Removal of Tube Dude Mural Delayed

A busy month of orders at the Tube Dude plant has kept the mural on the front of the plant up as the owner has been too slammed to organize a celebration of its removal.

President Scott Gerber, Sarasota Chalk Festival founder and chairwoman Denise Kowal and County Commissioner Carolyn Mason came together on Feb. 10 to say the

It will be 40 days come Wednesday, but it shouldn't be a signal that plans have changed according to Mason, but another source says they're not sure if the notice was formally presented to the artist.

"Scott had scheduling problems," Mason told Patch. "He got really, really slammed at work and couldn't get things done so artists could get here."

The celebration is now being planned for April, Mason said Gerber told her.

Gerber and Kowal had announced that a major announcement that co-incided with plans for more murals in his surrounding neighborhood would be coupled with the block party to celebrate the removal of the "Fast Life" mural and the start of a new chapter in that corner of the Rosemary District.

Kowal said the Chalk Festival will march on with other activities around Central Avenue despite the hold-up.

"I do not believe the artist MTO has been formally given his 30 day notice that Scott promised and announced at the news conference, which was the basis, among other things promised so we could move forward with a Closing Ceremony Block Party at Scott's business and future initiatives with Scott," Kowald told Patch in an e-mail. "The Sarasota Chalk Festival continues to work with other people and property owners throughout the city and along Central Avenue, with the Central area having some activity that has been planned for the months of March/April and then not again till the November international event."

The mural was installed as part of the and its various misinterpretations and questions about the mural had led to confusion and eventually to its announced demise in February. The hands were inspired by the hands of chalk festival volunteer, surfer, skater Jeremy Cattanach.

Patch has reached out to Gerber three times for this story and has not had a call or e-mail returned for comment.