes it perfect for Dogpatch.”

^{The View’s history feature is sponsored by Rickshaw Bagworks.}