June 6, 2018
TRIBUTE TO MICHELANGELO
by Levi Ponce
“Continental is the sort of shop that can spark an urge to make art even if you can’t draw a straight line,” said @LAWeekly. Continental Art Supplies opened the doors of its Reseda Blvd store in 1960 and students who soon bought their first paints there remained loyal customers for 57 years until second-generation owner Steve Aufhauser—only 4½ when the store opened—locked the doors last year to retire. Supporting artists of all kinds Continental also embraced street artists, and two of the murals on the walls of the store were done by local West Valley prodigy Levi Ponce. Ponce first started visiting the store as a high school student. He says he knew all the employees by name and many became good friends. With Aufhauser’s enthusiastic support Ponce painted this Michelangelo inspired work on the north wall of the store in 2013. @leviponce
