ATASCADERO, Calif-A new mural on the wall of an art store is not receiving a vibrant reaction from the City of Atascadero. In fact the city says it doesn't belong there. "If there's a complaint we do act," said Roberta Fonzi, from the City's Design and Review Committee. There have been quite a few about the mural.
"It's nicer than the old ugly wall that they had here before," says community member, David Broadwater. As for the city, they say that in this case looks don't matter.
Now this isn't the first mural that has stirred debate in Atascadero. In 2010 a mural at "K-Man Cycle and Run" put up a mural of two bikes on their wall. Community members rallied then and it is still up, but it did make some changes to city rules. There is now a permit procedure that must be followed.
The owner of "The Artery", William Arkfeld, says the reason why he didn't get a permit is because he took a risk while a local artist was in town and was hoping the city would simply approve the masterpiece. "The city has a policy of supporting murals so we were expecting this to not be a big deal and that we would be able to work out a permit and everything would be fine," said Arkfeld.
The mural is slated to be painted over, but not without a fight. "I feel they need to follow the rules, the rules are that in the eyes of the law there's no mural on that wall," says Joe Benson of Envisions Gallery.
Jerry Davis, next door business neighbor doesn't mind the mural in fact he says it "makes sense" for their business. "It looks fine to me, its an art store that's the type of work they do so I don't see a problem with it at all."
There's a rally at "The Artery" to save the mural 6pm Friday.
