Search Results for “kurt schwartzmann”

ISO: One special Muni driver for Kurt Schwartzmann

May 23, 2023 Tara 14 comments

In 2019, storyteller Kurt Schwartzmann told what is still one of my favorite Muni Diaries Live stories about being unhoused and reliant on the kindness of strangers, namely Muni drivers, for temporary warm shelter. In the thick of the pandemic, when we needed it most, he repaid the city with love. That is, he collaborated with artist Deirdre Weinberg on one of the famed Hearts of San Francisco. We had him back at Muni Diaries Live in April, as he is still looking for one Muni operator in particular. Maybe you can help him?

Here’s Kurt:

Check out his work at www.YellowLineArt.com and follow him on Instagram @yellow_line_art.

Photo: Emily Huston

“Hearts in San Francisco” to inaugurate newest member

December 8, 2020 Tara Leave a comment

If you think San Francisco needs to gripe less and do more, look no further than artists Kurt Schwartzmann and Deirdre Weinberg.

Listeners may remember Schwartzmann from Muni Diaries Live, where he shared his moving story of how Muni drivers provided his only refuge when he was unhoused. Schwartzmann, who lost sight in one eye due to complications from AIDS, dedicated his art series, “Yellow Line,” to the Muni drivers whose empathy helped him survive those difficult times.

He has since paid artistic tribute to other facets of San Francisco life with artist Deirdre Weinberg, who has created public art for more than two decades. The duo first collaborated on beautifying the outdoor dining space for the iconic Buena Vista cafe this summer, and now they’ve partnered on the newest of the Hearts of San Francisco—which have benefited the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation since 2004.

In this week’s podcast episode, we chat with the artists about how they became stewards of a beloved San Francisco tradition.

Listen to Kurt Schwartzmann and Deirdre Weinberg, interviewed by Muni Diaries cofounder Tara Ramroop:

Schwartzmann sent us photos of the heart in progress, from the day that the plain, unadorned, and apparently heavy and rather “voluptuous” heart was delivered to his garage, to the colorful paint drip that the two artists painstakingly created. He sent us photos of the heart in progress:

Category: News, San Francisco Diaries Tags: podcast, san francisco diaries

Artist tips his cap to Muni, a refuge in tougher times

June 24, 2019 eugenia 2 comments

As he carted his belongings to the bus stop, Kurt Schwartzmann knew that he relied on the kindness of the Muni driver, lest he face another cold night on the streets of San Francisco. When the bus door opened on one particular night, he was relieved to see the familiar face.

This was a lifetime ago, before Schwartzmann conquered his struggle with drug addiction, found his way as an artist, and met his now-husband. While he was homeless, Muni had become the refuge for Schwartzmann.

Schwartzmann, who has lost sight in one eye due to complications to AIDS, dedicated his art series, “Yellow Line,” to the Muni drivers whose empathy helped him survive those difficult times. His art has been exhibited at the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and at City College of San Francisco.

We first met Schwartzmann on Instagram when he posted about his art series, and we were thrilled that he told his story at Muni Diaries Live in April at Rickshaw Stop.

Growing up in Fresno as a young gay man, Schwartzmann said that San Francisco had always been a symbol for “freedom of expression and refuge from intolerance.” In honor of Pride weekend, we are sharing his story in today’s podcast episode. Take a listen:

If you have your own Pride story to share, email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com, or tag us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook @munidiaries.

Photo credit: RightAngleImages.

Category: diaries, Muni Diaries Live Tags: muni diaries live, podcast, pride

Thank you, Driver

March 18, 2026 Kat Siegal 7 comments

Muni operator Mike Delia (aka Mr. Boston) at Muni Diaries Live in 2022. Mike lost his battle with leukemia in 2023.
Photo by Emily Huston

March 18th is Transit Employee Appreciation Day and we’re feeling especially grateful this year as we celebrate 18 years of sharing your transit stories—so many of them involving a special bus driver, train operator, or other transit employee. To all our Muni operators, station agents, cleaners, mechanics, maintenance workers, and many more: thank you for keeping us moving every day.

We also know this is a tough time for many Muni operators. If you’ve been on the bus during commuting hours recently, you’ve probably noticed more packed vehicles and pass-ups as more folks head back to the office—and last year’s service cuts didn’t help. These are forces outside our Muni drivers’ control, but they’re on the front lines bearing the brunt of rider frustration. A smile and a “Hello” as you get on the bus and a “Thank you, Driver!” as you get off can make a huge difference.

Even better, show your appreciation for a Muni operator by submitting a commendation! As our friend and operator Mc Allen wrote last year, commendations are incredibly meaningful to operators and are recorded in their personnel file, but they are relatively rare because most people don’t know they can submit one. So the next time a Muni operator gets you where you need to go safely, show them some love by heading to the Muni Feedback form and selecting “Praise” as the type of feedback.

For our part, here’s a roundup of some of our favorite Muni Diaries stories by and about operators over the years. We hope you love them as much as we do. And remember: always thank your operator.

Muni operator Tammy on her 33 Stanyan party bus in 2011.
Photo by Greg Goodman

Muni Diaries Live returns to the Rickshaw Stop on April 22nd, 2026! Tickets are going fast, so get yours today.

Category: reflection

Where the 6 takes you: How Kristee Ono met her hero

July 22, 2024 Kat Siegal 12 comments

Kristee Ono loves the 6 Haight-Parnassus and, like many of us who frequent a particular Muni line, she knows her fellow riders well — even though they’re technically strangers. One fellow passenger always stood out: a mysterious artist, impeccably dressed, conspicuously kind.

She had no idea he was local transit icon and fellow Muni Diaries storyteller Kurt Schwartzmann. But when she shared a Haiku about him at our November 2023 show, we knew immediately:

Who are you
Man with an easel and an eye patch?
Where does the 6 take you?

Kristee returned to the Muni Diaries Live stage in April to share the heartwarming story of what followed, and how she and Kurt went from strangers on the bus to cherished friends. You can listen to it here:

Have a Muni story you’d like to share? Email us your pitch at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.

Photo by Emily Huston

Category: Muni Diaries Live

Muni Art: “San Francisco United” takes the mobile stage

January 26, 2021 Tara Leave a comment

Local art and public spaces go hand-in-hand, and we’re glad that Muni will once again serve as a mobile gallery for the citizens of San Francisco.

SFMTA is partnering with San Francisco Beautiful and The Poetry Society of America to showcase the work of five local artists and five local poets on our hella local public transit system. In its sixth year, the Muni Art theme is, appropriately, “San Francisco United.” Look for the works on display inside 100 Muni buses through April.

The 2021 Muni artists are:

Kundan Baidwan
Agustina Caprioglio
John Keating
Deirdre Weinberg (featured recently on the Muni Diaries podcast with fellow artist and Muni Diaries Live alum Kurt Schwartzmann)
Wes Wellner

The 2021 Muni poets are:

Congratulations to all the winners! Learn more about the 2021 Muni artists, poets, and poems here.

Though the city is quieter (disquieting at times), storefronts have shuttered, and anxiety pervades our everything, I’m thankful that creativity is still coursing through this town. United, we’ll get through.

The Muni Diaries and San Francisco Diaries podcasts feature stories about life around town—on and off the bus. We’re Muni Diaries on all your favorite listening platforms, so don’t forget to subscribe today.

Pic: SF Beautiful

Category: News Tags: muni art

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