Decatur Preservation Commission to Hear Presentation on Living Walls Project

I’ve received a lot of notes about a Decatur Historic Preservation Committee presentation at 6:30p regarding the Living Walls mural on the side of the old Paste two-story commercial building at East Howard and N. Candler, thanks to a couple posts on Living Walls’ Facebook page, which read…

Advocacy Alert! Decatur City Hall: Public Hearing on Living Walls Mural … Some neighbors are trying to have the mural erased! (See also picture below.) 6:30PM TONIGHT!

“Hmm”, I thought to myself.  That seems sort of impossible, because the one thing that preservation ordinances can’t usually regulate is paint color.  A note from the city’s Planning Director Amanda Thompson confirms my suspicions and explains what the meeting will actually entail…

The hearing tonight is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Living Walls project. Some residents in the Old Decatur local historic district have had questions about the project and requested an opportunity to comment and learn more about it. The preservation commission does not have the authority to remove the mural or change its design.

So there you are then.  Some folks in the Old Decatur Historic District may be displeased with the project, but no one can actually force anyone to remove the mural.

Photo courtesy of Living Walls Facebook page

132 thoughts on “Decatur Preservation Commission to Hear Presentation on Living Walls Project”


  4. Decatur City Hall to meet tonight concerning Living Walls
    Posted by Wyatt Williams on Tue, Aug 16, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    COURTESY BURNAWAY
    Freddy Sam and Ever’s collaborative work
    A public hearing will be held tonight at Decatur City Hall to discuss a mural recently commissioned by the LIving Walls conference. The piece, a large collaborative work by Freddy Sam and Ever located on 302 East Howard Ave., caught the attention of Decatur’s Historic Preservation Commission, whose stated goal is to “ensure that renovations and new construction in Decatur’s four Local Historic Districts are consistent with the character of the neighborhood.” Living Walls Lecture Series Curator Joshua Rackliffe says that the neighborhood’s reaction to the work has been mixed.

    CL spoke Linda Harris, Assistant Director of City of Decatur Community & Economic Development, earlier this morning about the meeting, which she says is simply a small issue of miscommunication. Harris worked with the Living Walls conference to bring artists into Decatur and integrate the project with Decatur’s public arts program. She says that she expects the meeting tonight to explain the Living Walls project and share a dialogue that puts the neighborhood, Historic Preservation Commission, and city all on the same page, but not to determine the fate of the mural. Harris notes that while the Commission has a say in certain aspects of renovations and construction, window frames or signage for example, decisions about paint rest solely with the property owner, Bruce Cohen, who approved the project.

    Living Walls organizers are encouraging people to attend the meeting and share their feelings about the work. The meeting gets started tonight, Tues. Aug. 16, at 6:30 pm in the Decatur City Hall’s commission meeting room, located at 509 North McDonough St.

    (H/T to BurnAway’s Living Walls coverage)

    1. Yeah, that’s the CL post that was also just posted…

      http://clatl.com/culturesurfing/archives/2011/08/16/decatur-city-hall-to-meet-tonight-concerning-living-walls

  6. Actually, DM, although paint colors generally are not regulated by most historic preservation commissions, changes to building surfaces that impact the original fabric, like painting a previously unpainted masonry surface, can be regulated because it is a treatment that is inconsistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation: “Applying paint or other coatings such as stucco to masonry that has been historically unpainted or uncoated to create a new appearance.”

    1. Good point. But it’d have to be indicated in the ordinance right? All I can find in Decatur’s is this:

      “Exterior paint colors are not subject to review. (Note: the use of transparent stains as an exterior finish on siding or trim is not recommended.) ”

      Will change the wording in my post a bit, but it doesn’t really affect this property since that wall was painted cream previously.

      1. You are talking “colors” not the application of new finishes. Most broadly, this means painting/repainting a wall that previously would have been painted. It appears you are quoting from the design guidelines, to which the code refers for implementation of the law. Ultimately, all local ordinances, like Decatur’s, rely on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. These are adapted to local conditions but basically reflect the same preservation goals: to protect and preserve original building fabric and prevent adverse effects by introducing new materials, etc. By painting a brick wall, however temporary, a person may be creating a situation where the masonry (brick, mortar) could become damaged by water. Efforts to remove the paint completely would also damage the building fabric.

