Controversial WPA Mural is Uncovered.... AGAIN!

Rediscovering lost murals?... How can you loose a mural?! Well, this controversial WPA 1930's mural by Harry Donald Jones was painted out, then cleaned, then painted out... all at the command of federal judges! Then the building was traded... what a mixed up deal! Now the Beaux Arts classical federal courthouse has been rehabbed to be  the City hall for Cedar Rapids Iowa and Scott M. Haskins  and FACL been doing the mural conservation and art restoration uncovering this high profile mural in the City Council Chambers the last couple of weeks.

Here's the scoop:http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/wpa-mural-restoration-in-city-hall-of-cedar-rapids-iowa/

America Tropical must be Los Angeles' most famous invisible artwork

Way back in 1986 or 87, at the beginning of the "Saving Process" of the famous mural, America Tropical by David Alfaro Siqueiros in Olvera St. in downtown Los Angeles, I was asked by the Getty Conservation Institute to do the evaluation and proposal for the mural's conservation plan. I'm proud to have been part of this project. You can read ab

out the upcoming unveiling of the completed mega project in this article and I will be blogging about it in the near future as I attend receptions etc. Its very interesting so stay tuned.

David Alfaro Siqueiros' 'America Tropical' awaits new unveiling
"America Tropical" must be Los Angeles' most famous invisible artwork.:http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-siqueiros-unveiling-20120930,0,2300667.story

If you find this project interesting, a super interesting video you will want to see is on YouTube that tells of the saving of, conservation and moving of the Siqueiros mural, "Mexico Today" from the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles to Santa Barbara... I was part of the team of art conservators and we moved the entire building with the mural! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACRmeSkgCaA

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

Friend us on Facebook at (CLICK ON ONE)  Fine Art Conservation, Save Your Stuff and Scott M. Haskins

Mormon LDS Idaho Falls Temple Mural Conservation Work

Idaho Falls LDS Temple

In June 2012 the temple was shut down for 3 weeks of maintenance and I was asked to go in an take care of certain issues with the murals. All went well! Some of the problems were caused by cracks in the murals caused by the 1985 earthquake that we repaired poorly afterward:

1. Cracking and flaking along previous repairs in the Creation Room

2. Cleaning issues in the Garden and World Rooms will be addressed some other time.

3. No work in Terrestrial Room

4. Water stains and aging issues in the Celestial Room

5. Cleaned murals in Baptistry and organized the maintenance protective coating of the oxen of the font.

6. Repaired flaking of paint along border of mural in landing between rooms.

We loved working with everyone at the temple. They have a great group of people taking care of the building.

For more info, go to http://mormonartconservation.org

The Harbor Freeway Overture Mural's 20th birthday

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. This is a very nice article in today’s LA Times about the 20th birthday of Kent Twitchell’s Monument to the LA Chamber Orchestra. 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-laco-mural-20111208,0,4011608.story

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

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

Estrada Court Murals

I'm looking forward to meeting with one of the artists of Estrada Court in Los Angeles today. We're going to discuss how I may be able to help with their efforts to preserve, protect and restore the murals. There are, I think, 54 murals in this public housing complex. The murals make for a very interesting/cool enhancement of the property. Here's a link to more info about the murals:http://www.lamurals.org/MuralFiles/ELA/EstradaCourts.html

FYI, I often meet with people at no charge to discuss questions, problems and options for conservation treatments/restoration and consultation.


Question? Call Scott Haskins 805 564 3438
Art appraisal questions? Call Richard 805 895 5121


For more mural projects go to http://www.fineartconservationlab.com


For cool videos see YouTube channel "besartdoc" at http://www.youtube.com/user/bestartdoc?feature=mhee

Please leave a comment or question.

Kent Twitchell Finishes Art Restoration of Mural at Biola University

The 3rd video of the art conservation/restoration of monumental realistic beautiful outdoor mural by Kent Twitchell at Biola University is ready. Very interesting and cool! http://bit.ly/iF59qd

Its the 3rd video on the page (largest). If you like the video, please leave a comment and click on the THUMBS UP!

Kent Twitchell is the leading muralist in Los Angeles, known world wide. Google his name and pack a lunch cause there's a lot of interesting stuff to read. His murals are always huge, gorgeous, realistic and interesting.


He is also the co-founder of the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles and is a driving force to get outdoor murals protected from graffiti.