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By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer
June 7 -- As a three-decade-old mural on a signature
Santa Monica street corner continues to rapidly disappear
under graffiti and the paintbrush of a mystery artist, City
officials said they cannot change policy to rescue the painting.
Beyond looking for grants, the City's hands are largely tied
in helping preserve the artwork by nationally-known muralist
Jane Golden on the wall of a privately owned building, said
City Manager Lamont Ewell.
"The City does not have the resources to stop the defacing
of murals on private property," Ewell said.
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| The 30-year-old mural
reflecting spirits of Santa Monica's past is quickly vanishing.
(Photo by Olin Ericksen) |
Although Ewell has placed an emphasis on combating general
graffiti, the City currently maintains a strict policy of
only funding the restoration of murals and artwork on public
property.
Doing otherwise, Ewell said, could open the City up to possible
lawsuits.
"I think it would be crossing the public line,"
the City manager said. "We could be held liable"
City officials said Tuesday they are currently speaking with
several community, historical and arts groups that could lead
to a fundraising event to restore, or possibly change, the
mural, which depicts faceless figures walking along the long-gone
Ocean Park Pier.
City officials also said they are trying to reach Golden,
who directs a mural arts program for the City of Philadelphia,
to perhaps help coordinate her offer to return and restore
the painting.
Golden told The Lookout in previous interviews that she was
willing to return and donate her and her students’ time
if her transportation and lodging costs could be sponsored
by the City or other groups.
Although the City declined her invitation, officials are
in the very early stages of reportedly exploring if any local
groups may be interested in sponsoring the trip.
Perhaps the largest obstacle could be contacting the owner
of the building located at Ocean Park Boulevard and Main Street,
which is home to ZJ Boarding House, to receive permission
to restore or change the mural.
Tenants and sub-tenants of the building said they have only
very rarely spoken to the family over the last several years
and suggested they could be unaware or may not care about
the condition of the mural.
A favorite target for taggers, the painting has fallen into
such disrepair lately that a mystery painter has begun to
restore the artwork painted in 1977.
Although touching up some of the figure, the person has added
in at least one bizarre addition: George Washington riding
a wave on a surfboard.
Golden said she was concerned that the changes violate copyright
laws that are supposed to protect the mural, which was her
first public artwork.
The changes could be a violation of the federal Visual Artist's
Rights Act passed in 1990 and the California Arts Preservation
Act passed in 1979, according to City officials.
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