Foster The People’s 'Supermodel' Mural In Downtown Los Angeles Is Here To Stay
Due to Permit conflicts, the 125ft by 150ft Foster The People masterpiece scaling the side of a building in Downtown Los Angeles was to be painted over on July 14th. This devastating news came rather surprising and disappointing to fans and everyone who collaborated on the mural when it had only been finished since January of this year. However, thanks to thousands of Foster fans, the wall is here to stay.
“This Mural was our contribution to the city of Los Angeles- our kiss of color to the city we love,” Mark Foster explained as he spoke out about the mural coming down. Also serving as the artwork for their most recent album, Supermodel, the wall gives the rather gloomy area of downtown a bit of a pick me up. It was meant to be a piece of art that anyone and everyone could appreciate even if they didn’t know of the band.
When the wall was first recognized, Foster The People held a free concert to dedicate the mural to the city. Mark Foster spoke of it as a gift to Los Angeles for all it has done for him and the members of Foster. At the end of the show, the audience had the opportunity be a part of the mural by putting their handprints at the bottom of the painting, making it a night to remember.
Unfortunately, permits that were supposedly passed were not and the wall was to be covered up. The City of Los Angeles promotes murals to be painted as long as there is no commercial promotion by any means. There was controversy as to whether the Supermodel Mural should be considered a piece of art or just an album advertisement.
With hopes of keeping the wall up for the world to see, a petition to keep the mural was created by fans at change.org asking the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, to stop the wall from being covered up. A striking 12,000 signatures quickly added up while others used the hashtag’s #savethemural and #savesupermodel on social media to spread the word. The Mayor was able to extend the murals life until permits can become approved for good this time around.
SERIOUSLY I WOULD FIGHT ANYONE WHO SAYS FTP DOESN'T HAVE THE COOLEST FUCKING FANBASE EVER. We saved the mural with a petition alone and it didn't even have to come to a big protest. We all come together and get shit done and help the guys as much as they help us. I swear I have never been in a fanbase that seemed more like a huge family than fandom ever. I love going to concerts and meeting the other fans, I love meeting other fans online, you guys fucking rock don't let anyone tell you otherwise we are strong. <3
Thank you everyone for coming together and saving this mural! Give yourselves a pat on the back Mark was blown away and proud when we only had 5000 signatures, you know we made his day by actually saving the mural. <3 I'm so happy!
Goodbye Supermodel, it was my dream to see you in real life. As an artist I'm saddened to see something so beautiful destroyed, as a fan I am devastated and heartbroken. Foster the People mean the world to me. This mural inspired me to get back into painting. Thank you for making something for beautiful, we will cherish it always. I cried while finishing it and I will cry again tomorrow when I see this turned into a beige, blank wall again.
I can't believe the city of Los Angeles can't recognize true art, i can't believe they will take something so beautiful and turn to just a boring white wall, this is heartbreaking for me and for the entire fandom. So many people like me will never have the chance to go the mural and i can't deal with it, i think the city hall must have more important things to do by the population than destroy this beautiful piece of art and the dream of so many people.
