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:

[yfA_EoYlL0Q]

http://www.indiegogo.com/jimmorphesismonument Click here to donate to help keep graffiti off the mural.

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)

For more info about testing and graffiti removal go to www.savefreewaymurals.com

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

Follow us also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Freeway-Murals-Los-Angeles/306554516039121


About Scott M. Haskins

Scott Haskins has been in professional art conservation since 1975, specializing in the conservation/restoration of easel paintings, murals and art on paper. FACL, Inc. is known nationally for doing A+ work no matter the size or difficulty of the project. We are happy to do a quick cleaning on a family heirloom. Our client list and resume is also full of very satisfied clients of large, difficult/complicated projects at remote locations. Excellent services are also available as an Expert Witness/Legal Testimony in art related matters. Consultation on art related projects occur regularly including extensive insurance evaluations for insured or insurer. Services are offered worldwide. Scott M. Haskins is also author of the "Save Your Stuff" series, educational information, materials and supplies to help people protect and save their treasured family heirlooms and collectibles at home and office. He can be reached at 805 564 3438. Video and written testimonials at https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/testimonials/
This entry was posted in Murals. Bookmark the permalink.

11 Responses to Art Conservation of Exquisite Mural on Los Angeles Freeway Completed

  1. Ann Genrich says:
    January 12, 2012 at 10:17 am

    Keep up the good work. Its made me happy to see you keeping the graffiti off the mural!

  2. Amanda Salezian says:
    January 11, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Wonderful issues and murals… you just received a new reader. Keep up the good work with keeping the graffiti off the murals!

  3. Nancy Coulter says:
    January 10, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Thanks for being a part of this restoration team and doing this fine work. Keeping the graffiti is going to be a chore?

    • Scott M. Haskins says:
      January 10, 2012 at 6:44 pm

      The tagging will subside once the vandals know we mean business, someone gets caught, we install the video cameras… and then they move on to easier conquests.

  4. cleaning service los angeles says:
    December 30, 2011 at 6:23 am

    Indeed a nice post and I really like the manner you have written and explained the cleaning services. I am also a veteran cleaning expert and adapted to reading a lot of informational stuff on the web. I just subscribed to your blog and hope you will keep the good postings up.

  5. Larry Constance says:
    December 24, 2011 at 1:18 am

    Great cause Scott. I like those LA Murals on the 101and some on the 5 freeway. I drove past them for 26 years. The murals have been through a lot. Best wishes for success in defending them against the vandals.

  6. Melanie Lesh says:
    December 23, 2011 at 9:29 am

    Thanks for letting us know the inside information about this mural. In our office we’ve been talking about the progress you make on it. Please keep the graffiti off after you get it done. I suppose you know that it will get tagged again? Even non expert people in art know it will get tagged again.

    • Scott M. Haskins says:
      December 23, 2011 at 2:39 pm

      Melanie, it got tagged a few days after we finished and 24 hours after we found out, we were back “on the wall” to remove the graffiti. Its part of the overall service and strategy. Thanks for your support. Pass it around for people to visit our website at http://www.savefreewaymurals.com

  7. James Whaley says:
    December 23, 2011 at 6:18 am

    Its great to see this mural again. It’ll get tagged again but I suppose you will be hired to keep the graffiti off?

  8. Scott M. Haskins says:
    December 19, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    This morning early I got a call from Vincent Moreno, Caltrans Supervisor that has been helping us on the mural. ( picture in your mind the voice of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), “Dude, you got creamed!”

    Seems that our newly completed job on this mural of Jim Morphesis was rudely covered across the entire lower half with a tag this last weekend. Well, we are on it!

    Tomorrow morning we’ll take the tag off! Stay tuned… I’ll post a photo for you to see. Honk as you drive by if you love us!

Comments are closed.