Re: [UC] The Historic Commission has ruled against paint!
I saw that article, too. I have really mixed feelings about this mural. I used to live at the other end of the alley from it. When I discovered it I couldn't stop laughing. It's small which is a point in its favor but it's so poorly conceived and executed. It really looks to me like it was painted by some not very talented high school boy who dreamed of one day being a fashion designer. It's an instantly recognizable style. I think it's terrible and I love it. It's the only one of the murals in the city (95% of which I think are just awful) that I would care about if it disappeared. I completely defend this man's right to keep this mural on the side of HIS building. I particularly love the cable TV wire entering the building though one of the figure's pursed lips. On the other hand. I would personally volunteer to paint over that atrocity at 13th Locust, the one with the gumball machines and the bunheads. Ugh. Rizzo, Sinatra, Lanza, Labelle, the pixelated trees, that weird submarine/welder thing in South Philly and the animals outside the Morris Animal Refuge. Keep those, though. Frank On Jan 21, 2007, at 03:30 AM, Elizabeth F Campion wrote: In 2003, pro-HD folks insisted the Historic Commission would NEVER regulate paint, despite contradictory words in the HC ordinance. I investigated, discovered and revealed an action against a privately commissioned mural placed on a side / alley wall of a property on 410 S. 15th (S. of Pine) in the Ritt-Fit HD. At a 2003 hearing the mural was granted a 4 year reprieve, under something the HC defined as a Sunset Provision. At the time, I feared the decision was merely an attempt to put things on a back burner, to lower the heat on other proposed HD fronts. And my fear has been realized. Friday, January 12, the HC met and ordered the mural painted over, with brick red paint, so that the wall would appear more historic. The HC also locks the property owner into a position that limits improvements, because doing so would trigger additional HD interference. The owner of the property plans to appeal. A story (with color photos) is in the latest PGN, link via: http://www.epgn.com/011907/1transmural011907.htm The property owner, Michael Shur is actually Michael Sher a longtime friend. I am proud that he is able and willing to commission art and to defend art and artists. The mural has found strong supporters among artists and the GLBTG community. A blog has been started at: http://members.aol.com/tgirlhollywood26/mural/ I don't know who posted, but he (or she) appears to be a fan of the mural and angry. One of the blogs better features is a side by side comparison, of the existing wall vs. what it would look like with a fresh coat of red paint. It also contains an image that draws the probable outcome (and historic reality for this wall) which is that a blank slate tempts graffiti. The current ruling comes at an ironic time. The Royals plan a Jan. 27 visit to Philadelphia. http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=localid=4931951 ... Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, intend to focus on themes of youth development, urban regeneration and environmental conservation, ... Besides visiting some of the city's historic sites, including the Liberty Bell, the two will learn about the city's Mural Arts Program, the country's largest public art program ... There are fascinating back stories to the mural. The mural started with a much lighter and lovelier theme of Venus and Beauty. The located close to Broad and South Streets invited themes of Philadelphia traditions, (Mummer's Parades, Night Clubs and Theater). The mural segued to Death of Venus after the first threats from the HC were delivered. The Artist felt under attack and despaired for the Mural's survival. She struck back in paint moving toward themes of restraint and destruction. She found herself unable to complete the Mural and it remains much less nuanced than it should be. Even unfinished, and reflecting less attractive themes, the mural developed fans. Artist Dee Chin seems too fragile to explain or defend her work. Her most vivid early memories include helping an uncle pass as a woman, to avoid the death meted out to men by the Khmer Rouge. When the disguise failed or the deception was revealed, the uncle was brutally beheaded, at home, in front of the young child. Dee arrived in the USA as a Cambodian refugee boy in time to be accepted into the HS for the Performing Arts. Dee learned English quickly and won awards for singing, acting, dancing and art. While still in high school she was chosen to paint a mural at CHOP. Dee has triumphed in struggles against prejudices against her poverty, status, accent, ethnicity and transgender choice. Dee feels the threat against her art as a very personal attack. She views the mural is her child and the HC as a stalker / murderer. She is almost paralyzed by
Re: [UC] The Historic Commission has ruled against paint!
