How do you rescue a painted mural of Riverside’s historic Victoria Avenue from a restaurant wall set for demolition?
Very carefully, according to Frank Heyming, founder of the greenbelt preservation group Victoria Avenue Forever -- and not without quite a bit of luck.
Victoria Avenue Forever was founded in 1990 to guard against encroachment on the city’s greenbelt area. The mural, of an orange grove harvest scene, was also created some 25 years ago, Heyming said, at Food Connection restaurant on Indiana Avenue and Adams Street not far from Victoria Avenue.
The artist was prolific Southern California muralist and painter Marv Brehm.
Over the years, Food Connection customers enjoyed the artwork, Heyming said.
“Janet Gless, when she heard of the mural removal, indicated her orange grove workers used to love sitting under the mural,” he said.
Former Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, now director of UC Riverside’s Center for Sustainable Suburban Development, also remembered having meetings under the mural, Heyming said.
But Food Connection closed in 2014, and the owner of the gas station next door bought the property to build a market. A friend gave Heyming a call: “He asked if there was anything that could be done to save the mural.”
Heyming and Drew Oberjuerge, executive director of the Riverside Art Museum, went to see the new owner, who was glad to donate the mural to the museum — but needed the removal done quickly.
The mural had been painted on canvas that was glued to the drywall; members of Victoria Avenue Forever found a painting company with experience removing wallpaper.
“Using large putty knives, the painters were able to peel the edges back and slowly pull the canvas off the wall,” Heyming said.
The adhesive had been applied lightly in the center. Once the edges were loosened, the mural came off in one piece with no damage — and just in time, Heyming said.
“Demolition workers were pounding on the roof,” he said.
Experts from the museum said the 29-foot-by-4-1/2-foot canvas should be rolled picture side out. Heyming provided a large carpet roll tube for storage, and the mural was presented to the museum during this month’s First Sunday event downtown.
Museum Executive Director Oberjuerge said the mural will be installed at Eastside Library this winter.
“We are so grateful to Victoria Avenue Forever for connecting the dots to ensure this piece of art about Riverside stays in Riverside and continues to be seen by others,” she said.
Heyming is proud of the role his group played in rescuing the mural.
“Because someone knew of Victoria Avenue Forever, a little piece of history was saved,” he said.
Resource: http://www.pe.com
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