Visitors to the stretch of Divisadero between Grove and Hayes Streets over the past weekend were greeted with some changes: workers armed with paint rollers, cherry-pickers and stencil lettering spent the past few days whitewashing the Harding Theater, the Independent, and several other storefronts in preparation for an art event sponsored by Absolut.

The event is the vodka company's latest edition of Open Canvas, an art project that popped up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn back in June featuring 20 artists and, of course, yarnbombing and a bespoke cocktail.

In San Francisco, the event lands on Saturday afternoon, August 24th when more than 15 "emerging and local artists" will create live works of art on pretty much everything painted white on the block right now. That includes the entire front of the oft-tagged, historic Harding Theater, a portion of the Independent, the garage at Alouis Radiator, a newly white brick wall along the side of Rare Device at the corner of Hayes, the windows at Cara Glass & Sash and other spots right down to the table tops on Mojo Bicycle Cafe's parklet and the tree supports in the median.

Artists scheduled to attend include neighborhood local Michael Krouse (also owner of Madrone Art Bar a block away) as well as San Franciscans Alicia McCarthy, and Mat O'Brien. Although we're told there will be no vodka branding on the street level or the artwork, the distinctive text currently announcing the event's approach should be recognizable to anyone who has seen a magazine ad in the past 15 years. A party, and another bespoke cocktail, will follow the art event.

Per Absolut's press release:

ABSOLUT is joining forces with more than 15 emerging and local artists as they turn the ordinary features of Divisadero Street into an extraordinary "Open Canvas" aesthetic experience.

Through Open Canvas, ABSOLUT is empowering some of the most celebrated emerging artists to transform the streets of San Francisco into an immersive outdoor art exhibition.

And:

Open Canvas is ABSOLUT’s first iteration of the brand’s new global TRANSFORM TODAY campaign. TRANSFORM TODAY will feature a collection of experiences, stories and products, designed to catalyze ABSOLUT’s fans to embrace creative risk taking in their lives.

In addition to painting crews spotted along Divisadero all weekend, the company has also employed private security to watch over their equipment and canvas space at night. (The shuttered Harding Theater has been a magnet for taggers for years.) Disclaimers have also been posted on both ends of the block reminding visitors that the project is being recorded and by attending, visitors agree that their image may be used for commercial purposes in the future "(especially if you're good looking)."

Supervisor London Breed, whose district includes the Divisadero block and who has come out against corporate interests in the past, was not immediately available for comment as the Board is currently on recess.

Previously: Adidas Stages Quirky Fun Run For Commercial Shoot
[H/T: Haighteration]