Statement from the Artist:
9.19.2011
End Mural Moratorium. Art Is Not A Crime…
The reason I hired five jet planes to sky write over City Hall and downtown Los Angeles is to bring awareness to how ridiculous a moratorium on public art is.
The city states that all public murals are signage, effectively banning art from the walls of Los Angeles. And it is removed at the taxpayers’ expense. Money is given to private graffiti removal companies, who have broken onto private property to paint murals beige. The owners of small businesses where murals have been painted have been harassed and threatened with fines if they do not remove the artwork. Police officers raid homes and places of work, intimidating artists and building owners. During this time of economic crisis, “mural signs” are an easy target for the city to extract money. This moratorium is a clear violation of the first amendment right to free speech and enforcement for these unreasonable laws is a complete waste of taxpayer funds.
To put things in perspective I recently visited the beautiful set of murals inside the Terminal Annex Building on Alameda. This mural was painted in 1941-44 and was funded by the “Works Progress Administration” (WPA). Murals are just a part of the legacy of a national program that put the country to work during the Great Depression.
Fast-forward to the Great Recession, taxpayer money is now used to obliterate all traces of the artwork my generation have created. I believe this is city-funded censorship pushed by lawmakers with personal vendettas. Potential jail time is more probable for us than the opportunity of creating an artistic legacy for the next generation. In a city that used to proudly call itself the “Mural Capitol Of The World,” the officials who enforce this ban should be ashamed to call themselves “Angelinos.”
Art Is Not A Crime… End Mural Moratorium.
- SABER
Tell Mayor Villagaigosa and the L.A. City Attorney’s office to end the mural moratorium now:
Long War on Public Art in Los Angeles County
Click on the links below for more information:
* Mural Ordinance Update to the Cultural Affairs Commission
Heal the Bay House (Santa Monica – 2011) photo: saberone.com
* The ‘Heal The Bay House’ was created to by Risk and Retna raise awareness for Coastal Cleanup day. RESTORE AND PROTECT THE WORLDS OCEANS is written in complex lettering on bands of color representing sky, pollution and water. A spokesperson for Heal the Bay called it “a powerful and beautiful way of reminding people of the value of the ocean,” but not everyone agreed. The day the artwork was unveiled, the city ordered an immediate take down and demanded a $5000 a day fine. Saber was on the scene to describe the cops initial response. While many in the upscale community wanted it to stay up longer, public pressure succeeded in keeping the artwork up through Costal Cleanup day.
* Despite the ban on murals, the Art District of downtown Los Angeles remains a “Haven for ‘Street’ Murals”
Fairfax Avenue Mural by Renta, Rime, Revok, Norm, Os Gemeos, Saber. Photo by Melrose and Fairfax
* One week before the opening of MoCA blockbuster exhibition Art in the Streets, a private contractor working for the city of Los Angeles broke into fenced private property to buff a mural by several artists featured in the upcoming controversial show. The building owner and surrounding community were furious and stopped the whitewash halfway across the mural. The contractor was forced to come back the next day remove the dull beige paint.
* A North Hollywood woman on a fixed income commissioned a 75 ft. mural to brighten the alley next to her home, but Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety inspectors concluded that a single word included in the fanciful swirls and other spray-painted designs turned the piece into an illegal “sign.” Facing mounting fees and unable to pay $10,000 for a permit, she was forced to have it painted over. One of the young men who painted it over said “Instead of this, the city ought to be fixing potholes. Let the art survive.”
* The owner of the Studio City Car Wash had an artist paint The Great Wall of Studio City but the 64-foot-long mural is threatened with a $1,000-a-day fine for violating city codes.
* City council panel’s take on the ‘mural vs. commercial sign’ debate in June of 2010
* Private residents commissioned the artist, Phil Lumbang to paint this cheerful mural on the front wall of their home, but the city’s Building & Safety Department found the mural violated the city’s restrictions on outdoor advertisements and they were told they must paint over the illegal mural. A commenter said “I live just up the street from this house and I miss the mural every time I pass by.”
* Despite protests, as of 2009 murals continue to be outlawed.