        Now that said, I think the murals are great. My only concern is that misinformation about historic preservation has been spread via social media and blogs. My understanding is that this always has been a courtesy briefing and was never a regulatory action. By describing it as a “hearing” some writers have mischaracterized the item on tonight’s agenda.

        1. I was actually quoting the ordinance, not the design guidelines.

          In this case, the wall was already painted prior to the mural, so that rule doesn’t apply here, correct?

          1. Possibly. I’m only familiar with the wall from a distance. But in any case, tonight’s presentation was not about a certificate of appropriateness or any other regulatory review so essentially all of the fuss has been about nothing, fueled by rumors spread on Facebook and Twitter.

          2. BTW, DM, now that I am on a computer that plays nice with the municode site, it does appear that you are quoting from the guidelines, not §58-86 of the Decatur Code. And, about the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, §58-88 states, “When considering applications for certificates of appropriateness to existing buildings, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s ‘Standards for Historic Preservation Projects, including the Secretary’s ‘Standards for Rehabilitation’ shall be used as a guideline along with any other criteria adopted by the preservation commission.”

            But it’s good to have this conversation to help correct any misunderstandings about historic preservation. HP gets a bad rap all too often and it’s because of bad information and rumors.

  8. Say it with me now: Variety!

    Very happy to hear this. Of all the things that can become progressively suckier when subjected to committee decision making, art is the worst. Glad to see the value of personal expression is still alive and well in Decatur. Another reason to love our fine city.

  10. I love this mural. Eventually, over time, the paint will disintegrate and then the wall will be back to its old “historic color.” I think the artwork is outstanding, and I intend to make a special trek down there to see it for myself. Now if only Banksy would come to Decatur, we could have lots MORE good street art.

      1. I got lucky last August while walking around in Chinatown and came along a street where the side wall of a bakery had been gifted with a painting by Banksy. They had put plexiglas over it to protect it as best they could, and a sign saying PLEASE help us preserve this painting by the famous Banksy. Serendipity is always my best friend when traveling! I was absolutely thrilled to see the painting and have my photo taken by one of the other admirers viewing it. I hope it is still there!

      2. San Francisco Chinatown is where I saw it… forgot to say that, as if there is only one Chinatown in the world!!

  12. I believe the mural is unattractive in the extreme. I live in the Old Decatur local historic district, and while I will have to look at it a lot, for probably along time, I will defend the right of the property owner to put an ugly picture on his building if that’s what he wants to do with it. As Goethe said, “Enjoy when you can, endure when you must.”

    1. I agree with you, Zip. The mural is not to my liking (to be honest, I wouldn’t know good “art” if it bit me on the a$$), but I would also defend the property owner’s right to paint it.

  14. ARGHHHHH! I don’t care what you want to paint on a wall, you never ever never paint lovely aged old brick like this. WTF is wrong with you people?
    Whatever it is, please keep your “art” on your side of the city limits.

    1. A first world problem, indeed. Isn’t it such a privilege to be able to make such outspoken claims when you cannot justify it constructively? To simply brand something as ugly without regards to composition, intention, cultural significance, creativity, labor, etc etc etc is a narrow, uninspired attempt at art criticism. There is no city ordinance of Decatur that demands your eyeway be consistently directed at this wall, so if you don’t prefer it: look away.

      The magic of Living Walls was temporarily clouded by a group of unqualified critics. Dissent and opinions are healthy, but sometimes (and in this case) baseless. Perhaps it boils down to generational divides, aesthetic preferences, etc but what everyone needs to recognize is the mural serves as our liaison to a global community of human beings that is so much larger and more important than a few tired statements.

      Go Living Walls! And although some may refer to it as rumors and unnecessary drama, the community response to preserve the mural is inspiring, motivational, and reflective of the potential that Atlanta, Decatur, and our communities have.

      3. I think the art in this case, like a tattoo, will in 5 years or so be seen as a ” what were we thinking?” and be promptly removed.
        My assessment: The style seems to be a graduate class rendering of the basic graffiti we see on the train as it passes the railroad yards off of Dekalb Ave. Harmless but hardly timeless.

