Artist Paints Flag On Park Slope Wall After Patriotic Bench Gripe

PARK SLOPE, NY — A complaint about a Park Slope bench painted with the American flag angered the city's self-styled "creative patriot" so much he painted a massive Old Glory on a Fifth Avenue building right next to it.

Scott LoBaido, a conservative Staten Island artist known for his flag paintings, added one to the American Legion Sixth Memorial Post 1833's clubhouse this week after a complaint almost forced the legion to destroy a bench members had painted in the red, white and blue.

"Now they have to see a big, giant one every f--king day," said LoBaido.

"You don't want to look at the bench, go across the street, but this giant flag that I painted is going to punch you right in the face as you walk by."

Last month, the city's Department of Transportation issued a notice to the veteran's club to remove a bench built around a tree outside the 389 Fifth Ave. clubhouse because of an anonymous 311 complaint.

The agency claimed the patriotic bench encroached on the sidewalk, but later said it was an error and told the group the seat could stay.

"They admitted that they made a mistake," Salvatore Oliva, 50, the sergeant-at-arms who helped build the bench, previously told Patch. "It feels rejuvenating."

Oliva said the group built the bench several months ago to give passersby a place to rest while walking in the neighborhood and the patriotic decoration was an easy decision.

"It's the American Legion," said Oliva. "It only makes sense."

Fans of LoBaido, known for his politically charged pieces and for installing a giant pro-Trump sign in a Staten Island yard, sent him stories about the bench drama which fired him up to do something to help.

"Some people call me the Batman of patriotic activism," he said.

LoBaido had the idea to add one of his giant American flag paintings to the front of the building and, after getting permission from the owner, did the work free of charge on Monday.

"It just breaks my heart when veterans have to fight for something like this," said LoBaido. "My life is awesome and it's because of these men and women."

The group has also started a GoFundMe to raise $25,000 to help renovate the building and replace the air conditioning systems on it.

Image courtesy of Scott LoBaido