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AIDS Project Mural Restored and Saved in

Hollywood, CA… A Monument To Successful


AIDS Research

A 3rd of the mural “Blue Moon Trilogy” by Russell Carlton 1987 Before Restoration.
See full image of mural After Restoration and video at end of blog post.

This public mural memorial monument located by the Hollywood Bowl was originally
funded by AIDS Project of LA. The bronze plaque, from the dedication in 1988 on the
mural will outlive us all. It reads:

Blue Moon Trilogy

Eve of Conception, Dawning of a New Age, A Glorious Revelation

A mural dedicated on April 30, 1988 to persons who have so courageously given us hope
in living and finding the answers in overcoming this disease.

By artist Russell Carlton for the AIDS Project of Los Angeles

With special thanks to the following benefactors

American Protection Industries

California Community Foundation

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Frederisk W. Field

James F. Foley

Hollywood Bowl

Kaleidoscope Films

Tom Fontana and Susan J. Lewis

Richard MacNaughton

MTV Networks, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart A. Resnick

Samuel Jared Kushnick Foundation

Samuel P. Mandell Foundation

Lewis D. Seagler

And the many other contributors to this work of compassion

Edward D. Edelman, Supervisor 3rdDistrict, County of Los Angeles


Tom Bradley, Mayor, City of Los Angeles

Michael woo, Councilman 13thDistrict, City of Los Angeles


Honorary Chairs, Hal and Fran Linden

To join these people in the battle against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Please contact AIDS Project Los Angeles

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Russell Carlton, the artist, had hundreds of volunteers attend his “Love For Life”
fundraiser in 1987. This community interest and participation gives historical
significance alone and merits recognition.

The three panels of the mural represent a journey of self-empowerment and health, which
was a vital message to a community fighting a deadly disease. The first panel (section) is
called “Eve of Conception,” the second, “Dawning of a New Age,” and third, “A Glorious
Revelation.” The artwork is beautiful and worthy of preservation, as has been expressed
by the neighborhood in which the mural is located, but it is the mural’s meaning that
makes this undertaking of its preservation and restoration so important.

Here is the YouTube link that includes several historic interviews

with Russell Carlton, the artist:

https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=PfJlphhW-kg&u=/watch%3Fv%3DTuTY-
CFy-3w%26feature%3Dem-upload_owner

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Russell Carlton being interviewed by local TV on AIDS Project fundraiser painting of the Blue Moon Trilogy.

Russell conceived the Blue Moon Trilogy design after struggling with the life-
threatening illness, as well as seeing so many of his friends suffer and die from
AIDS. Russell Carlton passed away in 1998, reportedly unafraid and outwardly
courageous and encouraging to others.

Since its last restoration by the artist and friends in 1993 (presumably to address
graffiti), the mural has gone unmaintained until now… but never unappreciated by the
neighborhood.

Having languished in it’s sorry state, recently the stars aligned (the City of Los Angeles
recently reorganized its public art maintenance services through Department of
Cultural Affairs and hired energetic and impassioned public art expert Yami Duarte) and
the mural became a priority and was slated for restoration.

Russell Carlton’s parents signed an artist’s rights agreement in 2017 and enthusiastically
supported a restoration that rigorously respected the artist’s original composition,
design and colors. But, knowing that the original painting materials were inferior in
quality, they approved its repainting under the above conditions.

In meetings with the DCA and the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council
(http://www.hhwnc.org), the general feeling was optimistic and excited that Russell’s
artwork and inspirational vision was finally getting the care and attention it deserved.

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Fine Art Conservation Laboratories worked hand in hand with the Department of
Cultural Affairs, CalTrans, The Hollywood Bowl, David Ryu LA City Councilman’s office
and the neighborhood organizations to undertake the sensitive issues surrounding the
restoration of the 20 ft x 180 ft mural located in the underpass used by semi trucks as
the onramp for the 101 freeway.

Scott M. Haskins, Head of Conservation brought the “A” Team together with Luisa Pari
and Anna Frassine with technician Denver Dillon to undertake the 3 week challenge of
cleaning the 3,600 sq. ft painting, repainting damaged details and applying a heavy
duty protective coating to facilitate future maintenance. See the short summary video
at the end of this article.

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See full image of mural After Restoration at end of blog post.

BUT WAIT!! THERE”S MORE!!! In a meeting in City Hall after the restoration work was
contracted, friends and neighborhood brought out historic photos that showed that
the 7 ft gray painted section below the mural was actually part of the mural’s
composition!!! It was decided to go ahead with the contracted restoration on the top
2/3rds and then address the fundraising and work on the bottom 1/3rd afterwards.

Regarding the results of the restoration of the graffitied visible mural, the response
from the neighborhood has been enthusiastic: This is from Carl Peter Ripaldi, VP of
the WHCA https://www.whitleyheights.org

Dear Scott:

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It was great meeting you yesterday.

I just want to let you know how much WHCA is thrilled with the restoration of “Blue
Moon Trilogy”

It is a wonderful boost for our community and serves as a great gateway greeting into
Hollywood.

