Los Gatos Weekly-Times

News

Vandals 'tag' mural beneath main street bridge

By Jason Sweeney

The large, colorful mural beneath the Main Street bridge was defaced by graffiti sometime in mid-September. Kelly Costanza couldn't believe it when her neighbors told her about it.

"I was sickened," she said. "I actually cried at the mural because of all the work we had put into it."

The mural is 22 feet high and 76 feet long. It depicts an Ohlone Indian encampment surrounded by native plants and animals. The mural looks down at hikers and bikers on the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and it is visible to motorists on Highway 17.

The mural was completed in July 2002 by a group of 60 volunteers led by Carol Huboi-Werry. Costanza was one of those volunteers."Everybody in my neighborhood knows that I worked on that mural with my heart and soul for months and months," Costanza said. She said she couldn't believe it when she saw the word "Italy" spray-painted twice over the mural in large, stylized letters. Graffiti also covered the concrete barrier between the trail and Highway 17.

After walking to the trail to see the graffiti, Costanza started making phone calls. She was able to get in touch with Los Gatos volunteer services coordinator Susan Buxton and Barbara Frese. Frese is on the Los Gatos Beautification Committee and is responsible for painting the two large grizzly bears depicted in mural.

"I was a little speechless," Frese said, "but I'm not one to cry over spilt milk. I just wanted to get busy and take care of it as soon as possible."

Frese and Buxton started scrubbing the mural Sept. 25. They used graffiti removal solution, rags, brushes and jugs of water to scrub off the spray paint. Costanza and Frese worked on the mural for the next few days, scrubbing and touching up the paint where it had been worn down.

Frese and Costanza also painted over the graffiti on the barrier wall and elsewhere under the bridge. Costanza said joggers, walkers, bicyclists and students passing by were appreciative of what they were doing. "We're not getting paid to do this," she said. "It's just that we care."

Frese and Costanza added a new touch to the mural. The new addition is a sign that says, "Warning. Defacing this mural is against the law. Violators will be prosecuted."

Los Gatos parks superintendent Tim Boyer said his department deals with graffiti about once a week in Los Gatos, but it is not a widespread problem. "When a wall gets tagged, our staff or the police department will paint it over as quickly as possible. The key is to cover it up quickly."

Boyer said the graffiti on the mural was a special case because it was art that was defaced. However, he said a coat of anti-graffiti sealant protected it during the clean up.

"If it happens again, I'll clean it again," Costanza said. She plans to patrol the area and keep her eyes out for vandals.

"It's not like it's not seen," Frese said. "That art is a town treasure."