Where's the SPARC?

The restoration of Judy Baca's mural on the AT&T building at the intersection of Ave. 56 and Meridian Street looks to be complete, with only the final anti-graffiti layers left to be applied. 

While the the artists from Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) have spent the last two months working on the mural's final touches, there has been one significant alteration.

The prominently featured Sparkletts sign on the mural has been restored to its original spelling. For a short period time during the repainting, the Highland Park water bottling company's name was spelled "SPARCLETTS," a reference to the mural's savours.

Patch's previous History of Highland Park Mural photo gallery can be found .

Patch readers were split on the change in spelling. Commenter Rosario said the change in spelling diminished the historical significance of the mural.

"The renovation of the mural is very much welcomed by the residents and visitors of Highland Park. Yet, the little makeovers on the original mural are in my opinion SAD!" Rosario said. "Sparkletts should not be replaced by self-promotion of Sparcletts (Social and Public Art Resource Center). I'd like to see the preservation of the ORIGINAL work not the new updated transition of Sparc." 

Another reader, Atl Ozomatli Vasquetzal, disagreed.

"I say you never cross the same river twice. People have to know that artists are our windows to history and we should be grateful to them for capturing and rendering a changing time in history. The ORIGINAL work can never be restored to its original state, these artists have evolved, the paints they are using are not the same, and time has taken art to a higher level and new form of self expression. Who was it that said, "Consistency is the hob goblin of little minds?" These artists don't have little minds, thou they are much older and wiser; with an unbated commitment to their craft, they are truly visionary. I thank Judy Vaca, Joe Brava, Sonya Fe, Raul Gonzales, and the many volunteers for the beautiful art work that they have given us for our enjoyment. Hopefully, people will respect it enough not to tag it or rag on it by making self promoting statements that it could have been more like the original."