Yes, But Is It Art? Landmark Would Prefer Painting Go on Fridge, Maybe, But Not Gate.

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Feb. 7 2011 at 2:33 PM

I just had Schutze come take a look at the artwork you see above. I explained to him: Stephen Lovelace, who lives on Worth Street in Junius Heights, wants to use this large piece as a driveway gate the city has made him take down as it's presently out of code. The gate, along with the Fair Park tower of power, is on the Landmark Commission's list of look-sees today. Junius Heights has historic designation -- has for about five years -- and neighborhoods so designated have special and specific preservation criteria, as spelled out in this here ordinance.

The house is owned by James Parsons, who's fine with Lovelace's art gate. But Landmark's task force is not. Neither is city staff. Both have denied the application for a certificate of appropriateness without prejudice. Says the task force: "The painting on the gate is not historically appropriate."

Schutze used to live two streets over, on Victor. He doesn't understand the task force's denial. Says Jim: "I used to live two doors down from a guy who had an up-ended bathtub that served as the grotto for a Virgin Mary. And we respected it."

We Recommend

ChrisU

I like this painting. it just needs something to fill the middle space, like maybe Jim's canoe or a solar powered water taxi.

The City knows nothing about old East Dallas. I used to live on the two blocks of Victor between Abrams/Columbia (not sure where exactly the name change happened) and Glasgow about 15 years ago. It was very eccentric and funky. Now it's a bunch of greedy renters and uppity gentrify-ers. No soul, no fun anymore. SUCK!

observist

So anyone who is poorer than you (greedy renter) or richer than you (uppity gentrify-er) is soulless? I suppose you think that now the street is full of people that are either richer or poorer than you it's not a "diverse" as it used to be.

Oak Cliff Townie

I can see why he wants out of the House and facing the street .

It looks like one of those cut always of rainfall and rivers .

observist

It's no different than all those HOA restrictions out in the burbs. Try to astroturf your lawn or put up a 5th-grader "mural" in Plano, Frisco, Coppell, Southlake, HP, etc., and you'll get a similar result, only it will be the HOA saying no instead of the Landmark Commission. Well, maybe not HP - they'd probably put you in jail.

Funny how Jim "Get Off My Lawn" Schutze is all for other people having plumbing grottos on theirs.

Lakewooder

That painting sucks more than anything that has ever sucked before, but I can't stop looking at it.

John_McKee

I agree, it's terrible but there is something oddly compelling about it.

bigtex

I really liked it and have no problem with it. It gave our block some charm! For Xmas he put lights on it and a Santa Claus riding a Harley. It has sadly been removed though .......

thanks for worrying about painted gates and fake grass you historic blowhards!