Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Art or Advertising? Proposed Mural Ordinance Tries to Sort It Out
Portion of restored "History of Highland Park" mural
()
The city has its work cut out for it as it tries to craft its Stumptown-inspired proposed mural ordinance: how can it tell the difference between an advertisement and a work of art?
Everyone debating how to craft the new ordinance agrees that advertisements shouldn't be protected in the same way as other murals, but the dividing line isn't always obvious—and would-be advertisers can exploit that to their advantage. Under the proposed mural ordinance, commercial murals that break the no-new-signs law are at risk of being taken down by the city and the property owner can face fines. Noncommercial murals, on the other hand, would be protected. Previously, public art seemed to get caught in the middle when the city tried to crack down on illegal signage and put a moratorium on murals in the process.
KCET comes up with a few examples of advertisements that try to blur the line between art and commerce.
Artist Anthony Lister painted a mural called "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" for 20th Century Fox but his comments seem to be pleading for the mural's broader artistic merit: "There are many adventure painters here in L.A. right now, like these apes, struggling to live the way they want to live." Near a Coca-Cola bottling distribution plant in downtown. It looks like a typical advertisement and its "skyline" of Los Angeles is the only tenuous connection to the community. Although the owner of the warehouse where it was placed wasn't paid, he could be on the hook for a fine from the city for breaking the no-new-signs ordinance.
Support for LAist comes from
But artists worry that noncommercial murals can be put at risk depending on the rules.
The "History of Highland Park" mural above that was created in 1978 originally included commercial logos of Coca-Cola and Sparkletts. Those logos were edited out when the mural was restored so that it would be obvious that the mural wasn't an advertisement. The artists restoring the piece didn't want the piece to be at risk of being removed. But then the city asked that the mural be restored to its original state—logos and all.
"Community members pointed out changes to the original mural and asked that they be put back to their original state," assured District 14 spokesperson Rick Coca. "Eventually they were."
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist