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Having a deep love of the Blues and Jazz, I initially wanted to build a structure paying homage to an important venue for the community of musicians and listeners. My research such a club in the Fillmore District. Jimbo’s Bop City, is inspired by and pays homage to the owners, tenants and community of a this Victorian building. This structure has been a pharmacy owned by a Japanese American family who were forced into a "relocation camp" by the US government in 1942; a chicken and waffle shop with a world famous small free Jazz venue in the back, Jimbo's Bop City; and finally Marcus Books, a bookstore serving the community with literature, educational material and readings. The building itself was moved in the 60’s from Post Street (what is now Japantown) to its current location on Fillmore Street. It is now a spa and salon. What began as a testament to music became a visual statement about the destruction of communities, landscape and ways of living brought on by political choices, economics, development and racism

Mark G. McGowan

markos13mcg@gmail.com