The Freeway Lady’s Long Journey
The undertaking of The Freeway Lady mural project in collaboration with VIVA’s Board of Directors, and artist, Kent Twitchell was truly a dream. It was meant to enhance our community by drawing attention to the Valley Institute of Visual Art and our emerging local art scene. Through various fundraisers and donation requests we managed to raise the necessary funding to pay for the creation and installation of this majestic mural.
Kent Twitchell has always been an equal opportunity artist. His larger-than-life murals in the greater Los Angeles area have brought art to the people in a very public way. Mr. Twitchell’s vision along with VIVA’s support created a collaboration that would bring The Freeway Lady back to life on VIVA’s outside west wall.
This mural was originally planned to have been a beacon for the arts in the Valley and a rebirth of an iconic image known for its grand stature as one of the first public art murals in Los Angeles. We were pleased to be a part of the history behind Los Angeles’ recognition as one of the great mural capitals of the United States.
As time passed, what was once developed as an outdoor public art mural had to be redeveloped, as the security of the mural could not be guaranteed. The installation was also a huge challenge possibly requiring permission by the owner of the land next door to us.
After many meetings with Mr. Twitchell, it was then decided to convert the mural to fit inside on VIVA’s entry wall. As the project continued to be altered in order to satisfy the vision of both the artist and VIVA’s Board of Directors, it became clear that there were even more challenges ahead for an indoor installation. The placement inside VIVA Art Center would have cut down on viewership and essentially hidden an extraordinary work of art.
After many heartfelt discussions, it has been decided that The Freeway Lady project will not proceed as planned. Over the years the plans for this mammoth project had changed and we could see that we were going to face even more uphill battles.
This was not an easy decision and someday we hope to be able to see a finished version of The Freeway Lady where she can not only be protected, but also greatly admired by the general public.
