FROM FRESCO GAZETTE

By the People, For the People at the Weisman Thousands of artists received funds through the Works Progress Administration and other New Deal programs during the 1930s and early 1940s. Some of the artists became household names--Dorothea Lange, Edward Weston, and Cameron Booth, to name a few. Many others did not, but their work became part of the fabric of American culture in the form of post-office murals and handicrafts. By the People, For the People: New Deal Art at the Weisman offers up the full spectrum of work from this era. read more... Kent Twitchell reflects on a recent settlement and vandalism Strother Martin Monument 1972, artist Kent Twitchell Reading through some of the blogs responding to the LA Times story I see that there is still some misunderstanding about the graffiti issue. I only oppose spray paint when it is used to cover over murals or other public art. That is called vandalism and that alone is the reason "we cannot coexist" as I was correctly quoted as saying in the Times. It is the reason LA is no longer the mural capital. Once there were 2 - 3 thousand murals here and every one has been destroyed by spray paint. Either they were painted out because the vandalism became such a blight or they are still out there covered with spray paint and therefore just waiting to be coated over with beige paint. read more... Renowned Muralist Kent Twitchell Settles Art Desecration Lawsuit for $1.1 Million -Sheldon Mak Rose & Anderson spearheads settlement vindicating artists' rights 'This settlement sets an important precedent which will benefit other artists,' said Mr. Twitchell (faculty member of the Fresco School). 'This resolution makes it clear that when it comes to public art, you have to respect the artist's rights, or incur significant liability.' Both an artist and muralist, Mr. Twitchell is recognized for his larger-than-life realist mural portraits, often of celebrities and artists. read more... Fresco Painting - Introduction In it's essence, fresco or fresco painting is an - application of natural mineral pigments to a surface on which a following chemical reaction takes place: Ca(OH)2(s) + CO2(g) ----> CaCO3(s) + H2O(l) Calcium Hydrate (burned lime stone or marble mixed with water) combined with carbon dioxide resulting in the formation of Calcium Carbonate - lime stone, marble. It is like "Painting with molten Marble". read more... from the world fresco news - March 2008 A 1930s mural at SDSU, hidden for decades under ceiling tiles, is restored Mallios hopes to parlay the momentum of this mural's successful restoration into a fundraising campaign for the other mural. It's an egg-tempera fresco that depicts each stage of the local tuna industry, and features Portuguese fishermen in Point Loma, women on an assembly line processing the fish, and Asian merchants preparing to sell the cans. ____________________________________________________________________ Medieval times in California A beautiful fresco of the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth is painted above the hand-carved altar. There is the Great Hall, frescoed with medieval scenes and headed by a massive five centuries old hand-carved fireplace brought from Europe. Above the fireplace is a fresco of an imposing baron holding his coat-of-arms. read more...