The Times
April 3, 2008



LOS ANGELES A sorcerer in a hoody conjures a spray can in a mural, above, on a man-made riverbank in Los Angeles.

It is part of 10,000sq ft (930sq m) of graffiti art that the county wants removed after politicians complained that parts of it were obscene and attracted gang-related tags.

The project was approved by the city and last September Alex Poli, a graffiti specialist and gallery owner, organised a day for hundreds of muralists to work on the vast canvas as families brought their children to watch. Images such as an angel cradling a man, a besuited pig smoking marijuana and scantily clad women went up but Los Angeles County said that some were inappropriate and that Mr Poli had not kept his promise to keep the riverbank free of gang tags.

Last October the county told Friends of the Los Angeles River, which arranged permission for the murals, that it had 90 days to paint them over or pay $70,000 (£35,000) for their removal. Mr Moli is seeking legal help to fight off the county.

“It would be beautiful if the river went back to its natural state and was actually a river and a park,” said Mr Poli, “but right now we have concrete walls, so the next best thing is to beautify it with art.” (AP)

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