* The SABER piece in the LA River, with reputation for being the largest graffiti piece had drawn admirers from around the world for 12 years before it was buffed by the Army Corps of Engineers and city sub-contractors.
* In 2007, the graffiti gallery Crewest, along with help from the activist group Friends of the L.A. River (FoLAR) organized “Meeting of Styles: LA.” The event brought together over 100 graffiti artists to spray paint a 10,000 square foot section of the L.A. River at the Arroyo Seco Confluence in Highland Park. Despite the fact that the organizers secured all necessary permits for the mural project, and that the event was fully licensed by the county; supervisor Gloria Molina objected to the work after the fact and introduced an emergency measure to the County Board of Supervisors that forced the mural to be whitewashed from the flood walls. A spokeswoman for Molina called the legal graffiti murals a “public nuisance and a potential safety hazard,” and justified Molina’s decision to introduce the mural’s removal by saying the county was “trying to save lives.”
* It wasn’t always like this, back in the 1970’s more than 400 mural productions were supported through the Citywide Murals Program under the Department of Recreation and Parks before the program was disbanded. The non-profit SPARC (Social and Public Art Resource Center) was founded in the spirit of work like The Great Wall of Los Angeles.
A view of “America Tropical,” partly whitewashed. (Credit: PBS)
* Of course, this sort of thing has a long history in Los Angeles. In 1932, David Alfaro Siqueiros painted America Tropical in a rooftop beer garden on Olvera Street. The mural’s centerpiece featured a crucified Indian, hovered over by an imperial American eagle. The part of the offending mural that could be seen from the street was covered almost immediately; the rest was whitewashed within a year.
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SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Obey, The Seventh Letter, Upper Playground, Juxtapoz Magazine , Willie T, and the amazing people at Worldwide Sky Advertising
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Radio Interviews With Saber On The Project And Petition:
KCRW Which Way, L.A.? Interview
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Your message is well taken…ART IS NOT A CRIME!!! Big ups on that man!!! Good job at subverting the MEDIA INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX and bringing the truth to the people…even though for some it may litteraly go right “over thier heads”…for others this will be a source of inspiration…END THE WARS (art wars, drug wars, property wars, blood wars…etc…..)
Thank you for doing this.
Buy your own damn wall and paint it. Paint mine, and it’s a crime.
[...] Artist Statement: [...]
What youre doing is awesome bro! Wish I could help out in anyway!
Awesome job, don’t stop. The moratorium will end and art will go on. Legalize street art.
sign the petition.
revolution!!!
[...] in protest of the mural moratorium plaguing the city. Here’s what Saber had to say on his blog [...]
The Department of City Planning is currently working on updating a mural ordinance, which will correct the moratorium and inspire the creation of more murals. The person to talk to over there is Tanner Blackman.
Tell him I sent you.
-Will Wright.
More info here:
http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/departures/before-paint-comes-paperwork-murals-as-seen-by-code-breakers-34724.html
http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/departures/before-paint-comes-paperwork-murals-as-seen-by-code-breakers-34724.html
YO, Obliter8U…….Thats the whole fucken point! Home owners and business owners are NOT ALLOWED to paint their own property. YOU WILL BE FINED AND THREATENED WITH JAIL TIME IF YOU DONT COMPLY AND REMOVE YOUR MURAL. YOU’RE not even allowed to paint your own wall!!! (MORON)
moron? your dad is a moron you moron! thats my point! fuck yalls art!
LA juggernauts should talk to Mural Arts Program in Philly…seriously.
[...] SABER on Twitter and stay informed on the situation regarding public art in Los Angeles HERE. Even we at The Hundreds have been hit by L.A.’s moratorium after REVOK and RISK painted our [...]
Next time, skywrite ThePrimeSpot.com and let’s put YOU on the homepage!
Keep it Up guys! It’s artists such as yourself that inspire me to wake up in the morning and do what I enjoy!
[...] the sky in protest to the lock down and censorship of street art. “Saber said in a blog post that he decided to tag the sky to “bring awareness to how ridiculous a moratorium on public [...]
[...] Media, I’ve got to admit, I like the retro sky writing medium chosen by Saber to air his grievances at Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. City Attorney’s office over the mural [...]
