Friday Roundup: Gangnam Style Lives Edition

Happy Friday, and welcome to another edition of the public art news roundup. Any free brainspace I had this week was devoted to wondering why we are keeping Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill at all. The man has an (albeit contested) monument in his own public square, a statue in D.C., and a state park named after him, which in my opinion is altogether more than he deserves. Why keep him also hanging…

Kent Twitchell Repaints His “Freeway Lady” Mural 41 Years Later

12 years after artist Kent Twitchell painted Los Angeles’ favorite “Freeway Lady” overlooking the 101 freeway, it was erased by a billboard company. Originally painted in 1974, the mural is a tribute to the artist’s grandmother who lived in Hollywood. She is depicted holding a colorful, handmade afghan blanket that she gifted to Twitchell. In Hi-Fructose Vol. 37, we caught up with Twitchell during the piece’s restoration, which was recently completed on October 10th. In the article, Twitchell shared, “1974 was a long time ago. I’ve learned how to paint since then,” adding that repainting the mural has given him a chance to enhance it’s new location. Twitchell received special approval from the Los Angeles Valley College Public Art Committee to repaint her on the Student Services building facing Fulton Avenue (5800 Fulton Avenue,Valley Glen, CA 91401). Although she no longer looks over the south of the 101, the new “Freeway Lady” is here to stay. 

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12 years after artist Kent Twitchell painted Los Angeles’ favorite “Freeway Lady” overlooking the 101 freeway, it was erased by a billboard company. Originally painted in 1974, the mural is a tribute to the artist’s grandmother who lived in Hollywood. She is depicted holding a colorful, handmade afghan blanket that she gifted to Twitchell. In Hi-Fructose Vol. 37, we caught up with Twitchell during the piece’s restoration, which was recently completed on October 10th.