What we have been up to...

MCLA presented the panel, Rebuilding Our Heritage: Ordinance Reform and the Impending Mural Resurgence in L.A., during the LA Art Show 2013. It featured panelists Glenna Avila (artist/CalArts), Tanner Blackman (Planning Director City Council District 14), Chris Espinosa (El Pueblo), Judithe Hernández (artist/MCLA) and Man One (artist/Crewest), who all spoke about their personal involvement with public art over the years. The panel was moderated by MCLA’s Executive Director, Isabel Rojas-Williams, and covered such topics as, how murals function in their respective communities, responsibilities of the artist, and the interplay between graffiti culture and muralism. 

 
Progress at last! The Mural Ordinance was passed by the Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM), which is comprised of Councilmembers Ed Reyes, José Huizar, and Mitchell Englander. After much debate, the Councilmembers managed to push the ordinance forward with modifications, including having existing murals grandfathered in once the ordinance is passed. An outstanding issue from the January 15th, 2013 PLUM hearing is the minimum number of units for a residential building to be allowed to display a mural. There was significant discussion at PLUM regarding such a ban of murals on single-family home and it was suggested that more time be allowed for further input. In this next phase, the ordinance must be approved by City Council. To read the latest version dated 1/4/13, click here. 
 

 
Councilmembers with Luke Zamperini, Chief Inspector,
City of LA, Dept. Building and Safety 
(Photo © Isabel Rojas-Williams, 2013)
Click to view album

Progress is readily evident on our latest restoration project on the 101 Freeway. Going to the Olympics has been unveiled one section at a time, and the second car (out of five) has emerged on January 30th. Recently, MCLA had the pleasure of having the original muralist, Frank Romero, visit MCLA’s commissioned restorer, Willie Herrón, on the freeway to view the progress of this restoration. 

Murals in the News:

Los Angeles: LA’s Historic Murals Get A Welcome Facelift
Scarlet Cheng | Art Ltd. | January 2013
 
The Word on Los Angeles as Subject for Fine Art
Ed Fuentes | KCET Departures | January 29^th 2013

Openings: Art Los Angeles Contemporary
Carlos Gonzalez | Arrested Motion| January 28, 2013
 
Revised Mural Ordinance to be Heard January 15 
Ed Fuentes | KCET Departures | January 14^th 2013

Here at MCLA, we are often asked who the mysterious woman from Kent Twitchell’s 7th Street Altarpiece mural is, and why she was chosen by Kent. Lita Albuquerque is a painter, sculptor, environmental and installation artist, who resides in Los Angeles. Her career began in the early 1970s, and she has been making art ever since. In addition to her work as an artist, she has also been an educator at the Fine Art Graduate Program at Art Center College of Design for the past 22 years. To read our full interview with Lita, click here.

Left: Lita Albuquerque, photo © Ian Robertson-Salt, 2012 
Right: Spine of the Earth, 2012 installation, litaalbuquerque.com

What we have been up to...

 
After over a year of discussions and meetings with the City of Los Angeles, and a decade long mural ban, the new Mural Ordinance has passed with the Department of City Planning (DCP). The next step to having it officially passed is having it approved by the Planning Land Use Management (PLUM) and finally City Council. The final version came with much compromise between both artists and city officials, but mural advocates are pleased to have progress on the long-awaited mural ordinance. To read what was approved by the DCP, click here
 

 
MCLA invited a group of emerging muralists and art advocates to a workshop at the site of Glenna Avila's LA Freeway Kidsmural. The workshops were led by MCLA’s executive director, Isabel Rojas-Williams, and restorer/muralist Willie Herrón who was aided by muralist Raul Gonzalez. Isabel, Willie, and Raul shared the knowledge, techniques, and processes they used to restore the 1984 Olympic Freeway Murals. Some of the highlights of the workshops included having in attendance artist Margaret Garcia, who painted the face of 6th Freeway Kid in 1984 (Misty Holan), Gabriel Estrada, the model for “the kid with the basketball”, and MCLA's directors Kent Twitchell, Gil Ortiz, and Ilia Anossov present. The mural is slated for completion in early November 2012.

 

Thanks to the help of art advocates like you, MCLA was able to surpass its goal for our L.A. Freeway Kids Campaign. The funds raised will ensure that the mural will be safeguarded from future tagging and damage from the elements. To view the finished campaign, click here.  If you would still like to make a contribution, please click here. 

Image of nearly completed LA Freeway Kids
(Image courtesy of © Ian Robertson-Salt, 2012) 
Click to view album

Murals in the News:

Life Connected: Iconic Siqueiros Mural
October 3rd, 2012 | NBC | John Cadiz Klemack
 
Will the Rebirth of "América Tropical" Inspire a Mural Renaissance in L.A.?
October 10, 2012 | Art Info | Reid Singer
 
LA is getting its murals back!
October 14, 2012 | Notes on Looking | Caryln Aguilar
 
Dedication of Poet’s Wall
October 28, 2012 | Whittier College
 
East L.A. artist brings “Freeway Kids” out of hibernation
October 31, 2012 | The Eastsider L.A.