        Also, for historical “correctness” the brick was probably not painted when the building was new… who painted brick back then? that’s why one would put up brick, so they didn’t have to paint the building.

        Ah well…. so much else to do…. investments tanking, Congress incompetent, President in over his head….let’s talk about this some more!! :))

  18. Yes, as someone who worked on this project – I do want to clarify that the brick was already painted an off-white color. We did not paint over the original brick. If someone wanted it restored to it’s “original” look before the mural they would just repaint it off-white.

    It seems that a lot of people aren’t aware of this, showing how ignored/overlooked these “treasured” historic spaces often are. We are happy we were able to bring new life to an important buliding, and we thank the city of Decatur for all of your support! The mural is a beautiful expression of intercultural communication and inspiration (just my personal opinion)

    1. Thank you for your efforts, Sarah.

      I like having the murals around town a great deal, even if they don’t line up with my aesthetic perfectly. This is a city that claims to value diversity, and truly useful diversity isn’t based on race or income, but on a diversity of perspective that can show something that the majority might not see.

      What’s the point of art, if not to challenge us a bit? Should we have hired Thomas Kinkade instead?

      2. Agreed. I’m sure some find the mural on the (former) Johnny’s Pizza building tacky in the extreme (I love it), but it beats the hell out of the bland, monotonous “niceness” you find in many places in metro ATL.

        2. That is because Joey Ramone is a magical force capable of transcending all differences. Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you ONE OF US!

  20. What is the meaning of the symbol with the one triangle inside the other? Could you please explain what the painting represents as far as a liason to global community? Thanks.

  22. If the Decatur Hysterical Commission even tries to do anything out of their authority here, as they have tried to do before, I hope the City Commission will knock them back again, as they’ve done before.

  24. The other week, a poster made a comment (in response to another poster) along the following lines: “Will you not rest until anyone and everything different, eccentric or quirky has been run out of Decatur?” (I’m paraphrasing, but I’m sure the poster will recognize his remark.) That really resonated with me, and this discussion brought it back to the forefront of my mind. Am I the only one who finds it ironic that, in their zeal to preserve what some believe to be the “character” of Decatur, the anti-mural folk seem intent on stepping on everyone else’s idea of what that character is? While I get that this mural isn’t everyone’s cuppa, I would hate for the trepidation of a few naysayers to spread to the point where this town loses all of its “flavor”, with something for everyone. Isn’t that what most people love about Decatur? I don’t have anything against historic presesrvation, but I also don’t want to live in a stuffy, pristine museum of a neighborhood, nor a clone of suburbia. Can’t we all just get along?

      1. I do, actually– it’s got an almost fey quality to it that really appeals to me for reasons I can’t even explain.

  26. This mural is terrible. I can’t believe somebody actually approved it.

    One man’s opinion here, and I’m probably in the minority, but did anyone ever stop and think that a painted white brick wall is more significant than artwork that has no meaning? To me, there was something charming about the painted white brick – the wall had history. Now there is no history, just a lot of people saying, “What in the world is that?”

    2. @ Bulldog. So let’s talk poetry: to you a blank piece of paper is preferable to a poem you don’t understand?
      (Not having meaning and not being understood are two very different things; most poetry–like art–the reader/viewer brings most of the meaning to the experience, therefore the onus is on you to apply meaning to the mural. Or you can just hate it, say it doesn’t mean anything to you, but you cannot say it doesn’t mean anything.)

    3. Dog has trouble understanding human artistic natures. Our ancestors, the cave dwellers, made art on their walls. That’s historical. Dogs don’t decorate.

  28. I personally think it is great. I was just thinking on my drive home yesterday how these painting are just another reason to show of this great city of ours to my out of town guests.

  30. I think the message on the top of the building says it all… Inspire each other.

    LOVE the mural as well as its relatives all over town.

  32. I give up. If you honestly think ‘Dead Oprah’ is art, who am I to argue? Paint every flat surface in Decatur with crap art and when the artists run out of “ideas”, there is always See Rock City.

    1. You give up? Who made you the judge of what is “crap art” and what is good art? So, if you liked the mural, you would not have a problem with them painting it? I don’t necessarily think this particular mural does anything for me either, but I think it is nice to have instead of a black wall. It brings more character and charm to our already great city.

