More than a year after the City Council approved spending $21,450 in June 2012, two covered tile mosaic murals on the entry walls to City Hall that are more than half-a-century old have been uncovered and restored.
The murals depict the history of Arcadia from the time of Spanish exploration, including ships on the ocean, through the Lucky Baldwin era, Santa Anita Park horse race track, and the original train depot. They were designed to be part of the remodeled 1947 City Hall in the late 1950s. Less than 20 years later the mosaics were painted over with a stucco-like paint in the 1970s and have not been seen since.
The mosaics were discovered as part of a $1 million-plus overhaul of the aging City Hall begun in 2011 and still in progress. Several tiles on both sides of the entryway were exposed in chunks during the removal of bannisters.
The City Council approved the expenditure to restore the artwork by a vote of 4-1 after strong support by Councilman Gary Kovacic and opposition by then-Mayor Bob Harbicht. Kovacic said it’s not only important that the City retain a connection to its historical roots but also create and maintain public art. Harbicht said that just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s historic or should be considered art.
According to a January 1958 newspaper article and photo in the Star-News dredged up by the Arcadia Public Library, the tile murals were designed by Jay Rivkin, who died in 2006, and included a third one at the then-new police station which was later destroyed to make way for the 21st century station now standing across the lawn from City Hall.
The murals were approved at a cost of $11,540 in 1950s dollars, which would equate to more than $90,000 in today’s dollars when accounting for inflation.
The six-inch-square white clay tiles were in very good condition. The glazes are gloss and satin colored glazes and black overglaze. Rivkin signed her name on a couple of the tiles.
— By Scott Hettrick
