Kent Twitchell’s Morphesis mural, of which that we just finished the mural conservation,… tagged big time!

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

I just posted one week ago the final details and short video of the completion of the art conservation/mural restoration/graffiti removal from the Jim Morphesis Monument by Kent Twitchell (https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/projects/murals/art-conservation-of-exquisite-mural-on-los-angeles-freeway-completed/). That was on Wednesday. Sometime that same weekend, the mural got graffitied. Caltrans Vandalism Abatement Supervisor Vincent Moreno called me Monday morning and in a voice similar to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles said, “Dude, you got creamed.”

 

Just cleaned, Jim Morphesis Monument mural with new graffiti

4 or 5 days after completion of restoration, major graffiti hit across the entire bottom half. But, actually, this is not a bad thing…  

I’ve been waiting for this to happen. “What took you dudes so long?” I’ve been hoping it would happen actually, but I hoped it would happen while we were doing the art conservation/ mural restoration. Whatever… so now the inevitable has happened. It will happen again and again and again. One might think that this would be an impossible task to keep graffiti off of murals in downtown LA.  I’ve had this discussion, of course, with lots of people. If you are asking yourself what’s the use or why go to the trouble, here’s a short dialog entitled: “So, is it useless to try and protect murals from graffiti vandals?” Its about 3/4 down the page: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/jim-morphesis-monument-by-kent-twitchell/

So, why am I glad this happened? We have needed fresh graffiti so we can test our methods for removing it. We’ve got logistics to work out; since we are ready and organized to mobilize when we get a call, we have needed to standardize the way to make the maintenance visits so the whole process can run as smoothly as possible. I’ve needed to test and try different removal methods so we can calculate the costs and time required for removal in order to make the effort more efficient.

 

Anarchists strike

Social disorder… newly tagged, just restored mural

 

Hence, my reserved and calm manner as we address this vandalism. The cleaning-removal of the new graffiti is proving very different than the first cleaning that removed 8 years of accumulated old graffiti (which is how long ago it was cleaned last time according to Caltrans). But I’m sure that the details of those processes would bore you to tears… maybe I already have.

Oh! Here’s something interesting. Yesterday, as we were working on the mural, a black 4 door car stopped in the slow lane in front of the mural and a 30ish year old male hispanic leaned over from the driver’s seat and started taking pictures. Vincent, the Caltrans guy that was with us, went nuts telling him to drive on and the guy just laughed while he shot pics of us, the graffiti and our equipment. They he drove off. We wrote down his license plate number and reported him to the police. Vincent and the police said that it common for the taggers to come back to their tags and take pictures to post on the internet to brag. Later the police got back to us and said that the license didn’t match any info they had in their taggers database but there were going to run it through the criminal database and keep looking. Both Caltrans and the police were hoping it would turn into a lead to prosecute the vandals. Here’s more about what’s being done: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/projects/murals/video-surveillance-of-public-art-mural-catching-graffiti-vandals/

We got the call about the new graffiti on Monday. We were “on it” with the removal Tues. morning. We’ll be on it when it happens again. We have lots to talk about as we begin work on other murals and hunt down the anarchist vandals.

 

Removing graffiti from a mural

Starting the removal process

 

Graffiti removal almost done

The bulk of the graffiti removed.

The mural is now back to looking its best. This was a good test. Caltrans got to see us jump into action action and respond to the tagging right away which warms their heart. MCLA and Kent Twitchell also were able to see our commitment to making this maintenance program work and to see our love for these murals. Commuters on the 101 southbound got to see that the City of Los Angeles is serious about keep the graffiti off. We’re hoping that some of those commuters are politicians and corporate types that will be impressed and will want to support the effort…

Several people have been asking about what is being done about catching the tagging vandals and why we don’t put up video surveillance cameras to monitor the public art site. Here is the update on that question: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/projects/murals/video-surveillance-of-public-art-mural-catching-graffiti-vandals/

 

Restoration questions? Call Scott Haskins at 213 620 9125

See testimonials of FACL services: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/testimonials

