SAN FRANCISCO – The Lunar New Yr begins on Sunday and San Francisco is celebrating the Yr of the Rabbit with a brand new custom that was began in the course of the pandemic. 

In San Francisco’s Union Sq., a painted sculpture within the form of a rabbit has changed the painted coronary heart sculpture on the nook of Geary and Powell Road. 

It is one in every of 5 places within the metropolis the place you would possibly end up bumping right into a bunny statue, every sponsored by an area firm and painted by an area artist.

“The that means behind the rabbit is peaceable, harmonious, good luck, so we actually tried to embody that this yr,” mentioned Stephanie Mufson, an artist and proprietor of The Parade Guys. 

Mufson helps to coordinate the “Rabbits on Parade” occasion and the annual Alaska Airways Feb. 4th Lunar New Yr Parade.

“We needed them to be bigger than life and one thing that individuals can get pleasure from interacting with, taking photos with,” mentioned Mufson.

Mufson says the thought for painted statues started two years in the past when the parade was canceled because of the pandemic.

“Turned out to turn out to be this actually stunning means of integrating the artwork into the neighborhood and having a means for artists to have one other voice,” mentioned Mufson.

Every rabbit was forged in fiberglass from an authentic rabbit mould on the parade warehouse.

Mufson’s rabbit greets riders on the new Chinatown subway station. It is a sky blue shade, painted for her sponsor, the Sky River On line casino.

“I felt it was a extremely poetic identify,” mentioned Mufson, “Additionally we had fairly a little bit of rain…and it was truly raining endlessly whereas I used to be portray, so I felt I used to be actually channeling the water.”

Outdoors Chase Heart, one other rabbit waits, prepared for the Warriors’ Lunar New Yr celebration set for Saturday. 

The bunny named “Bravery” represents velocity, power and luck for the workforce, in keeping with the Chinese language artist Yiyang Deng who painted it.

“The clouds have the that means of happiness,” mentioned Deng, “Bamboo grows very quick and may be very robust and may be very straight. “

Deng says the vacation has deep that means for him and lots of others removed from residence.

“New Yr’s to me is the household time, the nice and cozy feeling,” mentioned Deng, who provides that he was glad to share pictures of his rabbit sculpture together with his household, since he will not be capable of return to China this yr.

Artist Robin Zhao helped paint the Fortunate Grocery store Rabbit that was positioned at Lakeshore Plaza and designed by artist Alli Lowe.

Zhao additionally designed the rabbit sculpture at Union Sq..

“I used cherry blossoms additionally for luck and peace, and a few cash as a result of Chinese language folks love cash and who would not like wealth for the New Yr, proper?” mentioned Zhao.

These needs and symbols of wealth, good luck, and happiness, are connections to traditions she and lots of others maintain near the center.

“Chinese language New Yr to me is sort of like a welcome again residence to the place you had been born,” mentioned Zhao, “It is sort of like a celebration tying me… Chinese language-American again into my Chinese language tradition,” mentioned Zhao.

The rabbits shall be on show till Feb. 5 after which they’re going to be auctioned off. Organizers will current the funds to 4 non-profits locally, and hope the proceeds will carry prosperity to them all year long.

For extra info on the Rabbits on Parade, take a look at their web site and photograph contest. There is a photograph contest so for those who publish pictures and add the hashtag #rabbitsonparade or tag @chineseparade you would possibly win a prize.

Jana Katsuyama is a reporter for KTVU.  Electronic mail Jana at jana.katsuyama@fox.com and comply with her on Twitter @JanaKTVU or Fb @NewsJana or ktvu.com.