My dear frustrated young muralist,

Don't let your anger cloud your judgement on future possibilities. Yes, it is frustrating when a mural is defaced and everyone accepts this as a fact of life; it doesn't have to be this way. But it happens, and, in art and war, everything is fair game.

So intead knocking your head against the wall, turn this bad experience into a positive lesson, and then 'do something about it'. You are the creator so take care of your creation before conception.

Let me tell you what I have done when in similar situations: I have created several inner-city murals in my long career as a muralist. From the outset I acknowledge the fact that many creeps do roam the streets, so no public art is safe.

So my solution was to find some of these individuals (in my case they were gang members), and ask them to get involve in the project. I asked for their input, I respected their concerns (after all, you are using their back yard to show your art), and finally compromised with a design satisfactory to most.

You see, this is what makes a great muralist: creating a great piece inspite of the reservations and limitations place upon you. Without adversity great art never emerges.

To end my story, once the project was completed, not one act of vandalism was ever reported for over ten years (by then the mural had faded to the elements). So you can also turn things around same as I did in over a dozen ocassions.

I wish you the best on your next project and your current quest.

Sinceramente, John Rivera-Resto

john@muralmaster.org
www.muralmaster.org

"An art can only be learned in the workshops of those earning their bread by it." -Samuel Butler