[...] his site, SABER goes on to explain his reasons for the protest: The reason I hired five jet planes to sky [...]
Be honest Saber.A large part of the reason that we have lost most of the existing murals in Los Angeles is BECAUSE of graffiti vandals. The city doesnt have the man power or the money to correct murals that are repeatedly defaced by spray paint. Vandals target murals because they know the mark will be in place for a while. To simplify the process the city paints the wall grey it makes quick easy clean up. A new mural, more graffiti covers it. Who is really to blame for the loss of murals in Los Angeles?
[...] ART IS NOT A CRIME…END THE MURAL MORATORIUM [...]
[...] http://saberone.com/blog/2011/09/19/art-is-not-a-crime%E2%80%A6end-the-mural-moratorium/ [...]
[...] through his SMOKE SIGNALS project which happened the other day in L.A. So, go check out his blog post about the various instances of the city taking down or painting over amazing works of art. These [...]
[...] out some more photos here and here and read up on SABER’s thoughts on the historical effect this city-wide moratorium on public art has had on L…. Share this:EmailFacebookRedditDiggStumbleUpon UP THERE: a documentary about mural painters [...]
The city of los angeles is way too fuckin dramatic when it comes to the amount of money they need to spend on cleaning graffiti. Theres no way it costs 1 million to clean sabers piece. Keep doing what your doimg saber! Fuck the cops, and everyone who says graffiti isnt art!
Graffiti is the cause of this disturbance….Graffiti is not intended to be nice….it is a negative waste of time that destroys.
I have no respect for graffiti. Art is something of TALENT, patience, skill, and a vision.
Most true artists have the respect to not destroy someone else’s property, For artists are respectful for the most part.
Ego minded fools are the ones to blame.
And now it is the good ones who get punished, all because of the stigma the graffiti has caused.
Graffiti has transcended vandalism. And I realize that it is difficult for the average Joe or average artist to understand the complexity in the works and politics of the Graffiti artists world, But I can promise you Saber is truly an inspiration. I hope LA never looses him!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the pic of “America Tropical” Thanks. Keep on keepin’ on.
[...] http://saberone.com/blog/2011/09/19/art-is-not-a-crime%E2%80%A6end-the-mural-moratorium/ [...]
I support the arts in all forms.This issue is one I will support and bring to the attention of the Art students I work with at UTPA here in Texas.
just keep on painting man…and ill be happy
Orbiter8u il rip your head off cunt
As a love of art, I’m heartbroken to see photos of these beautiful pieces of art being covered in beige paint?? Sickening. There are worse things in the world than art…c’mon LA.
@dama — by your statement, it’s obvious you have NO clue as to what graffiti is. Study your subject before you preach on it, or else you end up sounding ignorant.
[...] This past Monday my friend Matt sent me a text to, “Look outside up in the sky. Taking tagging to the next level.” I grabbed my camera and went outside not knowing what to expect. When I walked outside the sky was filled with lettering blowing away with the wind. Soon after, five planes flying in unison came into sight writing a new message. The message was indecipherable, but with a quick twitter search I learned it was the work of graffiti artist Saber. Saber hired five planes to, “bring awareness to how ridiculous a moratorium on public art is.” You can read more about his reasons on his site. [...]
[...] of America, here’s an amazingly creative exercise in freedom of speech. Anyone else catch Saber’s project earlier this week? The city’s been crackin down on anything graffiti related lately [...]
[...] you probably know, on Monday (9.17) Saber AWR took his campaign to end LA’s mural moratorium to the skies directly above City Hall via 5 sky writing planes. For all of those who weren’t [...]
[...] experience. The project was done as part of ending LA’s moratorium on public art. Go to Saber’s site to sign the petition to end the [...]
[...] the skywriting and an official press release below. To show your official support of his movement go here and sign his petition to end the mural moratorium in [...]
[...] For more information on the history of murals in Los Angeles and the effed upness going on check out this site [...]
[...] Estria himself has made an effort to help another fellow artist, Saber to put the word about this moratorium on murals. One such organization being affected by this city-wide ordinance is environmental group, Heal the [...]
