Mural Policy in next stage of hearings

In an isolated part of the Arts District, a grafitti style mural was created in time for the opening of "Bicycle Junkies" last month. It was recently painted over by the owner to comply with a mandate that the mural was unsuitable for the community.

At first an objection of one phrase, claimed by LAPD to be the subject of a complaint, was painted over by the artist with the word “Censored."

That same community was not included in any planning stages for the piece, Yet, there may be more concern by that same community, who have an appreciation of street art, that they were not included in the recent decision to paint over the same mural.

Meanwhile, in a busier part of the Arts District, a mural with the image of a Mona Lisa was painted by an artist for a commercial shoot and only needed permission by the building owner. It has been allowed to stay despite a graffiti style signature.

Is the difference between the two street style murals one phrase? Or is a icon of art, well crafted even if cliché, considered safe and suitable by LAPD?

Beyond the tagging and self appointed civic based mural critics, it’s the layers of ordinances that leave a confusing wake of policy producing and protecting murals in the City of Los Angeles.

At the April 16th Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee held at Barnsdall's Gallery Theater, three City Council motions were written with input from members of the mural community heard.

The public comments represented the vast visual mix of large scale murals, from the graffiti artists that join in the creative spirit of major works like the lost masterpieces from Kent Twitchell and Judy Baca.

In fact, it was the whitewash of 18′ x 45′ mural, painted in December 2007, on Cesar Chavez and Breed Street that prompted action leading to the proposed council motions. Once an inspector from the City of LA, Department of Building and Safety cited the building owner for an “unapproved mural/sign” in January 2008, an “Order to Comply” was sent from the City along with the threat of a misdemeanor, a fine and possible jail time.  That mural was also painted over by the owner.

And even with a representative from Building and Safety acknowledging at the April 16 hearing, that had many muralist present, that defining art was not a function of the department, a graffiti style mural for a Japanese street fashion store was marked for a whitewash in Little Tokyo.

The added confusion is that the Department of Cultural Affairs no longer had jurisdiction over murals on private property. Hence, no real system for permits.

Councilman Tom LaBonge has vested time in this unraveling of rules based on his own mission to answer the continued tagging of Judy Baca’s “Hitting The Wall” and has been working with DCA to find answers to the red tape. Both LaBonge and Olga Garay, General Manager Department of Cultural Affairs, sent out notices to encourage public commentary and state “Murals offer the potential for beauty, reflection, history, and charm to grace the City’s streets. The murals found throughout the city reflect the celebrations, diverse cultural identities, heroes, and issues important to the residents of Los Angeles.”

While not all graffiti murals are well crafted representation of murals, and there will always be debate if graffiti murals contribute to mural legacy of this city.  But clearly the Building and Safety department and LAPD are not the ones to be the curators.

The next step for the proposed motions is the hearing by the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee being held Tuesday, May 27th in City Hall Room 350 at 2pm.

Comments

[Don Garza]

I am confused. Today is the 2oth not the 27th

[e@v]

Noted Don.

[Doña Junta]

Thanks for sharing about this I didn't know it gotten buffed

This really gets me angry first of all we graffiti artist been painting them industrial areas illegally before any yuppies complained or though about living in the area...Graffiti style bombing been in LA since the early 80s and its part of the culture .... then all of a sudden they want to be haters like the cops because its graffiti and not art in their eyes but some other fool could do his mona lisa with a brush and bite the graff style writing and its art leave it alone wtf?? I passed by that wall and that shit was tight as matter of fact some of the homies where involved in it....Ok they rather get their area bombed up illegally them have a beautiful production?? man it was a freaken cartoon style how is that not suitable that shit pisses me off..