Mural emerges from obscurity

There has been no recent progress for artist Kent Twitchell in the legal battle involving his large-scale mural “Ed Ruscha Monument,” a longtime fixture on the side of a building in downtown L.A. owned by the federal government that was painted over in early June.

But the artist has received some good news about another one of his downtown mural projects: A grove of eucalyptus trees that was obscuring Twitchell’s 1994 mural “Harbor Freeway Overture” -- which includes outsized portraits of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra musicians as well as an orchestra donor -- has been cut down and will be replaced by shorter plants.

Twitchell’s attorney, Les Weinstein, said the landscaping was arranged by Maguire Properties and Trizec Properties, co-owners of the parking garage near 7th and Figueroa streets. Said the artist Monday: “It is good news. I needed that.”

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Diane Haithman