Questions for the artist? Kent Twitchell 310 709 2037

 

graffiti abatement, mural maintenance, graffiti removal, Scott Haskins, MCLA, Mural conservancy, Kent Twitchell, Jim Morphesis, art conservation, video surveillance of public art, vandalism of public art

Posted in Murals | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Historical Street Art Mural – Strother Martin Mural by Kent Twitchell- Gets Tagged and…

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

About a month or 6 weeks ago, artist Kent Twitchell completed the restoration (repainting) of his 1971 mural that had been obliterated by graffiti. He called me to help him put a protective coating on it to give it a barrier against graffiti and abuse or accidents IN THE FUTURE.

So, in this very quick video, you’ll see us have a brief chat about the historical nature of the mural, you’ll see me varnishing and then… and explanation of what happened when IT GOT TAGGED A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO!

It was “just” a good varnish job… but it saved the mural from getting damaged and this is a basic idea behind the efforts of the art conservation field.

So, how did you like this news, this video, this work by Kent and myself?

CLICK on the THUMBS UP and leave a comment!

Questions about your mural? Call Scott Haskins at 213 620 9125

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Art Conservation of Exquisite Mural on Los Angeles Freeway Completed

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

We have just finished the painting restoration of the realistic mural entitled Jim Morphesis Monument, painting by Kent Twitchell in 1984. It is part of a group of 11 murals that were painted along the downtown LA freeways to celebrate the 1984 Olympics and deeded to the City of LA as public art to build pride and community spirit. Here’s the short video of the very interesting steps to restore it:

One of the gratifying aspects of this project was the successful cooperation between The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, the original artist, Caltrans, Public Works, the art conservation community and the professional conservation/restoration services of FACL, Inc. Here are the team members:

Virginia Panizzon (FACL), Kent Twitchell(Artist), Scott Haskins (FACL), Isabel Rojas-Williams (MCLA), Vincent Moreno (Caltrans), Diane Stevenett (FACL)

This video shows very interesting art restoration – painting conservation steps to recover and reclaim this landmark mural from the 1984 Olympics located in downtown Los Angeles.

This was the 1st of 11 Olympic murals to be reclaimed from graffiti and from Caltans’ gray paint. All murals are scheduled for overpaint removal, cleaning and restoration in collaboration with the artists. The goal is to return to Los Angeles this high quality public art gifted in 1984.

The funds required for the mural restoration were provided by private donations and The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. Generous cooperation from Caltrans was much appreciated.

Art conservation treatment questions? Call Scott Haskins 213 620 9125

 

Posted in Murals | 11 Comments

Kent Twitchell’s Jim Morphesis Monument Mural Fully Restored

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

In 1984, Kent Twitchell, Los Angeles’ most famous and most visible mural artist, was part of an elite group of artists to paint for the City of Los Angeles a series of murals along the downtown freeways to celebrate the Olympics. His “7th Street Altarpiece” composition uniquely consisted of two murals, one on each side of the 101 freeway under the Grand Ave. overpass. It was genius.

Jim Morphesis Monument after restoration

Jim Morphesis Monument After Graffiti Removal and Art Conservation – Photo by Gil Ortiz

Over the years, these two murals, The Jim Morphesis Monument and Lita Albuquerque, have unmercifully been tagged by graffiti vandals, disrespecting the artwork and the community that celebrated. Several attempts have been made to restore them but a lack of commitment to their maintenance relegated them back to a visual expression of anarchy.

Recently, The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles committed to maintain these murals and Fine Art Conservation Laboratories was chosen. So the mural restoration was undertaken and this last week, the Jim Morphesis Monument by Kent Twitchell was fully restored (see photo above).

Reclaimed from graffiti vandals (and we’re going to keep the graffiti off!) it will be the first of many.

Stay tuned for short video of fine tuning of cleaning, touch up and varnish.  Interesting stuff, the saving of art masterpieces. Spread this good news around!

