Wave Staff and Wire Reports
SILVER LAKE — The Micheltorena stairway mural has been restored by its original artists after being vandalized and whitewashed in April.
The “Stair Candy” mural on the south side of Sunset Boulevard at Micheltorena Street, was painted in 2015 by local artists Corinne Carey, Carla O’Brien and Mandon Bassi.
Genelle Le Vin, president of the Silver Lake Improvement Association — which collaborated on the restoration along with the office of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell and O’Brien — called the mural “synonymous with Silver Lake.”
The stairs, which have become a destination for people to take photos for on Instagram, was vandalized and whitewashed in April by a person who has not yet been identified, according to O’Farrell’s office.
O’Farrell said May 26 that his office began work to get the mural restored by the original artists as soon as they heard it had been whitewashed.
“As soon as my team learned of the Micheltorena stairway’s whitewashing, we leaped into action and contacted the original artistic team to restore this beloved mural as soon as possible,” said O’Farrell, who represents most of Silver Lake. “Art elevates our public spaces and, thanks to the hard work of artist Carla O’Brien, the Silver Lake Improvement Association, and community volunteers, the Micheltorena stairway mural will once again enliven Silver Lake and draw Angelenos from across the city.”
The mural was repainted on May 25 and 26 and the city’s Office of Community Beautification applied anti-graffiti coating to protect it from further vandalism.
“The community’s support for ‘Stair Candy’ and our original artistic vision has been overwhelming, in particular the strong support from Councilmember O’Farrell, the Silver Lake Improvement Association and the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic,” artist O’Brien said. “Our work to restore ‘Stair Candy’ ensures that this public art piece will continue to be enjoyed by all Angelenos, while fulfilling art’s central mission of bringing people together.”
“Like the Sunset Triangle Plaza and the Silver Lake Reservoir, the Micheltorena stairway mural is synonymous with Silver Lake,” LeVin said. “I’m thankful to Councilmember O’Farrell and his team for responding quickly to the stairway’s whitewashing and making contact with the original artist group to bring the mural back to life.”