        1. No. I’m serious. For years I saw the signs, billboards, and bird houses and always wondered. Finally, I went there with my then girl-friend and nephews. The views were fantastic, the walking was fun, the kitchy art in caves was interesting, and it’s an all around good time.

      1. What in that mural depicts or resembles “dead oprah”? Is that the only famous black person you could think of? Maybe you should visit the High; they have some art paintings of dead people you might appreciate more.

        1. I was actually quoting the original post. And another made by the same poster earlier.

      2. – What do you mean you people?

        — What do YOU mean you people??

        lol that movie was great

        i know who i am! i’m the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude!

    5. AMB, if you are so irritated with the way we do things in Decatur, don’t come. You often express annoyance at and disapproval of what goes on here, and since you don’t live in our fair city, you have the freedom to go elsewhere. Not criticizing or anything; truly wondering. I think it is a fair question considering the tenor of these posts and previous snark towards Decatur…

      2. Missy, you don’t get to throw me out of where I have lived far longer than you. Where my grandfather had a nice restaurant a long time before your overpriced beer joints.
        Wall art is crap art. I believe it and I say it. If any of these designs were airbrushed on a t shirt, you would be making fun of the wearer.

        Instead of lambasting me, Decaturites should be asking themselves, is this the best we can do? I see no theatre, no movie houses, no art museums of note here. Random wall graffiti is all you poor souls have. And you defend it. Rather pitiful.

        1. Now, I like Twizzlers as much as the next guy, but, really, at some point you have to just put them away.

        3. Being somewhere “first” – or your grandfather’s business being around here – doesn’t give you some sort of free pass to continue to criticize what the people of this city choose to do.

          I have been in city of Decatur since the 80s, I own a home and I pay taxes in the city, but that doesn’t mean I am trying to “kick you out” of anything. I am merely inquiring why you always feel it necessary to come on here and post veiled and not-so-veiled negative comments about our city and the people in it. These murals aren’t affecting your home, your life or your property value in any way- if they are bothering you, it’s the choice you’ve made to focus on them.

          If your entire persona in this forum is based on a negative opinion of Decatur, don’t expect a free pass when you are on a blog people mostly by people in the city or proud to be associated with it. I have noticed this tendency in your posts quite often, and it bothers me. Don’t dish it if you can’t take it and don’t be critical if you can’t be criticized.

          1. “These murals aren’t affecting your home, your life or your property value in any way.”

            I would argue that murals have a positive affect on home values.

              1. It’s common sense.

                I would have considered putting more effort into convinving you if you hadn’t used the veiled, but still obnoxious insult of “bless your heart.”

                1. Exactly; I’ve wanted for a while now to replace that “bless your…” with a “aww, go to hell…” in the same tone of voice.

        4. “Random wall graffiti is all you poor souls have.”

          You are so incredibly ignorant to what your surroundings have to offer.

          Do you know what an art gallery is? I didn’t think so. Take a stroll, open your eyes, you will see local artists and art everywhere. (It doesn’t look like the framed Starry Night poster hanging in your bathroom, but it’s there)

          You need an AMC to justify your artsy existence? OK, well, that’s too bad. I would encourage you to learn about Decatur Docs. Warning, no big budget films, so obviously their selection would disappoint you.

          Ever heard of the Decatur Book Festival?

          The city has accomplished much over the years, and it’s an amazing work in progress. If you’re too blind to see it now, and see where it’s headed, then Nellie was right on the mark.

        5. AMB- How about focusing your energies on constructive solutions to the things that irk you? Otherwise, you’re just another person b!tching, but not acting, making you one of the problems, problems, problems!

          [ And open your sights a bit wider. While you’re checking out the places Rebeccab named, also add PushPush, Onstage Atlanta (Suburban Plaza), Agnes Scott, and the Decatur Library to your list.]

        6. Actually, I and many of my 40-50-something, professional, tax paying and yes, fashionable friends would be THRILLED to have such a mural on our shirts and on our walls.

  34. It’s funny. Earlier today I went back and posted on the piece done in Oakhurst. i had waited until it was complete to give my opinion. To summarize, I’m not a fan of that work. Now, the one pictured here I think is fantastic. Some things you like, some things you don’t. Guess that’s the way it is and none of it upsets me.