Conservation/restoration questions? Call Scott M. Haskins 213 620 9125

Also, see other interesting restoration videos at Facebook Channel “bestartdoc” http://www.youtube.com/user/bestartdoc?feature=mhee

Posted in Murals | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Is Removing Graffiti A Useless Waste Of Effort?

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

 

Anti Graffiti Protection for Murals - The Right Type and Amount of Varnish

Anti Graffiti Protection for Murals – The Right Type and Amount of Varnish

 

I had this dialog about the Jim Morphesis Monument mural by Kent Twitchell. We have just completed the graffiti removal, conservation/preservation and restoration this last week. Good questions and straight answers:

Laura: I love that piece, and it breaks my heart when it gets tagged.

Mario: great piece when its not tagged, question is, when isn’t it?

Scott M. Haskins Answer to future tagging: We’ve been hired to maintain the mural and keep it clean. Making good progress on Jim Morphesis Monument.

Mario: as a long time resident of LA I would guess that in the last 15 years or so this and other murals have spent more tagged up than not, I remember when this wasn’t the case, sadly the tagging quickly turns some of these beautiful murals into huge eyesores that some of us are subjected to on a daily basis.. good luck with maintaining the mural, unless your planning to occupy the site, you’ll need it.. btw, how many more strategically placed murals could be painted with all of the money spent on restoring those that are poorly located? A close friend expressed his frustration that more is spent every time his mural is restored than he was paid to paint it… really?

Kent Twitchell Some people have given up (with the idea of having murals in our community and keeping them nice). Some others haven’t.

Scott M. Haskins: Mario, maintenance is the key. If a mural gets tagged Caltrans requires that the graffiti get removed (or painted out with their gray paint) within 10 days or even 48 hours if the tagging is obscene. We are planning to remove any tagging within 48 hours of the tag occurring… but that depends also on if we are notified right away. Small graffiti initials/name can be removed for a couple of hundred dollars. A tag that is more thickly applied and bigger, maybe a few hundred. An enormous repainting type of graffiti can still be /removed for, lets say, maybe about $1,500- $2,000… hardly the cost or payment for painting a mural. The key to a maintenance program working is to be organized, follow through, the coordination of, Caltrans, Public Works and about 4 other entities… and of course, there has to be funding… which there is.

Finally, consider other nice things you appreciate. They often require maintenance/upkeep over a continued basis.

Posted in Murals | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Kent Twitchell’s Mural-Monument to the LA Chamber Orchestra News Article

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins


The Harbor Freeway Mural

Coming from the south northward on the 110 Freeway in downtown LA

This is a very nice article in today’s LA Times about the 20th anniversary of Kent Twitchell’s Monument to the LA Chamber Orchestra. What a fantastic visual treat it is as you come up the 110 Freeway from the south into downtown Los Angeles. In a day when printed posters for movies are the size of a building, it kind of blows you away to think of a hand painted mural that is 10 stories high. The mural eventually took on the title, The Harbor Freeway Overture.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-laco-mural-20111208,0,4011608.story
Kent and I have been talking about doing some maintenance on the mural but this mural is not part of the 1984 Olympic Freeway Murals, which are the focus of the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles’ efforts for restoration/conservation/preservation.
Shortly after you pass the Monument to the LA Chamber Orchestra,while you are still downtown, you will see Judy Baca’s great mural on the right side of the freeway under the 4th Street overpass sadly covered with graffiti. A short distance ahead on the left you will see Alonzo Davis’ mural, also vandalized. These two murals are slated for graffiti removal and art conservation just as was done for the Jim Morphesis Monument mural on the 101 freeway (www.savefreewaymurals.com).
The reason the Monument to the LA Chamber Orchestra has looked good all these years and has not been tagged is that it is out of reach, thankfully. Congratulations to Kent Twitchell and the LA Chamber Orchestra for the 20th Anniversary of this incredible, world class quality mural, truely a gift to the City of Los Angeles and all who live and work here.


