Pool Painting

Hollywood has for some time been trying to raise its image. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel has been wise enough to contribute by having one of America’s finest artists, David Hockney, paint the bottom of its swimming pool. In doing so he has picked up the image he has used in many of his world famous Paper Pool paintings (one of which recently sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $176,000). Now along comes the Department of Health Services to condemn it (July 16) since “would-be rescuers of a swimmer in peril would be hampered or prevented in saving lives in an emergency.”

Unless such so-called “resources” were totally inept, in my opinion, the wave marks would in no way hinder their efforts. Sure, while swimming you can have cramps, can slip on the side of a pool, can drown due to various causes. However, to erase or cover up an important work of art for safety reasons and thereby destroy one of Hollywood’s real attractions seems a great shame.

I sincerely hope that the Department of Health Services will not go near the water.

BOB HALFF

Beverly Hills