    What does upset me a bit is someone who calls themself an artist and then calls others “unqualified critics.” Everyone, in my opinion, is a qualified critic since in the end art is simply about what you like. If your art is just for you and your educated friends, then don’t put it on a 30×50 ft. wall! Put it on a wall, and the world is your critic.

    1. I was thinking the same exact thing, DM. I wonder if art should be added to the list of things never to discuss in polite company. Like politics, religion and income. 🙂

      Something else I’ve noticed in this post is that, no matter what you say, someone will have a problem with it.

      As I said before, I’m not a fan of the mural. But it does liven things up a bit, doesn’t it?!

      1. Don’t forget the most taboo topic of all: personal finances.

        Go ahead and ask someone at a cocktail party how much money they’ve stocked away in their 401k and you’ll probably get a look (or a right to the jaw) similar to asking: “So, how’s the sex life?”

        1. So how’s your 401k and how’s your sex life? Both questions have only one of the same two answers.

              1. I laughed out loud. Reminded me of that one line from “Patch Adams” (paraphrased): “Let’s go check out the maternity ward – you /know/ those girls put out…

  38. In the suburbs they have rules, lots of rules. They dictate what gardening materials you can use in your yard, what colors you can paint your house, how long your grass can grow – some even require you to park your car in the garage at night or face fines.

    In historical districts they have rules, lots of rules.

    I hate rules – especially ones that force conformity and champion a narrow viewpoint.

    Keep Decatur free.

    Up with murals. Down with historic districts.

    1. I agree. I don’t live in decatur, but it is the closest to suburbia that I will ever go. I came by to check out the murals and liked them both. (oakhurst too)

      It is my understanding that decatur city officials contacted LW WANTING to be included this year.

      Decatur’s is the only mural out of the dozens that were put up that have caused public ire, which I think speaks volumes about the community.

      If you want a boring, cookie cutter city move to kennesaw.

      And if you think you can do a better job then contact monica and get into the next living walls

      1. I agree with your “speaks volumes about the community”, but probably not in the way you’re implying.

        For better or worse, many/most Decaturites love their community. That spans everything from the buildings to the general vibe. Basically, you’re hearing from Decatur residents because people actually care about this place, and surprisingly we don’t all agree on everything all the time. You’re focusing on the negative, but there’s plenty of positive written in this post too. A wise man once said, “the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference”.

        If Living Walls artists are looking for a lack of passionate reply about their paintings, they could easily find parts of Atlanta where no one cares about any of the buildings and go crazy. You won’t hear any public ire, I guarantee it.

        Also, if artists associated with Living Walls want to mitigate negative feedback – as seems to be the case from some of the artist responses here – another avenue would have been to work with the city to get the word out before you started painting. I think the shock of many new environments all over the city with no warning, upped the emotional response. Decaturites are used to knowing what’s going on, from the ultra-freaky to the mundane.

        If the intention was to make some members of the community uncomfortable by making these sudden changes, fine. But own it.

        1. “If Living Walls artists are looking for a lack of passionate reply about their paintings, they could easily find parts of Atlanta where no one cares about any of the buildings and go crazy. You won’t hear any public ire, I guarantee it.”

          I’m speculating, but maybe the other places don’t have a great outlet like this for their opinions.

        2. Are you asking the artists, the property owners or the city to own it?

          Murals are painted all of the time here in Decatur and everywhere, with and without notice to the community. For example, I didn’t get notice when the public art piece by the playground went on the wall — isn’t it a children’s memorial to September 11, 2001, a topic that could make some people uncomfortable and get others really worked up?!

          On another note, I love the murals — and I love that artists, the property owners and the city wanted these murals right here in Decatur.

          I’m also saddened that some people seem unappreciative, especially to the artists, so I want to say thanks to everyone involved. Many of my friends who aren’t on DM love the project, too!

          1. I was just saying if shock-value was part of the point of the project, then the people who set it up should accept the good with the bad. But from what I’ve heard, it was probably just a lack of communication.

            To be fair to the Living Walls folks, there aren’t many areas in metro Atlanta like Decatur when it comes to the webs of communication between residents, the city, business owners, etc, so they may just have found themselves in a position where what worked before, didn’t work here.

