‘Tagger’ Marks Statue at Ventura City Hall
A graffiti “tagger” spray-painted a statue of Father Junipero Serra that stands in front of Ventura’s City Hall, Ventura police reported Monday.
Police received the report about 11 a.m. Monday, and the black stenciled letters were removed from the statue by late Monday. No cost estimate was given for removing the graffiti.
The statue, which stands more than nine feet tall, is a bronze and granite replica of a Depression-era work that stood in front of City Hall for more than 50 years. The original concrete piece was the work of Ojai artist John Palo-Kungas. Using federal work project funds, Palo-Kungas reportedly hauled sand and gravel from the Ventura River bottom to construct the piece.
As the piece deteriorated due to wind and rain, local organizers and artists rallied around its restoration. Organizers raised $100,000 and commissioned a carved wood replica from which a mold was made to cast the bronze statue three years ago.
The statue of Serra commemorates the founding of Mission San Buenaventura in 1782.
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