COMMUNITY MURALS RESTORED WITH GENEROUS FUNDING FROM THE ATWATER VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
Graffiti abatement murals throughout Atwater Village got a much needed “facelift” with funding from the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council (AVNC), the volunteer efforts from Friends of Atwater Village (FAV) and the artistic talents of Rafael Escamilla and Tom Hinds.
The mural restoration effort happened over a two week period in July 2008. Artists Rafael Escamilla and Tom Hinds restored graffiti abatement murals originally commissioned by FAV starting in 2000. The restored murals include “Atwater Ranch Market” mural at 3111 Glendale Blvd next to Starbucks, the “Blot the Blight” mural at 2707 Fletcher Dr at the corner of Larga Ave and Fletcher Drive, the “Trains Shaping History” mural at the corner of Casitas Ave and Fletcher Dr., and the “Past, Present and Future” at 3250 Silver Lake Blvd on the historic Vince’s Market building.The “Blot the Blight” mural at the corner of Fletcher Dr and Larga Ave was the most damaged and required the most time and effort to restore. Rafael and Tom used photos taken of the mural when it was first completed in 2001 to stay true to the original design.
In addition to the “facelift” all four murals received anti-graffiti coating to help preserve them for many more years.
These and other graffiti abatement murals commissioned by FAV have served Atwater Village well over the years in both helping abate continuous tagging that these sites were experiencing before the murals were painted and by beautifying our community with art and Atwater Village history.Over the years FAV has worked to maintain these community assets by painting off or removing graffiti quickly however the original grants used to commission the murals do not include funds for maintenance.
FAV continues its commitment to maintain these wonderful pieces of art thru donations from our members and Atwater Village residents, as well as generous funding and support of other community groups such as the AVNC, the Atwater / Griffith Park Chamber of Commerce, Atwater Village Residents Association, and the Atwater Rotary and Lions Clubs.
Friends of Atwater Village expresses its heartfelt thanks to the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council for its’ current mural restoration funding and for recognizing that the murals are an import community asset that are worthy of maintenance. The FAV Board also gives a special thanks to AVNC Co-Chairs Tim Warner and Roberta Javier and AVNC Treasurer Leonora Gershman for their continued support and guidance thru the AVNC funding process.For more information about the murals or to make a generous donation to help maintain the murals please visit FAV’s website at www.friendsofatwatervillage.org or call at 323.913.2999