I have definitely mixed feelings about Bonnie Prince Charlie's visit. His wife wears remarkably weird hats. (See photo donated by Liz: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=localid=4931951 ). And will I ever be able to forgive him for what he did to Lady Di? Maybe I'll go picket the visit. Also, Liz, your last post was 1500 words. Going for a record? Just saying. -- Ross Bender http://rossbender.org/abbraccioreading1.html On 1/21/07, Frank [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I saw that article, too. I have really mixed feelings about this mural. I used to live at the other end of the alley from it. When I discovered it I couldn't stop laughing. It's small which is a point in its favor but it's so poorly conceived and executed. It really looks to me like it was painted by some not very talented high school boy who dreamed of one day being a fashion designer. It's an instantly recognizable style. I think it's terrible and I love it. It's the only one of the murals in the city (95% of which I think are just awful) that I would care about if it disappeared. I completely defend this man's right to keep this mural on the side of HIS building. I particularly love the cable TV wire entering the building though one of the figure's pursed lips. On the other hand. I would personally volunteer to paint over that atrocity at 13th Locust, the one with the gumball machines and the bunheads. Ugh. Rizzo, Sinatra, Lanza, Labelle, the pixelated trees, that weird submarine/welder thing in South Philly and the animals outside the Morris Animal Refuge. Keep those, though. Frank -- Ross Bender http://rossbender.org
Re: [UC] The Historic Commission has ruled against paint!
In a message dated 1/21/2007 8:12:13 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have definitely mixed feelings about Bonnie Prince Charlie's visit. His wife wears remarkably weird hats. I've asked her not to wear one when I take them on the tour of Historic Clark Park, prior to our High Tea at one of historic Spruce Hill's more elegant Victorian homes (the location of which will remain undisclosed so the Royals will have time to suck it all in, as it were, without the press, the UCHS zealots, or the great unwashed masses getting in the way). Victoria, of course, was Charles' great-great-great-grandmother, so he's tremendously interested in the authentic Victoriana we have here in Spruce Hill. How I'm going to get him past the desecrations like Home Depot replacement balusters on the few porches that haven't been torn down or infilled, the cheesy vinyl replacement windows, or the pressure-treated-wood sundecks shamelessly bolted onto the rear shed kitchens I don't know. Maybe by having the windows of the Rolls accidentally mirrored on both sides so he won't be able to see out while we're en-route. Always at your service ready for a dialog ® brand 35-year resident housing provider Al Krigman
Re: [UC] The Historic Commission has ruled against paint!
Frank wrote: Rizzo, Sinatra, Lanza, Labelle, the pixelated trees, that weird submarine/welder thing in South Philly and the animals outside the Morris Animal Refuge. Keep those, though. my favorite is 'the pixelated trees' at 13th and pine, also known as 'springtime', by david guinn. it's the little black dog in there that I love. here: http://www.whyy.org/tv12/mural/guinn_bio.html http://www.whyy.org/tv12/mural/guinn_before.html http://www.whyy.org/tv12/mural/guinn_qtvr.html he's also got one in the same style called 'fall' at 9th and bainbridge: http://cml.upenn.edu/murals/images_murals/1002_jr.jpg david guinn is one of the few muralists who 'gets it' -- how to make an image work in a public space (like hs 'crystal snowscape'). so many murals are hoopty because they're just large pictures on a wall -- still, they have value b/c they reinforce the validity of the basic idea that we can choose to see art as a public, civic, act, and b/c they elicit some kind of aesthetic response from us. the best murals to me are ones that use tile and ceramics and other permanent media (I'm thinking, isaiah, and that mural down near 7th and chestnut called 'legacy', made with venetian glass). I also like ones that are executed really well, like 'the muses' down at 12th and locust david guinn's also got one with lots of dogs (called 'gimme shelter') on the wall of the morris animal refuge, 12th and lombard: http://www.morrisanimalrefuge.org/images/mural.jpg the best site I've found for browsing philly's murals is: http://cml.upenn.edu/murals/mbQueryRequest.asp one of these days before I die I'm going to work on a mural or installation, using ceramic tiles and shards. .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN [aka laserbeam®] [aka ray] SERIAL LIAR. CALL FOR RATES. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] The Historic Commission has ruled against paint!
