Politics & Government

City, Artist Reach Agreement on Surfing Madonna

The popular mosaic will be removed at artist Mark Patterson's expense, but will be relocated legally within the city.

Mark Patterson, the artist who created the popular but illegal “Surfing Madonna” mural on Encinitas Boulevard, has agreed to take it down and reimburse municipal costs, it was announced Tuesday.   

In turn, the city acknowledged Patterson's ownership of the mural and his preference to relocate the work within Encinitas. The artwork will be professionally disassembled with Patterson acting as a technical consultant for the removal.

The agreement was outlined in a joint statement released by the city.  According to the statement, Patterson has agreed to:

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—remove the mural as soon as is reasonably possible, at his cost;   

—pay for a safety inspection and repairs of the railroad overpass, if necessary;   

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—reimburse the city $2,125 it paid to an art conservancy firm retained to figure out how to remove the mural without damaging it;   

—pay the city an administrative fee of $500; and  

—not place any unauthorized works of art on city property again.   

A new home for the mural has not been chosen, though Patterson has received several offers.

“The new location has yet to be determined, but it is my high priority to find a new venue within Encinitas—and bring the Surfing Madonna and her important message of ‘Save The Ocean’—back into public view in our community as soon as possible,” Patterson said in the statement. “I promise you, she is not for sale and she will be coming back as originally intended…as my gift to the community of Encinitas and all who visit here.”

The 10-foot-square stained-glass mosaic depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe riding a surfboard, with the words “Save the Ocean” running down the left side, appeared two months ago under a railroad crossing.

While city officials said it was installed illegally and defaced public property, the mural quickly gained a following because of its artistic quality and pro-environmental message.   

Hundreds have come to see the controversial artwork, and a Twitter account and Facebook support page have even been created in its name.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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