For videos on the graffiti removal and restoration of other murals in Los Angeles, go to YouTube channel “bestartdoc” at http://www.youtube.com/user/bestartdoc?feature=mhee SUBSCRIBE NOW to be notified when I add more videos.

Conservation/restoration questions? Call Scott M. Haskins 805 564 3438

Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121


Posted in Murals | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Two Testimonials Received Today for Art Conservation and Painting Restoration Services

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

For those of you who have not done business with FACL, Inc. YET, let me share with you these two testimonials that we received today:

“We have trusted FACL in Santa Barbara since 2002 with all our work, especially with our most difficult restoration projects, knowing that the art conservation treatments will be done right the first time. They are expedient in turnaround, do excellent work and I always get great results. Besides the actual work on our gallery’s paintings, I depend on Scott Haskins for his unparalleled expertise in connoissuership and his high integrity and business ethics”  Wynne Benti, Coons Gallery, Bishop, CA

I just bought a Redmond that you worked on and it was so gorgeous and your work so wonderful that I bought it as soon as I saw it. Would you please email me a “condition report” for the repaired Redmond?  My insurance comp needs it to arrive at a value for my new policy. Thank you and I will be contacting you again soon! Bernard, Private Collector in Orange County, CA

 

During cleaning - a painting by Granville Redmond

This is a small during cleaning detail from a Redmond recently worked on in the lab. But this is not the Redmond the testimonial refers to.

Painting conservation questions? Call Scott Haskins 805 564 3438

Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at “bestartdoc” http://www.youtube.com/user/bestartdoc?feature=mhee

Follow us on Facebook at “Tips For Art Collectors” http://www.facebook.com/TipsforArtCollectors

 

 

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Kent Twitchell’s Mural of Jim Morphesis Restoration Update

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

Hi Everyone,

We are “on the wall” today working to complete the mural restoration and conservation this week. Here is a photo from today:

 

 

Mural conservation of Kent Twitchell's Monument to Jim Morphesis

Virginia Panizzon touching up the background

 

Notice the improvement in the background around the thumb. Tomorrow the mural will undergo a transformation!

Go to www.savefreewaymurals.com for more complete info and videos about the project.

Questions: Scott M. Haskins  805 564 3438 office, 805 570 4140 mobile

See testimonials of FACL services: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/testimonials

Posted in Murals | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Kent Twitchell’s Final Stroke of Genius on the Mural “The Word” – Biola Jesus

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

I’ve written before about the work we did with mural artist extraordinaire Kent Twtichell (probably the most famous artist in LA and maybe the most famous mural artist in the USA) on his mural called the Biola Jesus by the public but formally named, “The Word.” Its located at, you guessed it, Biola University in la Mirada CA (Los Angeles) and is realy a wonderful image and artistic expression.

Some time ago, there was an olive tree in front of the mural that died and was removed. Well, this tree was part of Twitchell’s composition! It was considered an important part of the placement of the central figure, coloring etc.

You can see the videos about the restoration work (which was really interesting and entertaining) at www.fineartconservationlab.com/twitchell-biola-jesus-mural.

The wonderful detail I’m now posting about is the planting of a new tree, just to make the mural “whole” again. Note that this is a BIG olive tree and very expensive. I applaud loudly the sensitivity of the university to the overall effect the mural with the tree can have on the public.

The Word with new tree

The new olive tree replacement was originally part of Twitchell's composition of the mural

We’ve been working on another mural by Kent Twitchell that is located on a freeway and was heavily tagged. If you’d like to see what that interesting project is about go to www.savefreewaymurals.com

Art conservation questions? Call Scott Haskins at 805 564 3438
Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121

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Graffiti Removal From Jim Morphesis’s Face

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Scott M. Haskins

Today was soooo coooool! Graffiti came flying off in sheets and it was extreme to see Jim Morphesis’ face peek out again, unveiled, from the beneath the much, vandalism and the dark side into the bright sun of the Southern California Nov. 16th sunny day. Want to be part of it?! Here’s a 15 second clip… just a peek till I get the video made later….

 

Freaking great stuff….

Posted in Murals | 14 Comments