What was once a vibrant Chicano mural at the Culver City DMV has been, until recently, obscured under a layer of white paint. "Moonscapes," a piece that encapsulated the zeitgeist of the late '70s with its vision of life, transportation, and a nod to environmental consciousness, had donned the DMV's walls for nearly 50 years before meeting this fate. Despite its erasure, artist David Botello, one of the creators alongside Wayne Healy, is now swiftly moving to restore the artwork after its unceremonious cover-up.
As reported by NBC Los Angeles, the California Department of Motor Vehicles claims the decision to paint over the mural was due to graffiti and deteriorating wood on the building's facade. The artist, however, was not previously informed about the removal of his work, raising questions about the DMV's adherence to the California Art Preservation Act. This act stipulates that artists must receive notification and are to be given 90 days to act before their work is destroyed or altered.
Botello was understandably disheartened upon discovering his mural being painted over in late February. According to a LAist interview, when Botello learned of the situation, he reached out to the DMV in a bid to halt the repainting. His urgency and persistence paid off when the DMV ceased painting over the mural and agreed to engage in conversations about restitution and restoration. "He wants to make amends and he said, 'We're not going to paint over that wall, don't worry about it,'" Botello told NBC Los Angeles.
The history of "Moonscapes" is one stitched into the fabric of Los Angeles's artistic legacy, particularly highlighting Chicano contributions to the city's mural movement. Botello and Healy's work stood as a rare example of Chicano perspectives on science and environmentalism on the west side, adorned on a public building no less. LAist reflects on the work's significance, noting the touch of personal and cultural identity imbued in the panels, including a zoot suiter displayed in the reflection of an astronaut's helmet and the Mexican flag perched on its arm.
The road to restoration is not without its obstacles; Botello, now 78, acknowledged the challenges posed by his health and the intricate process that lies ahead. Working with a restoration artist seems to be the sole promise of the mural's return. He is currently in talks with the DMV about funding for the restoration and has even begun testing potential paint removers, sourced from the University of Florence, to salvage the hidden layers of his work.