            They didn’t HAVE to give notice, but if people are just as upset about the reaction as the art itself, I was just saying that better communication may have helped.

      2. “I don’t live in decatur, but it is the closest to suburbia that I will ever go.” Well at least YOU have an open mind.

        You sound like the judgemental suburbanites you apparently despise.

        1. You are right. I should have an open mind.

          I grew up in suburbia, in kennesaw mind you.

          There is a reason I moved… That I have a open mind,
          That I “despise” those with a closed mind means I have a closed mind?
          ever heard of a straw man arguement?

          1. I’m trying to find the straw man here…nope, still don’t see it. Pointing out someone’s apparent intolerance to intolerance is not building a straw man–a lot of folks will call up the straw man argument when they don’t have an answer or an argument, therefore building their straw man.

            http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/hasty-generalization.html (all suburbanites are closed-minded)

            http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/relativist-fallacy.html (I’m not like them–I’m special and different and better)

            1. hasty generalization – I wouldn’t call a decade hasty

              relativist fallacy – I really can’t see what you mean here

              do you actually know what these mean, or are you posting them hoping no one will know what you are talking about?

              the straw man is the statement that I am close minded

              1. He stated that you sounded as close minded as the suburbanites you were accusing of being close minded–not a straw man, an inductive observation given that you yourself said you came from suburbia (relativistic fallacy: somehow you are a special suburbanite case), which, of course means while growing up in the suburbs, you had intimate contact with every single person there and can attest to all their close mindedness (hasty generalization fallacy). Shall I diagram these arguments for you?

                  1. I know, it’s pretty basic stuff–the stuff you’re supposed to look for while thinking critically and building arguments.

  40. Just to give some background. This was painted by two internationally recognized artists – one from South Africa and one from Argentina. They had talked online many times, but had never met in person. The idea came to them when they first met. It is an African women and a South American man sleeping and sharing the same dream. It’s about how people who come from different backgrounds share the same hopes – and how we are all able to inspire each other.

    I think it’s particularly interesting given that it is in downtown Decatur, which many think of as mostly white and well-off. There are really so many different cultures in the area though. I’m not exacatly sure of the demographics of downtown, but South Decatur is certainly not mostly white – Clarkston just next store is a diverse immigrant community (mostly African) – just up the road from the mural on Dekalb Industrial is a large Indian community – and Dekalb Farmer’s Market is right down the street, which so many appreciate for being multicultural and catering to the diverse community surrounding Decatur.

    I know everyone won’t love it, but I hope people can appreciate the thought behind it. And really, a great product of the mural is the discussion that has surrounded it.

  42. If you have to explain and justify the mural maybe it’s not so great – internationally recognized artists or not. I don’t mind art that challenges me to think and explore the work. But I find it awfully pretentious if the art has intentions to teach and lecture or if viewers of the art want to make it into a teachable moment. I am very tired of having the diversity drum beat over my head. The nice plain wall also had a live and let live lesson about it, in a very non-confrontational way.

    1. I should have replied to the comment that the my comment was intended to reply to (haha, if that makese sense). The only reason I explained was because someone asked what the painting represents, not that I felt it needed to be explained. I do think art is mainly what people take from it – so if you take nothing, then that’s your prerogative.

    2. Uhhhhh… whah? So the inspiration or meaning behind a piece of art has to be totally self-evident, lest it be rendered “not so great.” Or are you saying that an artist should only make benign statements and never express something they feel deeply.

      Whether or not you like this particular piece, that sounds like a recipe for the lamest art ever.

    3. “I am very tired of having the diversity drum beat over my head.”

      At least your honest about what your real issue is.

      1. That was my thought as well. In at least two negative posts here the subject matter of the mural seems to be the complaint as much as the execution.

  44. why so artsy fartsy?
    how about something *everyone* could enjoy, like dogs playing cards?

  46. It’s difficult to understand how anyone would prefer a blank wall, over a mural like this.

    1. It is difficult to understand how anyone would prefer a mural like this over a blank wall. Goes both ways. I think we have one side that likes it and one side that doesn’t. Neither side is going to budge.

