Surfing Madonna

Surfing Madonna
Surfing Madonna, detail showing mosaic

The Surfing Madonna is a 10 by 10 foot (3 by 3 m) mosaic of the Virgen de Guadalupe created by artist Mark Patterson.[1] It was covertly installed in Encinitas, California by Mark and his friend Bob Nichols, who both posed as construction worker during the installation.[2][3] The city declared that the painting was to be considered graffiti because of the illegality of its installation. Mark came forward to accept responsibility for it, and was fined $500 and ordered to pay approximately $6,000 for the art's removal. It was removed in 90 minutes, and Patterson was allowed to keep the art.

The response to the installation was divided: while some members of the Catholic and Latino communities took issue with it, others felt that it symbolized their Mexican heritage. While the Mosaic was up, business in the nearby area experienced an increase of 20%. People in other cities offered to have the art placed in their locales. The art is now in place across the street from where it was originally installed. It inspired a 501c3 non profit founded by Mark Patterson and Bob Nichols called "Surfing Madonna Oceans Project". Since the inception of the non-profit in 2013 the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project has donated well over $100,000 to local ocean/beach/park and humanitarian programs.

Installation and legality

The piece was installed on a 10 foot-square concrete wall on a rail bridge in the City of Encinitas. Dressed as construction workers, Mark Patterson and longtime friend Bob Nichols installed the mosaic clandestinely in about two hours on the afternoon of April 22, 2011 .[1] It was covertly installed in Encinitas, California (Earth Day/Good Friday).[2][3]

The mosaic features the Virgin of Guadelupe on a white surfboard, hands in an attitude of prayer, with her green cloak waving in the wind. The words "Save the Ocean" are displayed vertically to her left.[2][3]

As the piece was installed without prior permission, it was considered to be graffiti. $2,000 was spent by officials for an art consultant to review how best to remove it without destroying it. During that process, they discovered — underneath the glass — part of Mark Patterson's name. He soon came forward and admitted to being the mosaic's creator.

Patterson was fined $500 by the City, and at the City's demand, paid approximately $6,000 to a local contractor to remove the mosaic from the train bridge wall. The mosaic came down in about 90 minutes, with minimal damage.[4][5] The City allowed Patterson to reclaim the mosaic.[2][3]

Response

While some members of the Catholic and Latino communities found it offensive, others identify with it as symbol of their Mexican heritage.[6] The local Catholic priest was fond of the artwork, and even asked that a local church be able to display it.[6]

Benefactors in other cities, including Solana Beach and Imperial Beach, offered to take the mosaic and install it in their locales. While the mosaic was still up, local merchants in downtown Encinitas reported a 20% spike in revenues, owing to the number of visitors to the City coming specifically to see the mosaic.

The state believed that the mosaic could violate the separation in the constitution between state and church. As a result, the state denied the request to put the Surfing Madonna at the entrance of Moonlight Beach State Park.[7]

Reinstallation

For a period of time the mosaic was on display on an exterior wall at Cafe Ipe, next door to Surfy Surfy, in Leucadia, California, north of its original location.

The mosaic is now out of storage and back in public view. It has been reinstalled in Encinitas directly across the street from its original location now called Surfing Madonna Park at Leucadia Pizzeria, on the corner of Highway 101 and Encinitas Blvd.

The Surfing Madonna Oceans Project raised $100,000 for the Encinitas Community in 2014 with its 2nd Annual Surfing Madonna "Save the Ocean" 5K/10K and 10 Mile Beach Run/Walk. In 2014 it set up a brick paver project to raise money for ocean and humanitarian programs, www.surfingmadonna.org, and will have its 3rd annual run/walk in hopes of raising $150,000 for the community in October, 2015. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 Payton, Mari (June 10, 2011). "Surfing Madonna Artist: "It's a Gift"". NBC San Diego.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Surfing Madonna mosaic draws mass following. Associated Press. BakersfieldNow.com. 07-06-2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Surfing Madonna mosaic in Southern California draws mass following. Julie Watson. Associated Press. Oakland Tribune. 07-06-2011.
  4. ↑ Hello, Guest. "Surfing Madonna removed; no damage | UTSanDiego.com". Signonsandiego.com. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  5. ↑ "'Surfing Madonna' mosaic in Encinitas removed - latimes.com". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  6. 1 2 Local Latinos, Catholics split on 'Surfing Madonna'. Ernesto Lopez. North County Times.
  7. ↑ Whitlock,Jared,"Surfing Madonna finds new home on Encinitas Boulevard", "The Coast News",October 16, 2013
  8. ↑ Apr 14, 2014. "Surfing Madonna foundation trying to raise $100,000 for the community - 10News.com KGTV ABC10 San Diego". 10news.com. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
External images
Mosaic

Coordinates: 33°2′56.2″N 117°17′36.5″W / 33.048944°N 117.293472°W / 33.048944; -117.293472

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, January 30, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.