Steve McQueen Monument, 1971

Steve McQueen Monument

Kent Twitchell

This photo is circa 1981 after some friends and I had cleaned and touched up the mural. It was originally painted using inexpensive oil-based enamels which eventually dried and started to peel. We scraped off all the loose paint and covered the wall with matte medium and repainted McQueen in artist grade acrylics. The site is the NW corner of Union Avenue and 12th Street, just west of Downtown LA. The mural faces north.

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EGBOK

I was lucky enough to have been delivering the Herald Examiner downtown when you were painting "Steve McQueen and used to stop every day and talk to you about my experience’s with him at Indian Dunes motorcycle park. I have showed so many friends the mural over the years and was so happy when you redid it after it was covered up…>Thank you Kent for you wonderful vision all over So Cal…!!!

April 5, 2013

Bijan Anthony Shabandi

Nice.

May 21, 2012

Doug

I worked on Union some 30 years ago, and liked to walk the neighborhood during my lunch breaks. It stopped me in my tracks! Haven’t been back in years so I didn’t know about the paint-over; happy that it’s back.
I’m a substitute teacher (not art) in New Mexico. From the comments here I think your teaching is the best ‘monument’ to the artist. Keep it up.

January 6, 2011

Sarah Perry

Ephemerally haunting amongst the pigeons and refuse. How did you keep the proportions correct on the bay windows?

May 29, 2010

Kent Twitchell

Thanks Sarah. The bay windows will be especially challenging when I do it again, this time pre-painted in the studio and laminated to the wall with gel medium. McQueen is 99% painted and waiting to go up anew.

May 29, 2010

Sarah Perry

One of the reasons I went to Otis back in 1979 was because of your mural. I was in absolute awe.

May 31, 2010

Kent Twitchell

You were so special already as a sophomore that I was careful to allow you all the independence I could. It was easy to see that you were a strong individual and just brimming with talent and wonder. I taught off and on for only 10 years, 3 at Otis, but I could see why many people are drawn to teaching. It is a rare joy to witness the beginnings of someone who will change people with their art.

May 31, 2010

F. Scott Hess

Hey, Kent! Nice to see you up and running here. Great piece. The photo doesn’t quite get the sense of awe one feels when confronted with your work in the flesh, but it still delivers a pretty remarkable image.

May 29, 2010

1 kudo

Kent Twitchell

Finally. Thanks for the prodding, this is kinda fun. Hope I can remember enough of what Maureen taught me so I can keep going.

May 29, 2010

gradyharp

Kent,
You know there is a legion of support among those of us who have known you and worked with you over the years. You are an iconic figure – even larger than your murals!

May 29, 2010

Kent Twitchell

Thank you Grady. I appreciate your encouragement over so many years.

May 29, 2010