      1. That’s true Bulldog. The conversation will only go in circles really.

        But, I guess what I find surprising, is people writing this off as crap graffiti basically (That was more the gist of the Big K conversation) But on this one, it’s veiled in a preservation cloak.

        It takes a degree of talent to design, and then bring a project like this to fruition. And even if it’s not someone’s deal, it would be nice to see that acknowledged.

        BTW, if anyone knows, is that a kitty up there in the window?

        1. “BTW, if anyone knows, is that a kitty up there in the window?”

          Yes – it’s Decatur’s own Pete looking askance at this so-called “art” !

          1. OK Chewey, then what exactly is art to you, and what should it be for all of us?

            Would you consider this Pollock piece art? If so, why?
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_paintings

            1. Darn it! Don’t ask me, I was just guessing what ol’ Pete’s thinking! Didn’t mean to get caught in the crossfire.

              Now way I’m fielding those questions. I’m the last one on this board who should be commenting on what is and isn’t art!

    2. Now that the wall has been painted with an image, could the next image be an advertisement? Or does the wall have to go back to plain paint?

  48. De gustibus non disputandum est!

    Did anyone actually go to the meeting tonight? Did we come to blows over art? If so . . . well, cool!

    🙂

  50. Jeez, Louise! I’ve long been convinced that as a community, Decatur needs most urgently to cultivate diversity with respect to socio-economic and age/life-stage dimensions. But am now wondering if the most important issue of all might be aesthetic diversity. Maybe it’s not a product of the others — maybe it’s what everything else flows from. Maybe among the biggest threats to the community we aspire to become, are self-appointed arbiters of taste and artistic merit. I have not yet seen any of these murals — maybe I’ll think they’re pretty, maybe I won’t — but to those who want them banned/removed because they don’t conform to your personal taste, I say, Get over yourselves! You get to control what your own house looks like. In our communal spaces, you get to love or hate or be indifferent, and comment accordingly, but you don’t get to say No.

    And BTW, there is a whole separate discussion worth having about the appropriate deployment of historic preservation principles in our community. Hope it gets a thread of its own soon.

    1. That is good stuff, STG. It’s how I feel about the houses that don’t match the neighborhoods- but I know it is a taste issue. While I wish people didn’t feel the need for those things, I know it’s their taste not mine and I just have to deal with it!

  52. Unless the art is obscene, racist ,degrading, etc.,. I’m inclined to live and let live. Should there be a public artwork I don’t understand, I’ll take it as a challenge to better understand it, even if I don’t like it. i.e. – break out of my comfort zone and learn something new.

    Being exposed to intellectually challenging stuff is one of the reasons we chose to buy a house and raise our kids in Decatur. I can’t think of a better place in the Atlanta metro area to raise kids and the interesting mural is one small part of that.

  54. Here’s the way I look at it, I like some historic buildings, I like some murals.

    Some historic buildings look good ala period correct/weathered.
    Some look good with murals.
    Decatur has both.

    I’ve only lived in Decatur for a decade, but my family has been here for over a century, hell, the house I live in has been in my family for over 3/4 of a century, with the first owners/builders living there for a few years then selling it to my Mema. I knew my Mema, well, she’d look at that mural and think “I love this city.”
    She liked having some things proper and some things fun, I think a lot of Decatur is like that.

    I’ve gotta say, Decatur is the ONLY place I’d ever consider living in within the entire metro area.
    Sure, some of the eccentrics and crazy characters have moved out the past few years and more families with kids have moved in, but there will be more crazy fun people moving in.

    To me, Decatur is very fluid, vibrant, and exciting. Old and new coexist very well here. Whereas other parts of the Atlanta area that are old/historic get torn down often, only to be rebuilt with new construction, Decatur still has the small town yet modernized feel.

    Granted this is all rambling, and I know each side will be firmly entrenched in their opinions for things like this mural, and regardless if I agree, I’ll gladly defend your right to have that opinion.

  56. Now that the mural is completely up, I think it’s fine and better than the bare industrial grey siding. My kids like it too. I probably prefer other styles but then again how many styles fit industrial grey siding?

    1. Whoops, sorry. I thought I was on the Oakhurst shopping center thread, not this one. Never mind.

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