A pitcher of pictures

By Katherin McInnis

Going to La Rondalla after seeing movies at Artists’ Television Access (ATA) is a long-standing ritual. I usually still have that night’s films flickering in my mind, but La Rondalla itself is an incredible sensory experience: amazing music, strong drinks, mirrors, tinsel, and twinkling lights. This particular image was made looking into one of the front windows: the La Rondalla sign and lights from Valencia Street are reflected on a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I was inspired to make a series of photographs at La Rondalla one evening, when a group of women came in and turned the back bar area into an impromptu dance floor, singing along with song after song played by the incredible Los Tres Generaciones mariachi band. While La Rondalla is sometimes derided for greasy food and velvet paintings, its Christmas-in-July atmosphere is a perfect antidote to San Francisco’s cold, foggy "summer" nights. (Even the tiny ladies’ restroom is decorated). It is also one of the most unique places to hear live music — the band is literally surrounding you. The eight-or-so-member Los Tres Generaciones, ranging from barely teenage boys to grandfathers, seems to have an endless repertoire. My photographs — extreme close-ups and reflections, with brilliant colors and textural detail — are an attempt to visually represent snippets of sound: horns, strings, singing, conversation.

Some of my friends are infamous for ordering the chicken tostada a la carte (which is NOT on the menu) and/or not always tipping as well as they should. Maybe in some small way, this project will remind us to appreciate our neighbors a bit more!

In the process of photographing, I met John Ramirez, the artist who created much of the restaurant’s visual flair, who also does fabulous window displays just around the corner on 20th Street. I also learned about La Rondalla’s history — a Valencia Street institution since 1954! — and got glimpses of the restaurant at off-hours, when the band eats dinner with their families and people are still (relatively) sober.

"pitcher pictures" — an installation in the window at ATA until May 31st — is a collaboration with filmmaker Kerry Laitala and sculptor Kal Spelletich. The images I shot are projected through a turning pitcher and margarita glasses, which creates movement and subtle distortions — not unlike the effect of a pitcher of margaritas from La Rondalla!

Katherin McInnis is a Bay Area filmmaker and photographer whose work was featured in a previous SF360.org article.

05.24.2006