Artist of the Month: Oscar Magallanes



 

Oscar Magallanes was born June 11th, 1976 in Duarte, CA. He grew up just a few miles away in the Azusa barrio. His artwork is heavily influenced by the cultural and social elements of his upbringing. He recalls, “The first art I saw were murals of Zapata and Mexican glyphs from the Chicano movement. These were juxtaposed next to homeboy role calls and Old English writing. I didn’t see a gallery or museum until I was 15.” 

What we have been up to...

 
Fresh on the heels of our last restoration of The Lita Albuquerque Monument, MCLA began work on Glenna Avila’sLA Freeway Kids- one of the 1984 Olympic Freeway murals. MCLA has been working closely with Glenna, establishing her as the official supervisor of the project. Never forgetting the importance of working with community muralists, MCLA commissioned legendary muralist/restorer Willie Herrón III. Herron selected muralists Carlos Callejo and Raul Gonzalez to be apart of his team of restorers. The mural is slated to be finished mid-October. The mural features seven children playfully running together. If you are interested in becoming involved with this project, visit our campaign here to see how you can help us protect against future tagging!

Above is Glenna with partially restored “ LA Freeway Kids”.
Click to view album Click to view Campaign  
(Image courtesy of © Ian Robertson-Salt, 2012)

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On September 17th, MCLA completed restoration on The Lita Albuquerque Monument. This mural is part of a diptych, the counterpart of which is The Jim Morphesis Monument, which was also restored last December 2011. Facing each other on the 101 Freeway, this mural restoration was made possible through the support of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and private donors.

Image of completed Lita Albuquerque Monument
(Image courtesy of © Gil Ortiz, 2012) 
Click to view album

On September 10th the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) announced the October 9th unveiling of the iconic 1932 América Tropical, by master muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. This restoration was made possible through the collaboration between the City of Los Angeles and GCI. This mural is highly significant, as Siqueiros has long been regarded as the one of the most influential muralist to inspire modern day muralists. To read the full press release of the event, click here.

Getty Conservation Institute conservators working
on the América Tropical mural.© J. Paul Getty Trust.

Murals in the News:

Murals Restored
Caltrans | August 31th 2012 | Patrick Chandler
 
STP Foundation to Take Over Venice Art Walls Program
Yo! Venice! | September 12th 2012 | Bret

Oct 9th unveiling of L.A. Siqueiros Mural
Art For A Change | September 10th 2012 | Mark Vallen

Saving L.A.'s Olympic Murals One At A Time
KCET Departures | September 20th 2012 | Ed Fuentes

What we have been up to...

Mural Ordinance Hearing at City Hall 
July 12th 2012

After the release of the very much-anticipated Mural Ordinance Recommendation Report, art advocates were anxious to attend the hearing in City Hall to voice their concerns. On Thursday, July 12th the Los Angeles City Planning Commission could not come to agreement about certain suggested amendments, and chose to reconvene on September 13th to reevaluate the ordinance again. If the Mural Ordinance Report and Recommendations are agreed and approved upon by the City Planning Commission, it will move to the Planning and Land Use Committee before finally being adopted by City Council. If you were unable to attend, and would like to know more about what issues were raised, there are several articles listed at the end of the newsletter that go into depth about what was discussed.

MCLA’s Free Legal Forum at Avenue 50 Studio
July 19th 2012

In response to questions raised at the recent Mural Ordinance Hearing, regarding VARA and CAPA rights for muralists, MCLA offered a free Legal Forum on Thursday, July 19th. The meeting took place at Avenue 50 Studio, and was led by both MCLA and Intellectual Property Attorney Eric Bjorgum. Bjorgum was involved in the legal settlement regarding artist’s rights, which was for the painting-over of the iconicEd Ruscha Monument by Kent Twitchell.  If you are interested in getting the full pamphlet of everything discussed at the forum, you can download it here. Major topics of discussion included: 1. Property rights that muralists have, 2. How to register copyrights and the visual artists' rights, with the U.S. government, 3. How these rights interface with the new mural ordinance.
 

(Photo © Isabel Rojas-Williams, 2012)
(Click to view more photos)

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MCLA and LA-MEX Sister Cities
July 24, 26, & 27 2012

On July 24, MCLA visited City Hall with LA-MEX Sister Cities Committee and Student Ambassadors from Mexico D.F., Los Angeles, and Vancouver. As a board member of the committee since 2009, MCLA’s executive director, Isabel Rojas-Williams was delighted to speak with the visiting students about the unique diverse arts and culture of Los Angeles, and the important role that muralism playa within it. On July 26, MCLA met with the group again, and where welcomed to the Mexican Consulate by Juan Carlos Mendoza, Deputy Consul General. On the 27th, we had our last visit, where we took them on a free tour of the Art’s District in Downtown LA. Lots of fun!

 

Murals in the News:

City of Los Angeles Mural Ordinance Delayed
Arts for LA | July 12 2012
 
Mural Ordinance Grievances: What to Expect [UPDATED]           
KCET: Departures | Ed Fuentes | July 12, 2012
 
'Peasant Saint' In Little Tokyo a Spiritual Mashup
KCET: Departures | Ed Fuentes | July 16, 2012
 
Chicanarte: L.A. Mural Ban
La Bloga | Michael Sedano | July 17 2012
 
Mural Ordinance Stirs Debate
CCA Delivers | Anne Williams | July 19 2012