Interview: Judith Zissman
It is not often that an interview subject calls SFist out without gaining our collective ire. Judith Zissman has done it, however, and we love her for it. One of the questions we ask in interviews is "Favorite solicitation from a panhandler"-- a question we borrowed from our friends at Gothamist. Judith's response (which you can read in its entirety below) is the best ever. She's right, it's not a good question, and San Francisco needs to do more to help the homeless. We'll be taking this question out of future interviews-- thanks for pointing us in the right direction Judith.
When Judith isn't inciting interview revolution, she may well be found inciting the bison of Golden Gate park. If you've ever thought that they seemed suspiciously docile, you're right-- and Judith is their leader. Judith is also responsible for 20 Things, an art network where artists make limited edition multiples. Trick is to get any of the art, you've got to contribute some of your own. Sounds like a good way to tackle your new year's resolution to be more creative, no?
Photo by Heather Champ
Name: Judith Zissman
Introduce yourself in one sentence: Hello, can I get you a lovely pomegranate cocktail?
Age and Occupation:
I'm 33 for another month or so, or 33 and 11/12ths, which is probably
only an amusing way of marking your age when you're under six. I have
a day job doing marketing strategy things, and in my spare time make
art (there's some at at jzissman.com) and coordinate a network art
project at www.20things.org.
Home Town:
Born in Boston, grew up in the middle of nowhere in Florida, school in
RI, then a bunch of years in NYC.
How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where? 4 years, halfway between Kite Hill and Tank Hill in a tiny apartment
with a spectacular view.
Favorite website:
Flickr is a completely addictive mix of fantastic
individual images and the remarkable network effect of thousands of
people simultaneously making and sharing images. I also like the
similar-but-entirely-different Communimage project.
Favorite local business:
I've never set foot inside, but I love the facade of the Dentistry
building on Mission at 21st. Does that count?
What I'm currently Reading:
I've been rereading children's books a lot lately; they're like
comfort food. The Phantom Tollbooth, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the
Philip Pullman trilogy, A Wrinkle in Time.
Best Deal in San Francisco:
Pho in the Tenderloin. Four bucks gets you a bowl of soup bigger than
your head.
Favorite mode of transportation:
I'm fond of the old streetcars on the F line, especially the double-decker open-top one.
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area:- Loop!Station, the amazing cellist Sam Bass and the remarkable singer Robin Coomer looping and layering to dazzling effect.
- Multi-instrumentalist Mark Growden, the sexiest performer since
Prince, has sadly abandoned us for the lights of NYC.
- Beatboxer extraordinaire Kid Beyond
- and of course, metal gods Kineto
Favorite local hangout:
I loved the old Musee Mechanique more than the new Musee Mechanique,
but it still is pretty great.
SF has the BEST:
Independent bookstores - Green Apple, Adobe, Dog-Eared, Aardvark, A
Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, City Lights, Stacey's, Booksmith,
Modern Times and more - not to mention specialty stores like William
Stout, Kayo and Borderlands.
You've never lived in SF until:
You've climbed to the top of Twin Peaks. This is of course easier if
you live halfway up the hill already.
Favorite Bay area politician of past or present:
Newsom's growing on me. I'm willing to admit I was wrong about him.
Best solicitation from a pan handler:
I hate this question. I hate it mostly because San Francisco does a
really miserable job of taking care of homeless people, of supporting
organizations that take care of homeless people and of providing
appropriate care to address the underlying issues that cause
homelessness. I'll panhandle right here - send your checks to the
Coalition on Homelessness.
You can tell someone is a local here IF:
They're still bitter about the removal of the 17 Reasons sign. I
guess that makes me a local.
SF would be soooo much better if only:
The bison in Golden Gate Park were allowed to live free, multiply, and
roam the streets. Viva la revolucion del Bison!
Best Burrito:
Taqueria Cancun
Best Restaurant:
Minako is pretty much the only restaurant I frequent. Uniquely
original organic sushi and other Japanese delights from the amazing
and talented chef Yoko. There is also excellent music and asking Judy
to turn it down is a very bad idea.
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF:
The Lady from Shanghai, especially the Steinhart Aquarium scene where
Rita Hayworth begs Orson Welles to elope with her...
I want all the SFists out there to know:
The sirens on Tuesdays at noon are nothing to be afraid of.
Tell us a San Francisco Story:
The first time I ever visited San Francisco, I walked the length of
Golden Gate Park out to the ocean. I went into the Camera Obscura at
the Cliff House and stayed in there for a half-hour or so watching the
rotating image of the undulating ocean projected below me. After a
while a small boy came in with his father. The father lifted up the
boy and stood there quietly, not explaining anything about how it all
worked, and after a minute or so the boy said "I think this must be
how a cyclops sees."
Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview:
Best Bay Area hike? Best local gallery? Best dive bar?