It sounds like you folks are on a fast track with the proper connections and interest to
get the bottom third of the mural restored.

Let me know if I or the WHCA can assist in any way to facilitate this.

As you had mentioned, the maintenance of the mural will be an ongoing challenge.

It will be important to determine what agencies(y) will spear head that responsibility.

As I had mentioned I would be happy to serve as a community watchdog for its


preservation.

We are hopeful that it will be protected from graffiti which is a constant threat in
Hollywood around the freeway exits and sound walls.

Lighting improvements would be helpful in the display of the mural especially in the
evening hours.

Hopefully a lighting improvement project can be fit into the overall restoration effort.

Maybe a camera too could be installed to help with the protection of the mural.

Please keep me up to date on the progress in the complete restoration process.

Very sincerely yours,

Carl Peter Ripaldi, VP/WHCA

From David Ryu’s Cahuenga District Office


Hi All,

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Figured it would be best to connect all the people on our teams that are now going to
work on showing off Scott’s incredible work on the Trilogy Mural. It looks fabulous.

I am including in this email our Comms Director. I know he is equally jazzed about
highlighting this project.

Thanks, Cahuenga District Office

Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help realize this
restoration. Thanks again for your dedication to the project.

Best,

David Hubbard,

From one of the neighborhood organizers


The upper portion of Russell Carleton’s Blue Moon Trilogy in the Odin Underpass near
the Hollywood Bowl has been restored with CD4’s funds and the Department of
Cultural Affairs contractor(s)……..magnificiently by Fine Art Conservation Laboratories
– Scott M. Haskins, Mural Conservator.

Unfortunately, we’ll still need to raise the funds to restore the bottom 1/3rd of the
mural, which seemingly was covered up by Caltrans or a City agency long ago. When
the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and CD4 staff allocated funds for the mural’s
restoration, they didn’t allocate enough to do the whole mural. They hadn’t realized
that there was an additional part of the mural which had been covered up —–seemingly
for decades.

Now that you’ve seen 2/3rds of the mural, wouldn’t you want to be able to see the
entire mural?

Orrin Feldman, also First VP, Hollywood Hill Neighborhood Council


http://www.hhwnc.org

Here’s a short video of the restoration process

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCQM091PK74
Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council http://www.hhwnc.org Mission: Create
a more livable community and city by establishing an open line of communication
between the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council (HHWNC), the government,
neighboring councils, and the Hollywood Neighborhood Council (HNC). Develop in
the Stakeholders a sense of personal pride and responsibility for their neighborhood
and their city. Assist the City and other neighborhoods in finding solutions to common
problems. Provide an open process by which all Stakeholders of the HHWNC may
involve themselves in the affairs of the community. Educate stakeholders so they can
make informed decisions about the quality and condition of their communities.
Promote the well-being of each and every neighborhood within its boundaries. A
“Stakeholder” is anyone that lives, works or owns property in a designated
neighborhood.Types of stakeholders are: Resident, Business, Educational, Religious,
Non-Profit and Non-Resident Property Owner.

Whitley Heights Civic Association – https://www.whitleyheights.org Hollywood’s first


and foremost National Historic District, Whitley Heights was home to stars such as
Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Bette Davis, WC Fields, and Gloria
Swanson, Rosalind Russell, and Bozo to name but a few. Nestled in the lush Hollywood
Hills and basking in the glow of the famous Hollywood sign, this distinctive
neighborhood remains much as it did in the early 1900’s.

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After Restoration composite Blue Moon Trilogy by Russell Carlton 1987

For questions about mural restoration and conservation

contact Scott M. Haskins, Head of Conservation,

805 564 3438 faclartdoc@gmail.com

For more information regarding the varnishing of murals and anti-graffiti protection, refer
to these blog posts…

http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/murals/varnishing-a-mural-antigraffiti-
measures-protecting-public-art/

http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/murals/public-art-protection-varnishing-
murals-and-oil-paintings-for-future-maintenance/

The Fine Art Conservation Laboratories Blog Post:


http://www.fineartconservationlab.com/murals/huge-hollywood-mural-monument-to-
successful-aids-research-is-being-saved-and-restored/

Keywords:
mural restoration, Blue Moon Trilogy, Russell Carlton, AIDS research, Gay Pride,
Hollywood, Fine Art Conservation Laboratories, Scott M. Haskins, Luisa Pari, FACL,
Department of Cultural Affairs, The AIDS Project, American Protection Industries,
California Community Foundation, Frederisk W. Field, James F. Foley, Hollywood Bowl
Kaleidoscope Films, ,Tom Fontana, Susan J. Lewis, Richard MacNaughton MTV
Networks, Inc., Stewart A. Resnick, Samuel Jared Kushnick Foundation, Samuel P.
Mandell Foundation, Lewis D. Seagler, Edward D. Edelman, Supervisor 3rd District
County of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley Mayor, Michael woo, Councilman 13th District
City of Los Angeles, Hal and Fran Linden

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