Thanks Frank. I am glad you are familiar with the mural. In defense of the quality of the mural, it suffered mid-project redesign in response to threats from the HD. And it has remained unfinished, pending permission to stay, from the HC. Viewers are seeing the cartoon or sub-painting. I think it will look better with richer, more nuanced paint color and worse covered with brick red paint. The ladies don't look any worse than an average Mummer. Best! Liz On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 07:01:12 -0500 Frank [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I saw that article, too. I have really mixed feelings about this mural. I used to live at the other end of the alley from it. When I discovered it I couldn't stop laughing. It's small which is a point in its favor but it's so poorly conceived and executed. It really looks to me like it was painted by some not very talented high school boy who dreamed of one day being a fashion designer. It's an instantly recognizable style. I think it's terrible and I love it. It's the only one of the murals in the city (95% of which I think are just awful) that I would care about if it disappeared. I completely defend this man's right to keep this mural on the side of HIS building. I particularly love the cable TV wire entering the building though one of the figure's pursed lips. On the other hand. I would personally volunteer to paint over that atrocity at 13th Locust, the one with the gumball machines and the bunheads. Ugh. Rizzo, Sinatra, Lanza, Labelle, the pixelated trees, that weird submarine/welder thing in South Philly and the animals outside the Morris Animal Refuge. Keep those, though. Frank On Jan 21, 2007, at 03:30 AM, Elizabeth F Campion wrote: In 2003, pro-HD folks insisted the Historic Commission would NEVER regulate paint, despite contradictory words in the HC ordinance. I investigated, discovered and revealed an action against a privately commissioned mural placed on a side / alley wall of a property on 410 S. 15th (S. of Pine) in the Ritt-Fit HD. At a 2003 hearing the mural was granted a 4 year reprieve, under something the HC defined as a Sunset Provision. At the time, I feared the decision was merely an attempt to put things on a back burner, to lower the heat on other proposed HD fronts. And my fear has been realized. Friday, January 12, the HC met and ordered the mural painted over, with brick red paint, so that the wall would appear more historic. The HC also locks the property owner into a position that limits improvements, because doing so would trigger additional HD interference. The owner of the property plans to appeal. A story (with color photos) is in the latest PGN, link via: http://www.epgn.com/011907/1transmural011907.htm The property owner, Michael Shur is actually Michael Sher a longtime friend. I am proud that he is able and willing to commission art and to defend art and artists. The mural has found strong supporters among artists and the GLBTG community. A blog has been started at: http://members.aol.com/tgirlhollywood26/mural/ I don't know who posted, but he (or she) appears to be a fan of the mural and angry. One of the blogs better features is a side by side comparison, of the existing wall vs. what it would look like with a fresh coat of red paint. It also contains an image that draws the probable outcome (and historic reality for this wall) which is that a blank slate tempts graffiti. The current ruling comes at an ironic time. The Royals plan a Jan. 27 visit to Philadelphia. http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=localid=4931951 ... Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, intend to focus on themes of youth development, urban regeneration and environmental conservation, ... Besides visiting some of the city's historic sites, including the Liberty Bell, the two will learn about the city's Mural Arts Program, the country's largest public art program ... There are fascinating back stories to the mural. The mural started with a much lighter and lovelier theme of Venus and Beauty. The located close to Broad and South Streets invited themes of Philadelphia traditions, (Mummer's Parades, Night Clubs and Theater). The mural segued to Death of Venus after the first threats from the HC were delivered. The Artist felt under attack and despaired for the Mural's survival. She struck back in paint moving toward themes of restraint and destruction. She found herself unable to complete the Mural and it remains much less nuanced than it should be. Even unfinished, and reflecting less attractive themes, the mural developed fans. Artist Dee Chin seems too fragile to explain or defend her work. Her most vivid early memories include helping an uncle pass as a
