"The Pope of Broadway" Beautifully Restored

"The Pope of Broadway" has a new reason to dance - the 4-story mural depicting Anthony Quinn in his famous "Zorba the Greek" role, mid-step, is now even livelier.

Restoration has just been completed for Eloy Torrez's 70-foot high mural on the south side of the former Victor Clothing Co. building, facing Third Street.

Affectionately named "The Pope of Broadway," efforts to refurbish the mural began in early 2015 by the Mural Conservancy and Councilman Jose Huizar.  Funded by a Bringing Back Broadway mural restoration grant of $150,000 from Greenland USA, the restoration repaired surface cracks and paint failure.

The restoration renews Anthony Quinn's rich legacy for Los Angeles, 

and we're all DANCING!

"Triforium" Reinvents Itself For 2020

The Triforium Project could reinvent both the polyphonoptic tower and the civic park space.

"Triforium" (1975)
by Joseph L. Young

Despite L.A.'s recent public art achievements like "Gateway to Los Angeles" above the 101 Freeway and  "Psychogeographies" at Columbia Square, "Triforium" , the 60-foot polychonoptic tower across from the Civic Center, has remained a notable civic challenge for 40 years.

At long last, renewed and inspired interest in the massive 60-ton tower of music and light has come from The Triforium Project, a coalition of artists, urban planners, civic leaders and L.A. enthusiasts eager to update the kinetic sculpture with the interactive function and quality that artist Joseph Young originally planned and anticipated.  With LED lighting and 21st Century sound programming, The Triforium Project would  also create an interactive app allowing the public "to send polyphonoptic (sound and light) compositions for the Triforium to play, inviting artists to engage directly with the work."

The Triforium Project's technological and creative improvements are exciting to anticipate, especially considering the enlivening benefits to Fletcher Bowron Square and the Los Angeles Mall that are newly possible with support from Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, Cultural Affairs, and City Councilman Jose Huizar.  Urban planning and public space design can now build upon the Triforium's reinvigorated "triangulation" function of social nexus for the public space (to cite William H. Whyte's concept), and equally creative and site-specific improvements can play their role in enhancing the surrounding Square, Mall and Civic Center.