Neighborhood Group to Start Mural Project

As part of its mission to beautify Van Nuys, the Livable Neighborhood Council announced this week that it will start a mural project on walls of two Victory Boulevard storefronts.

An outside wall of Chris’ & Pitt’s of Van Nuys at 13237 Victory Blvd. will be converted into a scene of children playing ball, skipping rope and frolicking under a blue sky, officials said.

An adjacent higher wall of the Arrow Market will depict a series of kites flying in the air, each representing a different nation through its colors or symbols.

“We’re going for a multicultural theme,” said Gloria Gold, a council member who has worked on independent mural projects in North Hollywood and Van Nuys. “We want it to be about children and about the diverse area they live in.”

The mural will be sketched by local artist Tim Fields, who has worked with Gold on similar projects.

Children and youth from Van Nuys schools, Kittridge Street Elementary and Grant High, will then paint the outlined areas. “It’s kind of like a paint by numbers,” Gold said.

The estimated $5,000 project will be paid for through Councilman Mike Feuer’s office’s annual arts budget. Each council district receives $10,000 a year for arts-related projects.

Since its inception in 1996, Livable Neighborhood Council officials have given themselves several mandates to improve life in Van Nuys, one of which was to beautify the area.

Gold said the council is seeking volunteers to take up paintbrushes for the mural project, set for Feb. 28 and March 1.

Anyone wishing to lend a hand may call Gold at (818) 781-7554.