Sad

from You are Here, The Ed Ruscha Monument by Kent Twitchell.

Via NewsGrist comes some sad news. This mural has been painted over. The LA Times story reads:

Twitchell, who lives and works in Los Angeles, said he had contacted a lawyer and planned to file a lawsuit.

The artist said he was alerted by conservationist Nathan Zakheim, who had been in the early stages of restoring the work and had gone by to see it Friday morning. "I went to get more pictures and take samples," Zakheim said, "and guess what: It was completely painted out."

Zakheim said the piece is nearly unrecoverable.

Ruscha’s books, particularly Every Building on Sunset Strip were a tremendous influence on me. This is sad, but inevitable given the sorry fate granted most roadside attractions. Maybe Twitchell will make a buck from the contractor’s ineptitude.

June 7, 2006 10:18 AM