FESTIVAL NEWS

Mural Won’t Make Festival: The restoration of David Alfaro Siqueiros’ “Tropical America” mural in Olvera Street--which is being billed as “an image for the entire Los Angeles Festival”--will not take place until long after the September arts festival, according to the Friends of Mexico, which is actually undertaking the project with the J. Paul Getty Museum. Spokeswoman Miriam Bertram said that the city’s uncertainty surrounding future plans for Olvera Street has delayed work on the mural which was commissioned in 1932, but covered with a coat of white paint two years later because it was seen by many as Communist propaganda. Bertram said that “end painting” on the mural--which depicted a crucified Mexican with a huge eagle perched above him on the cross--is now scheduled for January, 1991.