Guadalupe Mural In San Diego Set For Removal

She appeared mysteriously in April when men in hardhats seemed to be hard at some sort of official-looking work, installing a 10 or 12-foot glass mosaic of La Virgen de Guadalupe surfing. On the side is written “Save the Ocean.”

No one is sure who all created and installed the art project, which is surely very intricate and cost at least $1,000 in materials alone. Yet, the city of Encinitas, near San Diego where the mural appeared, is set to remove the mural because it’s classified as “graffiti.”

She’s since become known as the “Surfing Madonna” and most people in the city seem to appreciate the artwork. But, city officials feel otherwise, The Los Angeles Times reports:

At the April 27 City Council meeting, residents took to the microphone during the public-comment period to urge the city to find a way to keep the mural. But the North County Times reported that an unnamed city official had already decided that the “mosaic must go.” One city official has reportedly received complaints over the mural’s religious subject matter.

The city has retained a conservancy firm to examine and evaluate the mural, including the possibility of removing it without causing much damage, Assistant City Manager Richard Phillips said in an interview Monday. The city will wait for the firm’s final report before taking action, he said.

“The city does have existing art policy to receive gifts or donations, and the mural was done without any authorization, so it technically is graffiti,” Phillips said. “In the city’s graffiti ordinance, it’s [defined as] any type of attachment that was done without the property owner’s permission.”

It’s unfortunate, but hopefully the community will be able to save the mural, a Facebook Page to that end has already been created. Or perhaps the city will be able to excavate it without destroying it. It sure looks beautiful, would be such a pity were it to be destroyed. Besides, as we wrote yesterday, it’s not everyday the Guadalupe appears on a mural, usually it’s just a tortilla or a puddle of water.

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD