Caltrans and Mural Conservancy Inspects Downtown LA Freeway Murals

Downtown Freeway Murals in LA Smeared with Graffiti

Gorgeous Murals Overcome By Scum Graffiti Vandals

Freeway murals in downtown LA are really a study on the subject of graffiti. Caltrans is required by law to keep graffiti under control and off walls… even if those walls have really great murals on them.The Mural Conservancy of LA is the main voice in favor of the outdoor mural creations of artists in LA. So, you would think they would be at odds. But this meeting on the freeways of LA was a cooperative synergistic effort to put heads together and figure out how to show off the murals and keep the graffiti off them… and age old problem that may have “fresh legs.”


I’ll write more on this in the next day or so… I’ve got lots of pictures and video.

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Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles – Protect, Preserve, Conserve, Restore LA’s Murals

Graffiti - public art's cancer

101 Freeway in LA – Caltrans’ solution- paint it out.

Of the 10 murals painted along Los Angeles Freeways to celebrate the 1984 Olympics, 7 have been painted out by Cal Trans and the other three are slated for being painted out with the excuse that its will be for “their protection against graffiti”! What art conservation expert gave them that strategy?!

A few years ago, I was the expert witness for the federal government when they painted out a large famous mural in LA. Without going into details, my determinations, testing and recommendations resulted in a $1.2 million settlement for the artist. Interestingly enough, one of the lawyers from the artist’s legal team called me up last week and asked if this time, I would be on their team to address the Cal Trans issues.


First off, let me say, I am not the expert witness for one side or the other. I am an advocate for the artwork and my cleaning tests and feasibility tests result one way or another no matter who is paying my bill.


So, with that in mind, I was approached to be on the Advisory Board of the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA) who is getting a surge of new energy to be an active player in LA. MCLA was created in 1987 as a community-supported organization to preserve and protect LA’s diverse and culturally historic public Mural Arts. I’m assuming that it’s a chance to connect with quality impassioned people for public mural art that can make a difference.


I’ll keep you updated.




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Water Damage Restoration of Gorgeous Murals at LA Produce Market – Preview

Go to www.fineartconservationlab.com/la-produce-market-murals to see the full version of this preview video. Scott Haskins shows you the onsite art conservation treatments and interesting details of these monumental, fabulous murals by Thomas Suriya. Give this video a THUMBS UP please!




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Mural Art Conservation Survey and Overpaint Removal at Texas Southern University (TSU)

I’m at TSU this week and its been a great week of looking at art. This University has a rich heritage of mural painting starting back with some really great artist pioneers back in the 50’s. The result has been an administration building FULL of murals, in every hallway! Its odd, but wonderful to see.


Murals at TSU

Very Cool Amorphic Figures in Murals at TSU

Other buildings on campus also have murals and I’ll write more about them in the upcoming days. The survey of the murals is gathering the information about their condition so TSU can have an up to date database to consult and they manage their collection. The registrar, Monica Vidal, has really been “on it!” She’s been great.


Mural by Abe Washington

Mural by Abe Washington 1971

Tomorrow I will get into the testing and estimating of the removal of the overpaint from the murals of Harvey Johnson that were painted out last Sept. or thereabouts. We should complete the actual counting and logging in of the murals. Here’s a photo of one of the walls where the Harvey Johnson murals were painted out.


Mural at TSU

Mural? What mural?

An interesting note: While we were inspecting the murals, I used a UV blacklight to look over for signatures that have color shifted into “invisability” or have been obliterated by touchup, repairs etc. Here’s an example of how using a special powerful UV blacklight can be a great tool for any collector, registrar, appraiser, art claims adjuster:


Invisible signature POPPED out with a special UV blacklight

Previously not visible, the UV blacklight made it POP out

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TSU Murals By Harvey Johnson That Were Painted Out Similar To Work At Fair Park- See Video

Cleaning off the overpaint from murals that have been painted out is tricky… but we do it. Next week I’ll be in Houston, Texas visiting Texas Southern University (TSU) to survey, inspect and inventory 168 murals! And while there, I’ll evaluate the Harvey Johnson murals that were painted out to propose their restoration. This work is simliar to a monumental project we did at Fair Park, Dallas, Texas… that turned out great! Here’s a quick video:


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TSU Murals – Consultation and Survey

 

 

Painted out Harvey Johnson Mural
This mural by Harvey Johnson was recently painted out.


 

Texas Southern University (TSU) has contracted with Scott Haskins and FACL, Inc. to do a survey of the 168 murals on campus. Even without really getting into the project, there has already been significant progress by TSU admin. by turning the care of the murals over to the art museum and counting the murals as part of the art collection. Previously they were just ignored, mostly cared for by facilities.

We’re in the planning stages right now with Monica Vidal, the TSU Art Museum’s new Registrar, to design the survey and software for the inventory. For more about what is happening, go to www.tsumurals.org

 

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