Category: - Art Around Burbank

Art Around Burbank

Artistic Justice

8/4/2012

Recently I got my first traffic ticket (for the sake of this blog no less!) Happily, I found a wonderful mural when I visited the Burbank Courthouse at 300 E. Olive Avenue in Room 100.

The American flag, the scales of justice and the constitution are all represented in this patriotic piece. In the upper right we see the constitution upheld and beneath it a list of the Burbank Municipal Court Judges. The artist's signature in the right hand corner looks like it says GAWA.

This mural was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. It took the sting out of paying my ticket!

Busted

7/3/2012

The small and humble bust of the founder of our fair city, Dr. David Burbank, is located beside the Downtown Public Library, at 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd., facing Olive Avenue. It was created by artist, Rick Doray and has been on display since 1978. It sits atop 4 time capsules placed there on July 4th, 1977. Each to be opened on Independence day of 2001 (already opened), 2026, 2051, 2076.

A Peruvian Scene

5/24/2012

I'm excited about this beautiful mural. It seems it has been around since 2005 and yet somehow it was only recently that I saw it for the first time. It is on the curved side wall of Choza Mama, an express restaurant of Peruvian cuisine, located at that funky intersection of Olive and Alameda at the corner of Ontario and right across from NBC studio. The address is 3121 W. Olive Ave. (click on images to make them larger)

I just adore the way the artist has described the people as so musical, joyful and colorful. I am fond of his use of painterly strokes. It is a marvelous scene, well suited to the curved wall.

The Art of Civic Pride

5/19/2012

Burbank Industry by Hugo Ballin

Stepping into the rotunda of City Hall one is greeted with this outstanding mural. It is 24 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It is called "Burbank Industry" and was painted by Hugo Ballin who also created other magnificent paintings found inside City Hall, the Griffith Park Observatory, and other well known places around Los Angeles. He also created 26 murals for the Wisconsin State Capital.

City Hall was built in the early 1940's and over the years 'improvements' were made. Including removing the bottom third of this mural in 1964 to make a doorway to an adjacent building. The section seen below was in storage for 37 years! Fortunately at the turn of this century the building and it's murals were restored to their new and improved original condition.

The painting pays tribute to the community and it's most famous industries. It has a base of resourceful, caring individuals surrounded by agricultural beauty then above that the film industry, the power plant, and aviation.

Burbank City Hall is located at 275 E. Olive Avenue in Downtown Burbank.

Going Postal With Art

5/15/2012

Last week I happened to be in downtown Burbank and needed to mail my mom's Mother's Day card. So I stopped in the Post Office at 125 Olive Ave. Besides being a beautiful mission style building, there are wonderful historical murals inside. The first one you see to the right as you walk in commemorates the impact that the flight industry has played in Burbank. The second one to the left depicts the entertainment industry.

I wasn't able to find out any artist's names but I did find out that the post office, which is now called the Bob Hope Branch, is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The building was built in 1939 in the Mission Revival Style and includes original Spanish tiles and beautiful wooden beams.

Laughing Like A...

4/5/2012

Hyaena Gallery is located at 1928 W. Olive Ave. and just celebrated it's 6th Anniversary in Burbank on April Fool's Day. As it says on the window it contains "Odd Things For Eclectic Tastes."

It is absolutely full of excellent art work that is in my opinion creepy and horrifying! I'm a big chicken when it comes to scary stuff, but owner, Bill Shafer is so calm and cool and totally comfortable among the monsters and body parts. I'm thankful for these artists that they have an advocate and a thriving venue.

The walls are filled from floor to ceiling except in the back where the exhibits change. Saturday, April 7th from 8pm to Midnight is the reception for the current exhibit, "Common Monsters" by Jeremy Cross.

Hyaena Gallery claims they are the Scavengers of Culture featuring Dark Art, LowBrow Art, Underground Art, and Outsider Art. There is also a sign on the window that recommends that children aren't allowed in without an adult. Perhaps it would help me next time to bring along an adult to hold my hand...

Please note that Art Around Burbank now has it's own stand alone domain name! A big THANK YOU to Nan Rae and Rosie Castro for their financial and moral support!

Bucking Bronze

3/27/2012

The other evening I went to Ribs USA, at 2711 W. Olive Ave. I parked behind the building and as I rounded the corner to enter through the front, I was met by this fierce looking bronze.

The manager told me that it has been in front of the restaurant for about 30 years. He was not sure of the artist although he thought he was well known. The stance looks similar to Frederick Remington's "Bronco Buster" but some details are not quite the same. I've read there are many copies and fakes attributed to him and I don't have any facts on this particular piece. Anyone know?

Your comments are always welcome!

Painted Film Credits

3/24/2012

You can find this cast of characters behind Rick Chase Film Studio at 1150 Olive. It is visible from Virginia Ave across the parking lot. This mural still looks fantastic and I was told it has been there since the mid 1980's.

Walk this Way

3/15/2012

Up the hill on Olive in the 700 block, 711-769, there is an apartment complex. The stairways leading into the complex are artistically decorated with mosaics of colorful and unusual tiles some whole and some pieces arranged with such boldness that it seizes the attention of all passing by.

Some of the tiles have beautiful images on them of such as of mother Mary, a fox hunt, assorted animals and patterns.

Above are pictures of the main entrance and you can see from the plaque it was done by artist Beverly Bigwood. However, even the stairs of the side entrances are decorated...

Art Around Burbank