Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/38228
PUBLIC ART I t could be said that if the Hollywood Sign or the Walk of Fame were proposed today, they would be as public art projects. Although these two iconic projects succeeded in their promotional efforts beyond anyone’s wildest imagination, in recent years many other projects have been added to our public art inventory. In the mid-80’s, four murals attracted atten- tion and as countless visitors photographed them. Tom Suriya’s “You Are e Star,” Eloy Torrez “Legends of Hollywood,” Richard Wyatt’s “L.A. Jazz” and Alfredo de Batuc’s “Dolores Del Rio” thus received international attention. Suriya’s work was restored in 2008, Torrez’ fell in the 1994 earthquake, the only public art lost and plans for Wyatt’s mural include a redo that will withstand the ravages of time and elements. Years later, public art /puhb-lik ahrt/ (noun): a process involving a community seeking to distinguish itself by art projects that define its identity. Usually such projects involve consid- erable interaction and buy-in by a number of individuals and organizations that guide it to fruition. Photo: Elodie Deshayes by Nyla Arslanian George Sportelli’s portraits of Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash and Hector Ponce painted two mu- rals of Hollywood icons have been added. (See Murals listing in Places of Interest for locations.) In 1993, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) created an Arts Advisory Panel to make recom- mendations for arts and cultural projects fi- nanced through its 1% Art Policy fee. e first was the Hollywood Gateway, a picturesque, stainless steel gazebo with figures of legendary actresses Mae West, Dorothy Dandridge, Anna May Wong, and Dolores Del Rio. When MTA opened its Hollywood stations each had an artist on its design team: May Sun at Hollywood & Western, Gilbert “Magu” Lujan for Hollywood & Vine and Sheila Klein for the futuristic Hollywood & Highland. Each artist gave their station its distinctive character. When the Hollywood & Highland complex was completed in 2001, CRA/LA’s Art Policy BELOW: Alfredo de Batuc's "Dolores Del Rio" was among the first murals painted in the 1980's with the assistance of the Hollywood Economic Revitalization Effort (HERE Project). 48 DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD / SUMMER 2011