Street artist plasters downtown San Francisco with 450 honey bears to make a point to the city

Photos show examples of the different honey bears street artist fnnch plastered around downtown San Francisco overnight Sunday. Photos show examples of the different honey bears street artist fnnch plastered around downtown San Francisco overnight Sunday. Photo: Courtesy Of Fnnch Photo: Courtesy Of Fnnch Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Street artist plasters downtown San Francisco with 450 honey bears to make a point to the city 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Keep your eyes peeled as you walk through downtown San Francisco. You may spot a honey bear wearing a beanie or wielding a lightsaber.

Street artist fnnch says he put up 450 new stickers on light and utility poles overnight Sunday around downtown and the SoMa neighborhood, though not everyone is happy about it.

While the art is whimsical, fnnch says his motivations are serious. He wants to see the city decriminalize street art stickers and wheat paste adhesive by reducing the punishment for using them on public property from a misdemeanor to a more minor infraction.

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"Seeing a honey bear on the street or in BART may be the only art someone sees in their day," fnnch said in a press release. "I'm trying to bring art to people in a way that engages them. Art should be inviting, not alienating, and not criminalized."

But the Department of Public Works doesn't see it that way.

"Until someone has the consent of the property owner (public or private), these honey bears, no matter how cute they may be, may be considered blight under Public Works code," Rachel Gordon, director of policy and communications at the DPW, told SFGATE.

"There also is a graffiti law on the books that addresses stencils, paint and the like. One person's art may be another person's blight and vandalism."

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The street artist has launched a signature drive on petition website Care2 in hopes that local politicians will take action.

This is far from fnnch's first foray into public art in the city. You may have seen some of his other works around San Francisco, including larger honey bears around the Mission District, as well as ladybugs, butterflies and penguins. The San Francisco Chronicle accompanied the artist in 2015 as he "hit" a mailbox with one of his signature bears.

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Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.