New sign ordinance affects artists, murals in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Artists have an easier way to paint murals in Oklahoma City after a rule meant to clear up damaged and defaced signs also changes the way artists can paint, but some people are worried for how this might impact graffiti.
“It’s great to see the city listening to artists and caring about arts and culture here so big,” said Virignia Sitzes, a local artist.
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The new sign ordinance in Oklahoma City now affects art murals in the city.
“What effectively the new ordinance does, it takes the requirement away for murals to be permitted as signs and in most cases, not all, but in most cases no permit at all is needed,” said Randy Marks, the Program Planner Arts & Cultural Affairs, Arts Liason.
Which makes it easier to paint and share art. With the new ordinance, a business owner will work directly with the artist, rather than go through the Art Commission to get approval.
“Before this ordinance passed, I would sometimes would rather prefer do a mural in Tulsa or Midwest City or something like that, because i knew i didn’t have to go through the through the hoops to get something like that going,” said Carlos Barboza, artist.
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However, there are a few exceptions.
In a design and historical district, or if the building is owned by the city, the mural would have to be approved by the Arts Council.
“The other exception is if the mural has integrated into any moving parts or any lights that are part of the mural, not that it’s just lit up with lights that are part of the mural design, or if the mural has to be painted on a structure that is applied to the wall, all of those become building issues,” said Marks.
“I think it’s going to allow a lot more artists to paint murals by removing a bunch of steps that would usually make the process two months long,” said Sitzes.
As there’s more free rein on painting murals, there’s still some restrictions as to where you can paint.
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“If it is graffiti, then it can be removed. The our friends in code enforcement will be called and they’ll come out and make a determination and then that will be either painted over or removed,” said Marks.
So that has some in the community, concerned.
“If a gang has control over that neighborhood and now somebody comes and says, do you want that graffiti removed, they’re going to be too scared to say yes,” said Georgie Rasco, the Executive Director of the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma.
If you’d like to see more work from Oklahoma artists, Sitzes runs an art festival called Sunny Dayz highlighting artists from around the state. The next event is in June 1 in Ponca City.
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