[...] molto originale. Inoltre, sul suo sito si può firmare una petizione contro il ridicolo moratorium. Firma, fallo! Posted by ada Sunday 25 September 2011 Categories: Arte, News, video. ← Ecology of [...]
What does the picture of Heal the Bay House with some strange symbols mean?
Great article! Good cause! Canada is with you Saber (and all other artists)!
The symbols on the Heal the Bay house are stylized letters by the artist Retna.
The text from top to bottom:
OCEANS AT RISK
HEAL THE BAY
SEA SHEPHERD
MAD SOCIETY
And in the front:
RESTORE AND PROTECT THE WORLDS OCEANS
[...] more check out Saber’s blog. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]
graffiti will not die as long as thers strong beleivers in the movement and innovators to amaze. Im part of this creative culture and I can tell anyone that nobodys gona stop me frum doin my graffiti and my art ima writer to tha bone and I hate seeing the laws getting ridiculous out n LA about paintings on a wall. art is not a crime don’t let these fuckn square ass people decide wat art were allowed and not allowed to see that shit is wrong. madd props to saber standing up!
I spoke to students about this, to please take photos of any good graffiti, to collect the artwork digitally before it is removed.
[...] He also introduced a video of an event that was organized by Saber to bring awareness to end the Mural Moratorium in LA. (and to big up their crew and fallen [...]
[...] introduced a video(see below) of an event that was organized by Saber to bring awareness to end the Mural Moratorium in LA. (and to big up their crew and fallen [...]
[...] You can read more of SABER’s thoughts on the “Mural Moratorium” on his blog. [...]
Just hit up Banksy next to your tag and WALLA Legal.
Please leave the murals up. Street art is the people’s art and is accessible to everyone in the city, not just the few that choose to visit or have access to museums and galleries. It is a shame that the murals are being covered as they are a large part of our culture in this country and have their own place in history.
Luckily i was able to take pics before the destruction of our world once again…. not knowing this one was at the cented of attention…hope this brings to life the memories and beauty of OUR CULTURE !!!!!!!
[...] you probably know, on Monday (9.17) Saber AWR took his campaign to end LA’s mural moratorium to the skies directly above City Hall via 5 sky writing planes. For all of those who weren’t [...]
[...] Despite the words that have been exchanged and the actions taken, the parties involved are now focusing on a common enemy, the moratorium on murals in Los Angeles. If you would like to learn more about the LA’s ban on murals and public art, there is a detailed account of the city’s troubled history with public art on Saber’s blog here. [...]
I just wanted to give you props for sticking up for artists in la and all over the world, stay up!!
i like the Art is not a crime video its all true Art is not a crime its a way to express your self fuck the law still hitting them streets!!!
[...] south rap. To find out more info on this subject please visit this page about Temporary gold teeth. LeeQuinoneswas a graffiti artist who abandoned painting his murals on the subway trains and began pa…e. 1 of his graffiti murals carried a message against country states competing in weapon collection. [...]
[...] > more about the petition here [...]
Why not sidestep the whole BS law altogether by creating MOSAICS pieced together from bits of tile, glass, etc., instead of painted-on MURALS? Or how about using a pressure-washer to create a design, by selectively *removing* years of dirt from the exterior of a building? Or creating an elaborate trellis for vines to grow up and around to form the design? It seems as if the LA City Council has painted the City’s artists into a corner by getting them too preoccupied with the medium of paint! “If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers!” — Thomas Pynchon
[...] time last year graffiti artist Saber hired five jet planes to fly over the skies of Los Angeles to bring awareness to the masses of the mural m…. SABER’s passion and ambition has now brought him to another cause: Informing us about [...]
[...] this matter very personally after his last encounter with Los Angeles’ city government and the mural moratorium. He’s planning on using the same tactic – sky writing – to draw attention to the [...]
[...] został wsparty finansowo m.in. przez Sheparda Fairey’a i serwis Twitter [więcej: TU i TU]. Otagowanie nieba miało miejsce nad ratuszem miejskim, który w 2007r. przeforsował [...]
“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” – Cesar Cruz
Great information. Lucky me I discovered your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve book-marked it for later!