SAN DIEGO — Local artists and advocates are joining forces to call on city leaders to protect local art and community murals.
The comes after a large Rey Mysterio mural was painted over without any warning to the artist who made it, as CBS 8 reported Saturday.
Artists and supporters came together for a community meeting Thursday in Logan Heights to call for the preservation of art, culture and history.
“I believe that San Diegans are very proud of our city and when we do something like this for the people it should be taken care of," said Daniel Angeles, creator of the mural.
Angeles, also known as "Dentlock," is the creator behind the mural that honors the legacy of San Diego County native and WWE wrestler Mysterio family.
“This is for the culture, for the community, to enjoy and remember the people who should be remembered," said Angeles.
But the massive mural, which took him several months to complete, was painted over last month when the building was sold to a new owner without his knowledge.
Dentlock and other artists are now turning their frustration into action. They are creating an online petition to gather community support and call on the city to pass a mural ordinance, which he says would provide protection for artists.
“It’s a necessity for us to have the preservation, the saving of these murals," he added.
He says such ordinances have been passed in other cities, including Los Angeles and Philadelphia, which is known as the mural capital of the world.
So far, the group has about 300 handwritten signatures and they’re hoping to digitize their efforts to present to city officials.
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